Well what a surprise visit this was. Sat in the curry house on Saturday night just chatting away and talking about the forth coming fine weather led to me camping out on the Monday evening hopefully getting up Snowdon for a glorious sunrise early Tuesday morning. None of that as my alarm failed to go off and it was too cloudy anyway so plan B was put in place, the classic ridge walk over Crib Goch :-) I haven't done it for a while so needed to get it out of my system and to make it a more interesting day I decided on the horn, at the very last minute, then part way up the East Face going up to Crib Goch, a detour to go along the Goat/Sheep path that takes you to the North Ridge and up on to Crib Goch. From there it was up on to Garnedd Ugain then Snowdon. Also spent a bit of time watching the RAF
Training Helicopter flying around. On my return I came straight down the
Pyg Track. 8 fantastic hours in the most glorious weather. Sunny with a
slight breeze, cool to start with but hotting up on the descent. As I
needed to be at Bangor for 5.30pm to pick Jill up I took my time doing
the excellent ridge walk and scrambling making the most of it, hung
around a quiet Snowdon summit for about 45 minutes before the straight
forward and quiet descent back to Pen y Pass. A very recommended route
away from the crowds if you like your scrambling on the ascent paths and
stunning views all round. A great day on this most wonderful mountain. Please note that this route has a lot of ridge scrambling and big
long drops. Only really consider this route if you are confident with
exposure and have a head for heights.
As I have put this walk up before I'll just include some photo's and video I took.
My route for the day
Weather report
Looking down towards Llanberis from the climb up on the Horns
Snowdon Horseshoe from the Horns
Towards a cloud topped Snowdon and Llyn Lydaw
On the Horns with Moel Siabod as a backdrop
The way on to Crib Goch
Going up the start of the East Face of Crib Goch
Pick a line and up you go
Start of the Goats Path
View down the Dyffryn Mymbyr & Plas y Brenin from the Goats Path
Zoomed in on the twin lakes, Llynnau Mymbyr, and campsite
On the faint Goats Path
Looking across to the Glyderau mountains and down towards Llanberis
Short scree slope on the the North Ridge
More grippy foot holds at the start
The North Ridge leading on to Crib Goch
Fine Views back down to Pen Y Pass
The North Ridge
Looking back down the North Ridge
Start of Crib Goch
Video of the Horns & North Ridge
RAF Training helicopter
Looking along my route up to the pointy top of Snowdon
Crib Goch Summit
On the Pinnacles
View back from the Pinnacles
View back along Crib Goch & The North Ridge
Straight up and over The Wall
View of Llyn Lydaw on the left & Glaslyn on the right
A short video of Crib Goch
Ridge scramble up to Garnedd Ugain
Great views down to the lakes
A look back on the fine ridge walk
Garnedd Ugain summit with Snowdon behind
Looking over to Snowdon and Y Llwedd
Video of the RAF Training Heicopter
Snowdon summit views of my route over Crib Goch & Garnedd Ugain
Far reaching summit views
Summit views down the South Ridge and over to the coast
Snowdon Train from Llanberis to the Summit
Train on the return to Llanberis from the summit
Pyg Track marker post. My descent path
Looking down on the zig-zags on the Pyg Track
People enjoying the afternoon sun around Glaslyn
Looking up to Crib Goch
Last look from the path junction of the Horns, Crib Goch & Pyg Track
Back at basecamp
watching the sun go down on a great day
The moon rising over Moel Siabod to end the perfect day
A few weeks ago, Terri, my daughter, asked me if I wanted to go for a walk, not a boring walk but a good walk in the mountains :-) After a bit of thought I suggested that we revisit the Glyderau mountains in Snowdonia, Glyder Fach & Glyder Fawr, that we did almost two years ago to the day. On that day, it was a surprise walk as she presented me with a gift of a pair of cuff-links to celebrate Fathers Day and for me to wear at her forthcoming wedding later that year. That walk should of been on Fathers Day 2013 but the weather that day meant we had to postpone it for a few weeks and also change the area as I had wanted to visit Scafell Pike in the Lake District. We should of stood on the Cantilever that day but as there was a thick mist about the summit we missed that land mark so this walk was to make up for that. CLICK HERE FOR A SUPRISE IN THE GLYDERAU
The route we took was the more conventional one as we started at the Ogwen Valley visitor Centre and followed the well laid out path up to the wall at Bwlch Tryfan and then the Miners Path up to Llyn Caseg Fraith. We came across ROCKY on our way up, the keeper of Ogwen and I was lucky to escape it's clutches, a near miss!!
Our route for the day
On the main path out from the visitor centre
A patch of light brightens up the overcast morning
Hello Rocky :-)
Just managed to wrestle free :-)
On the approach to Bwlch Tryfan
Following the Miners Path
It was here, just as we started on the miners path that the weather changed from being quite settled to suddenly very windy with a bit of rain. Although the clouds kept on rolling in and out up to now the rain had stayed away and thankfully it was only a brief 20 minute shower, enough to make us put waterproofs on but by the time we reached the Llyn it had blown over and become quite bright, we were hopeful of some good views!!
Here comes the rain
Looking back towards a misty Tryfan
All clear at the top of the miners path with a distant Moel Siabod and Foel Goch in the foreground
From here it was quite a straight forward up hill walk to the rocky summit of Glyder Fach and onto the Cantilever Stone :-) Luckily for us, there was another couple there so we got them to take our photo and we took theirs. A bit misty and very windy, infact the wind here was quite strong with a bite to it and despite all the rocks and boulders there isn't much shelter to be had so after a few photos we haeded off towards Castell y Gwynt aka Castle Of the Winds, where today it lived up to its name!
From Tryfan to Moel Siabod
The rocky way up to Glyder Fach
On the Cantilever Stone
Castell y Gwynt aka Castle Of the Winds
Having a play on the Castle
A misty view down to Llyn Bochlwyd from the top of the castle
After a bit of playing on the rocky Castle, it was on towards the even more rocky summit of Glyder Fawr, the highest point in the Glyderau @ 3283ft and the fifth highest in Wales. The weather by now had cleared up and we were getting some good views all roud. It was still windy with a distinct chill to it but at least we found shelter where we settled down for a bite to eat while taking in the fine views.
Looking back on a now clear Castell y Gwynt
Clear way forward on to Glyder Fawr
A clear view down to Llyn Bochlwyd
On the approach to Glyder Fawr's rocky summit
Looking back towards Glyder Fach from Glyder Fawr
The heart of Snowdonia
Taking shelter from the wind
After a good rest we made our way down the horrible scree slope to Llyn y Cwm before making our way down the Devils Kitchen and the shore of Llyn Idwal
Coming off Glyder Fawr on the approach to the scree slope down
Looking across to a cloud covered Snowdon
On the steep scree descent with Y Garn opposite
Clear views across to the Carneddau and Tryfan on the right
Llyn Y Cwn
Great views from the top of the devils kitchen path down to Llyn Idwal and across to Pen y Ole Wen
Looking up to the Devils Kitchen
Llyn Idwal
The last bit of the walk is done on an easy to follow and well laid out path straight back to the Visitor Centre in the Ogwen Valley. After a misty start with a little rain, the day brightened up although quite windy especially on the summits but ended in bright sunshine which was quite warm Another great day out in the mountains of Snowdonia and a great way to spend Fathers Day with my daughter. Thanks Terri x :-)
