Last weekend saw me heading to Snowdonia for a couple of days. My original plan was to arrive earlier and bag a couple of waterfall walks but, alas, an accident on the M62 which closed 2 lanes put paid to that (fortunately nobody was injured) and I arrived just in time to check into my B&B in Betws-y-Coed before it got dark, where I was given a free upgrade from a saddo singleton’s room for one to a small double room with en-suite facilities
I then had a little mooch into “town” in search of my evening meal and the next day’s lunch.
Sunday arrived, damp and drizzle-y and I chatted with the B&B owner about my plans for the day. He kindly went on line and got me a weather forecast for the Llanberis / Snowdon area … and it didn’t look good – strong, gusty winds, heavy showers and thunder storms with temperatures a few degrees above freezing on the tops
Nevertheless, after a rather splendid breakfast, I waddled off to my car for the 30 minute drive which, in parts, reminded me a little of Scotland. The drive through the Llanberis Pass is quite spectacular and it was a pity there were cars behind me because I would have stopped (stuff the fact it’s a freeway/no stopping) to take a photo.
I got parked up down a little back street and remembered to actually set Viewranger to track record this time, and off I set – up and up and up on a never-ending metalled track upwards, without relent. The benefit of this was views started happening quickly and the forecast so far was wrong - it was patchy sunshine and I was sheltered from any wind.
Looking across towards the Llanberis Pass:
Higher still and looking across at the fascinatingly ugly scars of the pillaged Elidir Fawr(?):
It reminded me of a Dali painting and did look quite photogenic with the sunshine glinting on the wet quarry face.
At a very derelict farm building (Maen-llwyd-uchaf) the metalled track ran out (there’s also parking spaces for about 4 cars here in case anyone’s interested) and the path, still obvious, followed various walls, and still endlessly uphill.
Not that I stopped frequently on my way up or anything but here’s a view Gallt y Foel(?) above Lly Padarn with views of Anglesey just starting to peep into view in the background:
I decided to go a little off piste to avoid a large puddle, then continued up the broad, grassy nose of Bryn Mawr. This seemed like a good idea …. 6 false summits later …. Much of my view ahead was this …. So near yet so far:
I noticed my camera was almost out of battery
(note to self, charge camera before walk in future) so saved it for summit snaps but couldn’t resist one of this pointless stile just before the final pull up to the top of Moel Eilio
:
The wind was bitter now and constantly in my face and I’d had to brace myself against the gusts, making it feel like I was walking up something much harder than it was (that’s my excuse anyway
), but thankfully, no rain as yet and no thunderstorms.
It took me ages to get from the pointless stile to my next pic and I can only put this down to lack of fitness/stamina as my breathing was fine but my leg muscles tired far too quickly.
And finally, hooooraaaahhhhh! The summit shelter:
I was quite glad to see this appear, all of a sudden (them pesky false summits), and it spurred me on towards my nice cuppa and sarnie. I was even more glad to get to it as a sudden, sharp blast of hailstones “got” me (head wind don't forget... ouch!). I had my lunch and let the weather pass before venturing out for some summit piccies.
Looking across a fine ridge walk to Snowdon with its head in the clouds:
Looking North-East-ish:
Looking West-ish:
Looking North-West-ish to Anglesey:
And finally, looking back the way I came:
I took this last pic more for the strange colour of the weather (if that makes sense). Given the short, sharp showers and the sunshine, I think I was “in” a rainbow
Anyway, the weather had definitely changed and I could hear distant rumbles of thunder so it was with regret that I decided not to continue along that lovely looking ridge as planned, as, being the highest thing on a grassy ridge with no shelter in a thunder storm, probably wouldn’t have been one of my better decisions. So I returned the way I came – at least I had a back wind to assist me down the hill
My return path and the thundery clouds are starting to catch me up:
Shortly after this pic the heavens opened in a magnificently Biblical fashion and the waterproofs went on, the camera went away and I fairly scuttled down the hillside to reach the track which had now turned into a river. Choosing a shortcut back to the car past Cae’r-fran wasn’t one of my better ideas either as the track was a river of mud and I was relieved to reach a road as I turned left onto the lane which passes the Youth Hostel.
Back at the car I stripped off my soggy waterproofs and was pleasantly surprised to discover that I was dry underneath them. I think it may have been a different story if I’d needed to wear them heading uphill. I did have to wring my gloves out though
So hands up everyone who agrees…. Having a good day’s walking, followed by a shower, getting a belly full of food, a glass of wine and falling into bed and falling asleep almost instantly is possibly the best type of day ever?
Again, no particular Achilles tendon problems and I could quite happily have walked much further – I think wearing shoes and not boots has all but solved the problem.
For a long time now I’ve been looking for a “safe” mountain walk to do in Winter…. I think I’ve found it…. Moel Eilio… it’s broad, it’s grassy, route finding is easy, it has amazing views in all directions that would look truly stunning with a full winter pelt … and it’s over the magic 2,000ft mountain status.
I will be back.
Thanks for reading
