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Regions - Trip reports, destination advice, recommended routes, etc. => Wales => Topic started by: Dazza on 20:36:38, 23/04/19

Title: Alternatives to Snowdon
Post by: Dazza on 20:36:38, 23/04/19
This weekend a few friends and I are in Wales. The idea was to Walk up Snowdon, originally via the ranger path but given the weather forecast at the moment It's most likely the Llanberis path if at all. If we do anything the weather forecast will most likely mean we don't get near the top  (halfway house or Clogwyn station is probably the closet we'll get without too much risk). We're experienced walkers but we don't walk in heavy snow or ice at serious height so don't have stuff like Crampons and ice axes to attempt to summit safely. I'd much rather do half a walk and turn back than persist in a foolish adventure.

So given that Snowdon will probably be off the cards what alternatives are there that are a good circular or there and back walk (around 8 miles or so) that won't be quite as high so less likely to be snowy (the wet stuff is fine), especially if these are further away from the coast? There should be no exposure or scrambling as the wet weather and wind will still be present no doubt. I should add we'll have a small but very tough dog with us as well.

We're based in Porthmadog so anywhere within a 90 minute drive is fine.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Snowdon
Post by: ninthace on 20:50:46, 23/04/19
I enjoyed this one - not far from Porthmadog.  Weather would still be pants thpugh.
http://www.haroldstreet.org.uk/routes/download/?walk=3293 (http://www.haroldstreet.org.uk/routes/download/?walk=3293)
There is a bit of exposure on the approach to the summit but it isn't severe and you would need to be competent navigators to find your way round the head of the valley in poor visibility.  The mines are fun.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Snowdon
Post by: Hillhiker1 on 20:52:55, 23/04/19
Moel Eilio to Moel Cynghorion? - an arm of the Snowdon range but lower and more benign grassy slopes. Start from Llanberis and return via the path at Helfa Fain. You can either access that from the summit of Moel Cynghorion, or bear left before that climb for an early bath.


Moel Siabod is another good one from Pont Cyfyng
Title: Re: Alternatives to Snowdon
Post by: Dazza on 21:29:45, 23/04/19
Thanks for the suggestions so far they look rather interesting.
Forecasts are a funny beast, Met Office predicting the end of the world (as we know it) Met Check and Norwegian Forecasts showing light winds and the odd shower.
I think I'll print the maps just in case, but any other suggestions more than welcome.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Snowdon
Post by: Hillhiker1 on 21:38:42, 23/04/19
Mountain forecasts by mwis.org are far superior. I don't think I've ever known them to get it wrong. Check each day prior to your walk as they update it as new data comes in.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Snowdon
Post by: archaeoroutes on 13:00:21, 24/04/19
Depending on the exact conditions:
Moel Siabod
Moel Hebog
Cnicht
Moel-ddu
Title: Re: Alternatives to Snowdon
Post by: richardh1905 on 17:48:53, 24/04/19
Cnicht and the Moelwyns, or, better still, Moel Hebog, Moel yr Ogof and Moel Lefn from Beddgelert.


The ascent of Moel Siabod is a bit dull from the western side.


Or, if you really fancy a walk on the wild side, the Rhinogs. Start in beautiful Cwm Bychan and climb up the Roman Steps. Then south for the Rhinogs, or head north into some really wild country.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Snowdon
Post by: Rob Goes Walking on 17:51:43, 24/04/19
Mountain forecasts by mwis.org are far superior. I don't think I've ever known them to get it wrong. Check each day prior to your walk as they update it as new data comes in.

What do you think of the forecasts available here?

https://www.mountain-forecast.com/mountain_ranges
Title: Re: Alternatives to Snowdon
Post by: Hillhiker1 on 18:19:02, 24/04/19
I've never seen that before Rob so I can't comment on it's accuracy. My initial reaction though is it's not easy to 'grab' the synopsis of the day, so I have to study it to extract what I want.


I know that weather can and does change from fell to fell but I'm sceptical that that can be forecast by anyone with any reliability. I'm also sceptical about any forecast looking more than 24 hours into the future, anything more than 3 days into the future...well, we'll see.


It might be a superb site with excellent forecasting but I'd want to use it for a while to gain confidence, but TBH; MWIS hits the spot for me, and unless they start going cr@p I'll stick with them. Thanks for the link though.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Snowdon
Post by: Bigfoot_Mike on 19:43:16, 24/04/19
Another vote for Cnicht and the Moelwyns
Title: Re: Alternatives to Snowdon
Post by: Dazza on 20:36:13, 24/04/19
Thanks for the alternative routes, I'll probably print a few OS maps out so all eventualities are covered.

Forecast wise, as it's not an exact science especially in mountain areas, I tend to use three sources and aggregate the results. MWIS (miserable weather forecast services, because they'r often the most pessimistic  :) ), Met Office mountain forecasts and the Norwegian weather service (www.yr.no (http://www.yr.no)). I totally agree as well, three days out only gives you an idea (i.e. has the forecast changed a lot) so decisions are made the afternoon before or the same morning - hence I plan a few options in case we need to go somewhere else.

The mountains will always be there, so skipping one to do something else is alwasy a wise decision.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Snowdon
Post by: richardh1905 on 20:39:15, 24/04/19
Don't overlook the Lleyn Peninsula if the clouds are really down on the hills - excellent coastal walking.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Snowdon
Post by: Dazza on 20:44:01, 24/04/19
With all these good suggestions I think we'll be going back to Wales for more walks!
Title: Re: Alternatives to Snowdon
Post by: Dyffryn Ardudwy on 12:29:43, 26/04/19
Head to the Sourthern Rhinogs, just above Talybont and Dyffryn Ardudwy.
Superb walking country, extremely quiet, even on busy Bank Holidays, and walking mostly on grass.

Most people think the entire Rhinog range of mountains are rugged and hostile, no place for the unprepared walker, well the southern section towards Barmouth, are a walkers dream.

A bit like the Brecon Beacons, but with magnificent sea views, and their less than half an hours drive from Porthmadog.

Title: Re: Alternatives to Snowdon
Post by: phil1960 on 13:18:01, 26/04/19
+1 for the Rhinogs, dark and foreboding or quiet and inspiring, depending on your viewpoint.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Snowdon
Post by: Dyffryn Ardudwy on 19:07:53, 26/04/19
The Bwlch Yr Rhiwgyr route, turning left at the top of the pass, and traversing the famous Great Wall of Wales to Diffwys and beyond, will alway's be a favourite of mine., and that's not because its on my doorstep.


Many many years ago, sometime in the early 1980s, i i discovered this walk, after watching my very old Wynford Vaughn Thomas VHS copy of his magnificent series "The Dragon has Two Tounges"and fell in love with it.

His episode on the Rhinogs, was shot, in not ideal weather, but oh boy, was it  atmospheric, and it made me venture north from South Wales, to give it a go.

I never envisaged moving there, but as my distant relatives had lived and died in Dyffryn over seventy years ago, i paid the cemetery a visit to see if i could find the grave of Capt Peter Jones.


Having a spot of tea in nearby Barmouth, and a peep in the estate agents, i threw in the towel in Cardiff, and moved to Dyffryn, i still think i am on holiday, everytime i look towards Moelfre and the Harlech coastline.

Ever so like parts of the Brecon Beacons, but in a different sort of way.

The vistas off towards Cader Idris, Plynlimon and Mid Wales can be trully spectacular.

Its a huge shame that virtually everyone associates the Rhinogs with the brutal terrain the other side of yr Lethr.

If your after perfect solitude, in magnificent, virtually unspoilt mountain scenery, then the Southern Rhinogs, are a dream destination.

I bet Snowdon and the Glyders, were mayhem last weekend, but there were only three cars parked in the upper carpark above Talybont.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Snowdon
Post by: Dazza on 19:27:18, 29/04/19
Thanks for the extra suggestions, I suspect they'll come in handy for next time.

As it was, the weather on Saturday would've made Snowdon pretty much suicidal, however on Sunday the weather was good and almost all the snow and ice had gone from the previous days (only a few small patches which excited the dog though). We got good views from almost the very top and a small cloud inversion on the way down whilst we ate our sandwiches near the top of the Pyg & Miners path.

The helicopter was out with what looked like an accident on the Pyg track or Crib Goch itself. Hopefully no one was seriously injured.

The highest some of us have every been and a great weekend. Think I'll bookmark this thread for future reference.
Title: Re: Alternatives to Snowdon
Post by: richardh1905 on 21:16:52, 29/04/19
Glad that you had a successful visit, Dazza.