Well its been a while since I ventured in here. Been quiet hasn't it?
Friday afternoon in the office thinking, Wasdale or Kentmere? When out of the blue came the answer, Abergwngregyn! Younger daughter then surprised me twice, once my saying she'd like to get up at 5 a.m. to accompany me, and secondly, by achieving it!
Saturday morning - in the car at 5.30, pulled into the tiny car park above Aber at 7.15 - the only car there, which is a first!
Set off walking in that lovely morning sunshine; Edit - just noticed I have posted a thumbnail here, sorry - I don't seem to be able to replace it, but hey ho.
With wonderful views of the Irish sea, all calm and Med like
We followed the old Roman road (I don't think there's a new Roman road!) which climbs gently round Foel Ganol. I though about going over this and Yr Orsedd and Pen Bryn -du, but I didn't want to tire my daughter out to early - she is a delicate flower!
The views open out behind as the track climbs, thoigh they are somewhat marred by the massive pylons carrying power lines across towards the Conwy valley;
I had told my daughter about the Carnedd ponies, and sure enough they were on full display yesterday - this one was busy feeding the little one as we passed;
The track continues to climb steadily, and the views back continue to open out;
While to the right the view to Llyn Anafon nestling under Llwytmor are rather nice;
The first summit on this route is Drum, and this is the view just before reaching it - reason enough to climb it I think;
At this stage the youngster was showing signs of "Oh hell what I have agreed to do" so we stopped awhile and ate flapjack, while I tried to shield her from the view of the ascent path to Foel Fras. When she did see it she informed me that she would not be speaking for a while! I don't know why, but this climb always seems harder than it should - maybe because it is a straight line. Anyway, here she is a little bit behind her old dad;
I noticed the other picture I took showed her waving to me in Churchill style.
Foel Fras duly summited we stopped for a further food break - scotch eggs. Daughter nabbed the throne in the wonderful shelter just to the southwest of the summit;
We then walked the easy undulating path to Carnedd Gwenllian where the views to Carnedd Llewellyn, Carnedd Dafydd and Yr Elen were a bit more wintry than I expected;
My plan was to go as far as Foel Grach, but the wee one was tiring, bless her. So, with regret we turned round and retraced our steps as far as the col between Foel Fras and Drum, where we bore left to descend to Llyn Anafon. There is no path on the maps for this descent, but there is a patchy one on the ground. Previously I have found this rather arduous, but yesterday I was a bit more careful, what with having responsibilities, and picked a cracking line, which, coincidentally seemed to have a path in it! Near the top we met a brand new foal, still tottering around while mum had some grass;
The descent was lovely and easy and mostly dry underfoot, and very pretty;
At the lake we picked up the service track and walked down this for a couple of miles back to the car. It's a very picturesque route;
Eventually the track curves northwards and joins drops down to the car park. You can just see the carpark on the picture below at the end of the walled road up from Aber;
All in a wonderful day out, finished at 1.15, and back for a family bbq by 3.30. Magic. 11 and a bit miles and around 850 metres of ascent.
