Well it was back to Snowdonia and the Glyders for a walk I first did back in 2017 with a group of people from the facebook group WFP. That day proved some what wet with no views after a bright and sunny start. I had always wanted to go back to do this as it seemed a very good linear route with great views. It also gave me the opportunity to knock off two of the last remaining summits of the Glyderau that I haven't visited, well I may of done on the wet and misty day in 2017, but I wouldn't of known about it as that day was a matter of getting down in one piece :-)
So, after a couple of months of not being in the mountains for one reason or another, I decided that the time had come to for a re-visit and finish off the Glyderau summits and with the weather looking settled, sunny, dry and breezy, now seemed as good a day as any. My last mountain day out was in this neck of the woods doing a round of the main summits on another good clear sunny cold day with a new approach for me and today saw another new approach up to the Glyderau main sumitts.
I parked the car in Capel Curig where I had time to have a look round
St.JULITTAS CHAPEL before I caught the Sherpa Bus down to the start point of Pen y Pass, one of the main starting points for walking up Snowdon. It was busy, very busy with lots of folk looking forward to there trip up this most popular and iconic mountain and on a good sunny clear day like today, everyone would be rewarded with superb views. So as the crowds made there way up the two main paths for Snowdon, I crossed the road and headed up into the very quiet landscape at the back of the Pen y Pass Youth Hostel. The way forward proved to be easy going as I followed the trodden path through a mixture of steps, grass and rocks with a great view of the Snowdon Pyg Track behind me. I was soon looking across to one main feature on my walk which was
LLYN CWMFFYNNON below a small rocky summit of Moel Berfed, which I completely forgot to visit for some unknown reason, I'll just have to have a quick run up on another day :-)
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| My route for the day |
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| St Julitta's Chapel Capel Curig |
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| The start of the grassy rocky path |
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| Pen y Pass |
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| Looking across to the Pyg Track with the mighty Crib Goch looming large |
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| My quiet way forward on to the Glyderau |
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| Llyn Cwmffynnon with a distant Moel Siabod |
Although this is a very quiet route compared to the way up from the Ogwen Valley, the path was quite easily visible that made the going a lot more enjoyable as you don't spend all your time looking at the map and gps. When you get to the more rocky sections there are one or two Pink markers on some rocks pointing the way, helpful in more misty conditions as there is quite a jumble of rocks to lead you astray. Today though, was one of those days to relax and enjoy the quietness of this more wilderside that offered some great views back over to the Snowdon Massif. Quite a joy to be out here all alone :-)
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| Up through the grass and rocks |
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| Pink markers pointing the way |
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| Pink markers showing the way |
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| The Snowdon Massif |
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| A close up of the North Ridge leading on to Crib Goch |
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| Up through the rocks |
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| Looking back down on my route so far |
After picking my way through the rocky path, you find yourself on a more level grassy section with a few left over snow patches. In fact, I was to come across quite a few patches of snow now that I had gained some height, nothing to worry about as most were in the nooks and crannies of the rocks but just one or two larger patches on the grass banks. Just goes to show how much snow fell a couple of weeks back and how cold it still is in these parts. Although it was a good sunny day, the wind made it quite bitter and hats, gloves and coats were on all day. Topping out on to Glyder Fawr sure took your breath away in more ways than one. It was hard to find a decent place out of the wind and sit down for more than ten minutes but at least it was a lot drier and clearer than two years back! Some great views to be had
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| On the more level grassy path with Glyder Fawr dead ahead |
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| Large patch of snow below the rocky summit |
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| Some deep patches of snow hanging on around the rocky summit |
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| Summit views back down to Pen y Pass |
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| Summit views across to Snowdon |
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| Glyder Fawr's rocky sumitt and Snowdon |
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| Glyder Fawr's rocky summit with Glyder Fach in the distance |
From here, it was heading across the rocky plateau, by passing the Castell y Gwynt (castle of the winds) to Glyder Fach and the Cantilever Stone. Some excellent views down on Cwm Idwal, the Nant Ffranncon towards Bangor, a distant Anglesy and across to the Carneddau. Great clear conditions but the wind chill certainly made a difference. It was bitterly cold up here.
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| The rocky plateau with Glyder Fach in the distance |
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| Snow covered edges |
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| Looking down on Cwm Idwal and Nant Ffrancon |
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| Llyn Bolchwyd and the High Carneddau |
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| Looking down on my route and across to the Snowdon Massif |
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| Passing under Castell y Gwynt (castle of the winds) |
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| Castell y Gwynt with Glyder Fawr on the right |
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| Snowdon, Castell y Gwynt and Glyder Fawr |
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| The Cantilever Stone |
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| The Cantilever Stone |
From here it was heading down towards the small Llyn Caseg-Fraith where I took refuge behind some rocks for a bit of lunch. The way down is straight forward enough in the days clear conditions but can be a nightmare when in the mist wind and rain. It's full of rocks and boulders and passes close to the top of Bristly Ridge and Bristly Screes and you don't wont to be taking a wrong turn here if you can help it. A few bits of down scrambling as you pick your way through the boulder field that eventually brings you on to more even ground before you reach the large grassy plateau that can be quite boggy but today was fairly dry and solid. I took refuge out of the wind and was being entertained across the valley by some dare devils on
TRYFAN as they took the leap of faith, jumping from one stone to the other, to become "The Feeman Of Tryfan" This is when you leap from one block to another on the summit, the summit blocks being known as Adam & Eve. No, I'm not brave enough to do it :-)
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| My way down through the rocks and boulders towards Llyn Caseg-Fraith |
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| My way down through the rocks and boulders towards Llyn Caseg-Fraith and my route over Y Foel Goch |
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| Looking over towards the Carneddau from near the top of Bristly Ridge with Tryfan in the foreground |
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| Tryfan from near the top of Bristly Screes |
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| My lunchtime view of Glyder Fach & Tryfan |
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| Adam & Eve on the summit of Tryfan |
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| Adam & Eve on the summit of Tryfan |
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| Admiring the view |
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| Llyn Caseg Fraith with Y Foel Goch as the backdrop |
After being entertained, fed and watered, it was an easy way onto
Y FOEL GOCH across the grassy plateau. Despite all the snow that fell and melted, the going was OK with only a few boggy patches that were easily avoided. Certainly a bit different than the last time I was here when it was very wet and windy with next to no views at all. A good easy walk that was quite wlcome after all the ups and downs over rocks and boulders. The views were still good as I headed to the final high summit of
GALLT YR OGOF
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| Looking back to Glyder Fach & Tryfan from near the summit of Y Foel Goch |
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| Summit views of Snowdon, Glyder Fach & Tryfan |
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| Looking over to Gallt Yr Ogof from Y Foel Goch |
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| Close up of Tryfan |
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| Gallt yr Ogof summit views over to Pen Llithrig y Wrach & Creigiau Gleision |
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| Summit vies over to Moel Siabod |
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| Summit views back to Y Foel Goch, Glyder Fach, Tryfan & Pen yr Ole Wen |
From here, it was heading down following the fenceline and path onto Cefn y Capel which overlooks the lake Llynnau Mymbyr. Quite steep in places before you go over a stile and on to more level ground. Another pleasant enough walk in these conditions before heading down to the car in Capel Curig
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| My way down towards Cefn y Capel |
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| Follow that fence |
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| Looking back up the fenceline |
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| Looking back from the stile |
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| Looking back from Bwlch Goleuni |
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| Looking across to the Eastern Carneddau from Bwlch Goleuni |
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| Looking down on Llynnau Mymbyr with Moel Siabod as the backdrop |
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| Heading off Cefn y Capel |
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| Looking down on Capel Curig from Cefn y Capel |
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| Looking back up to Cefn y Capel |
Well, another brilliant day in this fabulous part of the world. A bit windy and chilly in places but the views and dry conditions make it all worth while
Cheers
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| Looking across Llynnau Mymbyr towards Snowdon from Plas y Brenin |
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