Cadair Idris 8-3-2014

I met up with three walking buddies that I have met and walked with a few times off a couple of walking forums I'm on. Back in November 2013, a chat about a cottage I have stayed in before, became a mini meet within the hour and all was booked and looking forward to a couple of days walking, talking, drinking, and looking forward to some decent weather. The weekend of March 7th-9th was set and the Friday evening was taken up by a few drinks and a good old catch up sat round the open fire in the cottage sitting room. It was decided that the Saturday would be a good day to do Cadair Idris , in the Southern part of Snowdonia National Park, as two of the party hadn't done it and as it turned out, the weather this weekend had taken a change for the better and was looking more like a good spring day rather than the wet damp grey days of late. A bit late setting off plus quite a bit of road works on the way meant that by the time we had parked up and booted up at the start of the Minffordd Path, it was about 11am. The plus side was that it was a good bright sunny day that meant we had plenty of daylight hours as the forecast was set fair for not only the day but the whole weekend.

Our weekend base

Our route around Cadair Idris

Information board at the start of the walk

The start of the walk is very pleasant as it goes up through woodland on a well laid out path and follows the Nant Cadair as it tumbles it's way down through the trees with some impressive waterfalls and after some heavy rain the last couple of days it seemed to be in full flow. Once at the top of the falls, it's a steady walk along a well defined path through the nature reserve towards the bowl of Cadair Idris and Llyn Cau.

Nant Cadair

On the path through the nature reserve

Craig Cau on the left and Penygadair on the right, loom large over Llyn Cau

After a rest for drinks, chat and photo's it was time for a bit of leg work as the next stage was quite a bit of steep ascent that took us up and along the ridge to the pointy summit of Craig Cau, with it's steep and verticle cliff face. There is an interesting looking way up, by way of a scree and rocky slope in the far corner. We looked at this and thought it would be a good alternative when we next decide to visit. On the ridge round to the top there are some great views down on to the Llyn and although the sun was shining and quite warm in the bowl, the wind had picked up and was begining to pick up strength.

James enjoying the views

Craig Cau & Penycadair loom large

A steep gully down to Llyn Cau

Resting on Craig Cau with Penycadair as a backdrop

Steep drop to Llyn Cau

Steep cliffs of Craig Cau

A wind blown Llyn Cau

Distant views over to the Cardigan Bay

After a good rest it was onwards and upwards to Penycadair, the summit of Cadair Idris. By this time the wind had really picked up and some of the gusts were trying there hardest to really blow us off our feet but we stood firm. There was also a chilly bite to the wind and this is where the right gear comes in to it's own. Hat, gloves and a good windproof jacket all help to keep the elements out.

Coming off Craig Cau and up the rocky ascent to Penycadair

Susan & James at the trig

Donna on the final approach

Susan & Donna hanging on in the high wind :-)

Myself & James playing it cool :-)

We took shelter out of the wind for about ten minutes before we made our way down the large wide plateau towards another summit on Cadair Idris, Mynydd Moel where we then followed the fence line down the steep and rocky descent path to join up with the ascent path at the top of the waterfalls.

Leaving Penycadair summit with the stone shelter on the right

The wide flat plateau towards Mynydd Moel

A look back along the fence line descent route

The descent path is quite ardious although there are stone slabs in place but also plenty of churned up turf that can get very wet & boggy. Today wasn't too bad but care needs to be taken.There are also some fine views to be had across to the days route and the high horeshoe that we had completed. the sun was going down so the photo's are a bit hazy but with the wind still blowing around the bowl shaped nature reserve, any waterfalls were being blown backwards. Quite a spectacle really.

Cadair Idris Horeshoe  from the ascent path

James on the rocky descent path

Waterfall being blown back by the strong winds

Looking down onto Tal-y-Llyn

Sun disappearing behind Craig Cau

Into Cadair Idris nature reserve

Donna on the stone bridge at the path junction

All that was left now was to follow the Nant Cadair back down to the car park and we got down just as the light was fading so a good 7 hours spent around this great place. We got back to our base and tucked into a splendid sheperds pie washed down with some acholic drinks till the early hours, splendid :-)

Nant Cadair

Nant Cadair tumbling down through the woods

Nant Cadair tumbling through the woods

Back into the car park at dusk

Great day, thanks to James, Donna & Susan.
Till next time, Andy :-)

Moel Siabod 11-Jan-2014

Well what a start to the new year, better late than never, but well worth the wait. Again, this was another last minute decision as Jill was working all weekend and by Friday I found out that I wasn't and the best day weather wise looked to be on the Saturday so the decision was made to start the new year off on my favourite Welsh mountain, Moel Siabod. I had tried to start the year off on Snowdon on new years day but the weather hasn't played ball at all, lots of rain and gale force winds don't make walking the mountains much fun for me so when a day like Saturday comes round, you have to take advantage if you can. The forecast was for a good clear day with plenty of sun and very little wind but when I left home and traveled down the motorway, something wasn't quite right! Lots of rain, wind and even a hail storm made for quite a slow drive and luckily there was not much traffic about.

Dark stormy skies on the drive down

Although the weather was pretty bleak on the drive down, by the time I pulled in the car park at the Bryn  Glo Cafe it had stopped raining and the skies looked promising. So boots on and all things in check it was off, past the raging Afon Llugwy waterfalls, over the bridge and up the steep lane past the farm and the newly built Siabod Cottages and onto the track with great views of Moel Siabod ahead.

Afon Llugwy waterfalls

Rhos Farm with the Crimpiau, and the eastern fringe of the Carneddau as a backdrop

Moel Siabod Cottages

Moel Siabod ahead

It was on this path that I missed my turning to the left as I was chatting to another walker and forgot all about the path I wanted to take!! I was hoping to take the path that goes through the old quarry with lots of old buildings and follow the path around towards an unamed Llyn and across rock outcrops and come up behind Llyn y Foel. I have wanted to do this different approach to Moel Siabod for sometime now so I guess I'll have to make another trip to do it. Any excuse :-) When I got to the unamed Llyn on the main path I decided to take a left and work my round and across some slightly boggy ground towards other rocky outcrops and get on the ridge that I had set my sights on a bit earlier. It was quite easy going and it provided some great views of Siabod and all around

On the approach to the unamed Llyn

The way round the Llyn on an old dam wall

Following the stream towards the lefthand rock outcrop

View towards the descent ridge and another old slate quarry on the main path

View down to the Llyn I was hoping to visit

Iced over grassy gully I took

View back down the gully

As I made my way through heather, boggy ground and rocks, the views of Moel Siabod and the distant Carneddau started to open up and this is where I had my first good 15 minute rest just enjoying the solitude and the awesomeness that this place has to offer

Moel Siabod from the wild side

Cloud and snow capped distant Carneddau

Moel Siabod reflections

Just taking it all in

From here it's an easy walk ahead following a small ridge that takes you above Llyn y Foel and the start of the exciting scramble up the Deaer Ddu Ridge. It's a way up that can be as easy or as difficult as you make it. There are various lines to take and plenty of foot and hand holds on the rock. There are also plenty of grassy gullies and also a path that skirts around the bottom that takes you away from any scrambling if you so desire. There are enough ways up for all. Me, I prefer the excitement of the rocky scramble

Easy walk towards Llyn y Foel

Sunbeams over Dolwyddelan

Looking back

Llyn y Foel and the Daear Ddu Ridge

Llyn y Foel and Moel Siabod

Wild and Rugged

Start of the Daear Ddu Ridge

After another 15 minute rest it was time for the excitement to begin. Now I'm no mountain goat and I prefer to take things a bit on the easy side, take timeouts for the views and to just enjoy the day, and as it happened it was turning out to one of those days that you don't want to end. Sun was out, a small amount of mist would roll in and out, very little breeze and a bit on the cool side. There was a bit of ice around and some of the rocks had wet moss on them so a bit more care was taken. There was a small amount of snow from earlier in the day when the hail storm that I went through on the motorway a few hours earlier, had dumped a bit of snow over the mountains. Not enough for the use of spikes or anything, just a few token milimetres or so to make the place more wintery. It was just one perfect day :-)

Looking down on Llyn y Foel

Up the ridge we go

I like to stick by the edge but there are more gentle ways up

Mist rolling in and out

Misty views towards the coast at Barmouth

High view down the ridge and Llyn y Foel

View along the descent ridge

Moel Siabod Summit

On reaching the summit I decided that I wouldn't sit in the shelter as there was minimum wind and all the main tops were clear of any cloud so I just found a spot and enjoyed the views in one of the best lunch spots I know. There was one or two other walkers about taking advantage of one of the best days of the year so far. A joy to be able to forget about the daily routines for a bit although I did wish that my daughter and Jill could share the day but hey, there'll be others so I got on with it :-)

Obligatory summit photo

Snowdon Massif takes centre stage surrounded by the Hebog range, Gyderau & Carneddau ranges

Cnicht on the right, Moelwyn Mawr on the left

Lunchtime view

Sunny view over Southern Snowdonia

Snow capped Snowdon Horseshoe

I was here about 30 minutes or so before the cold told me to get a move on so it was a gentle pace on down towards the ridge for another exciting rocky scramble. To be fair, it's not really a scramble as such, only in a few places do you use hands on rock but it is a great way to descend with the stunning views continuing all the way. Again, there was a bit of ice knocking about and some of the rocks were a bit on the slippy side so it was another good excuse just to take my time and make it last.

Descent with a view

Daear Ddu Ridge

Look back to a winter sun soaked summit

It's a long way down

The rocky ascent ridge

View down to Llyn y Foel

Views go on for miles

Another long way down

Look back along the ridge

Snow capped Carneddau and the twin lakes Llynnau Mymbyr

The last bit of the descent ridge

View down to the old quarry and the Llyns

View back up to the end of the ridge

Coming off the ridge is pretty straight forward as you follow a scree path and grass bank down towards the main path of the ascent. Care is needed as it can get quite wet/slippery/icy, depending on the weather. Today was all three and as the sun isn't on this area for long at this time of the year you do have to watch your step. Having said that, there was two fell runners that past me at quite a speed running down!! A different breed that lot. Too fast indeed to even get a photo of them!

On the way down with the shadow of Moel Siabod on it's way over Capel Curig

A bit icy

Rocky section of the path

Starts to get a bit boggy in this gully

Made it safe and dry

Before I made my way back to the car I took a detour to look round the old quarry pit and buildings where I should of been earlier in the morning.Quite a few old buildings and a large fenced off pit shows how hard life was back in the day. A good way to finish off the days walking that most people seem to miss.

Old quarry houses

Quarry pit

After a good look round it was back to the car and the short drive to Plas y Brenin for one last photo of Moel Siabod and Snowdon as the sun was going down. The cloud had rolled in over the summit of Snowdon but Siabod was all clear. A great end to another awesome day on my favourite Welsh mountain, Moel Siabod

Moel Siabod from Plas y Brenin

Sun going down behind Snowdon

The approximate route I took with a detour round the quarry at the end