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Snowdonia Peaks

Thursday 24 November 2011

A weekend in Snowdonia

Spent a weekend at a nice little Cottage tucked away in a quiet corner of Snowdonia where we had a great relaxing time. These are a just few of the photo's I took. Quality isn't the best but you get the picture :-)
On the Friday we set off and called in at beddgelert for a brew before we got to our little hideaway.
Looking across to Moel Hebog & Yes, that lorry did get stuck on the bridge!
Our hideaway for the weekend
 The view of Cnicht from the Cottage front door :-)
And some views from above the cottage

Looking across to Porthmadog as the sun goes down
 Saturday saw us visit the old quarry's (see seperate thread) while Sunday started in the traditional way

before we decided to take a small trip on the Welsh Highland Railway along the Aberglaslyn Pass
from Porthmadog to Beddgelert. Some atmospheric photo's

 

we got back to the cottage just as it was getting dark and it was a welcome sight
After a slow start to Monday it was soon time for the drive home. We were greeted with some spectacular views that the camera dosen't really capture. It was the most still of mornings in the valley as we passed Lyn Dinas

and Llyn Gwynant
We soon arrived at the main Snowdon view point on the A498 where the whole of the horseshoe was clear
as was the Glyders

This is from my favourite view point of the Snowdon Horseshoe, taken from the Plas y Brenin Mountain Centre
A quick stop off in Betws y Coed before the drive home

Monday 21 November 2011

The old Quarry's of Croesor, Snowdonia 19-11-2011

Saturday 19th November saw us have a walk around the old Croesor slate quarry's above the Croesor Valley. It was quite warm and dry for the time of year and the Autumn colours were still about making the whole valley and surrounding mountains come alive. We have been here before, earlier this year in February and had decided then to come back for a longer look round. We started at the Croesor car park behind the cafe and followed the lane up to the last few houses before taking the track that leads up the side of the bulky Moelwyn Mawr


With the unmistakable pointy top of Cnicht standing tall over the valley, it made for a pleasent and dramatic ascent along the well used track.

Our way of descent can be seen by way of the old track from the Blaencwm hydro-electric power station and along the valley floor.

We soon reached the old quarry and you certainly get a sense of the hardship the workers had and the way they lived.


The entrance to one of the tunnels that takes you deep into the mountain
and the old ruins of the buildings from above
We decided to take a look inside so made our way down the long and eerie tunnel for a look around. Torches at the ready then.......................











After our underground adventure we then went on to explore some more buildings of the Rhosydd slate mines at the top of the Croesor Valley
We had to make our way over some fairly boggy ground that took us around Llyn Croesor and to the foot of Moel -yr- Hydd and Foel Ddu
 
We were surprised to see so little water in the Llyn
onto the old workings and accommodation buildings


looking down on to the Llyn Cwmorthin and quarry
 
there were some great views of the surrounding mountains acoss the old ruins and even the snowdon massif was in view although a little cloudy & hazy

we made our way down the steep incline to the lower buildings


where there was another tunnel that was a bit flooded to go exploring
 
so we watched a few scramblers going about on there bikes that looked exciting

while dreaming of a cherytopped muffin looking at this reflecton

before we made our way through the last of the old quarry buildings


After the last of the buildings it was an easy path to follow round to the old tramway and then down a bit of a steep and rocky track towards the power station that takes us back along the valley floor and to the car park

 Also by this time the sun was shining right down the valley, lighting up Cnicht, making it a pleasent, warm and dramatic way back


The steep incline of the old tramway all the way to the power station

and the sun starting to go down

One last look back at the Croesor valley, with Cnicht on the left and Moelwyn Mawr on the right, from the car park just behind the Croesor Cafe

Another fantastic day out, in fantastic November weather, exploring the old ruins of the Croesor Valley quarry's.