I took advantage of the improvement in weather and since my wife was coming along, opted for a relatively easy one.
I say "relatively" easy, as a regular internal argument I have with myself is, "is there any easy way up the Glyderau, and which is it?". Even with the 300m head start from Ogwen, there's still 600m+ climb to most of the major moutains, and most routes tend to involve a relatively short, direct path to the summit. To make matters worse, there's a lot of scree at the upper levels - and my wife really hates scree!
I decided do Y Garn via Idwal and the Devil's Kitchen path.
Lovely morning at Ogwen
Idwal looking lovely - it's a huge amphitheatre.
This is argaubly one of Snowdonia's best views IMO.
Since Idwal is about 370m, and Llyn y Cwn is 715m, there's no denying that you have to gain a bit of altitude in quite a short distance. I think as a route up the Devil's Kitchen pass is just the right side of exhausting - the gradient is fairly consistant, it's a well maintained staircase, and you get to the wall/stile just before you start to get too annoyed. I've probably come down it more times that up, and to be honest, I prefer it as an ascent, as it can be hard on the knees in descent.
After the wall, it's a short stroll to the Llyn.
Then up to Y Garn - quite a steady climb, and much easier than "the scree path of certain death" up to Glyder Fawr!
Good view into Cwm Clyd
Great views from Y Garn. Pen yr Ole Wen looks incredible from here. It a huge bulk.
Simialrly Elidir Fawr looks quite imposing from here.
We then continued down the other side of Y Garn, and along the ridge.
When you get to Foel Goch, it's actually pretty low-key - a mere bump. Here though we took a route that I don't think many people on the Gylderau do. We follwed the inside of the ridge along the top of Foel Goch and along The Musroom Garden. This is very much worth an excusion if you want to do something a little different. I've done this a few times now, and you can pretty much guaratee that you will have Cwm Cywion to yourself.
Looking at the cragginess of Foel Goch.
Interesting alternative views of Y Garn and Pen Yr Ole Wen
Quite a nice ridge.
It then turns into a grassy path going down to the base of the cwm
Theres a lovely stream to stop at.
At this point, you're on your way back to the valley. It's deceptive though - it's majorly boggy, and each time I've come this way it's been surprisingly slippy.l Trick is to stay slightly higher, and avoid the bogginess!! It takes you back to Idwal rather than the valley floor.
Back at the path that goes up to Y Garn.
All in all, this is a great descent from the Glyders, particularly if it's windy on the tops, as it's very sheltered. The only downside is that the lower section that goes down to the youth hostel really is boggy, despite looking like an easy grassy slope down to the old road. Keeping higher avoids this.Health stats were far less extreme than some of my recent walks. 6.78 miles 754m ascent, av HR 126, with max of 166. 1754 calories burned.