A Welsh Weekend Adventure - 1 - The Wild Side of Snowdon...

The last weekend of October saw me heading back to North Wales for another short adventure in the

mountains of Snowdonia. It was a chance to make a couple more videos and try out my new camping setup in out of season conditions, though while the first night's storms posed no problem in the micro

camper, (some people did struggle under canvas) the minus two Celsius recorded on the second night was decidedly chilly and required double sleeping bags. My chosen site was Dolgam at Capel Curig - a long time favourite of mine and the chosen objectives were Snowdon by the South Ridge and Glyder Fawr from near the Pen y Gwryd hotel. Also worth a mention are the fish and chips from the Old Shop in Betws Y Coed - an integral part of my outings here.

Below is detailed day one of the weekend, with a link today two to day two at the end. Posts here will now include - as well as the usual photos - video clips I made on the way which can also be viewed at my new You Tube channel. Enjoy...

The route from Rhyd-Ddu up the South Ridge of Snowdon is probably my favourite way to the top of

Snowdon from Rhyd-Ddu

the the highest mountain in Wales; it's varied and interesting and finishes with the exciting but problem-free ridge of Bwlch Main leading on towards the summit. Also, the crowds of tourists who don't take the train usually climb Snowdon from Llanberis or Pen y Pass and avoid this much quieter and wilder side of the mountain. My descent was by the route called the Rhyd Ddu path which lies a little to the west of the ascent route.

Having left my camp at Capel Curig I arrived at Rhyd-Ddu not far from the village of Beddgelert. Leaving the car park (£5 per day) I set out crossing the Welsh Highland Railway and in five minutes turning right through a gate to the open mountainside. A wide and easy path soon led to a fork in the trail where the Rhyd-Ddu path leaded left - this would be my descent route - and I headed straight on directly towards the obvious col or saddle between Snowdon and the lower peak of Yr

Mining was once in evidence here

Aran.

Just before the col, the path is overlooked by ruined stone buildings that resemble something out of a Tolkien novel, but they are actually remnants of the quarrying and mining industry from this region's past. Also evident are several deep chasms that show evidence of quarrying but beware - some of these are around a hundred feet deep so don't fall down one! The path itself is safe though and soon leads to the col where I had some food and water behind the wall and out of the chilly breeze, before continuing the journey. From the col the main path is seen coming up from Bethania and if you start from there, returning by the Watkin Path would be another good circular hike. For reference, the col between Snowdon and Yr Aran is at about 510 m or 1700 feet.

Views on the South Ridge

The ascent of Yr Aran (747 m) to the south is also well worth the effort but my route headed up the South Ridge on a good path with stone steps up the early steep parts of the slope. It was only once up here, that I saw the first other hikers of the day, milling around on the col where I'd just rested. This really is the wild side of Snowdon and following the easy path as it climbs the ridge one can really appreciate one's surroundings in peace and quiet which would be less easy on the more popular trails.

About half way up, a rocky step in the ridge is reached that is surmounted by an easy scramble over the rocks on its left (western) side. The way is obvious and adds some excitement to the route though it's not difficult. Above the ridge continues in easy fashion with ever expanding views far to the south and closer up of the rugged heart of

Y Lliwedd from the South Ridge

Snowdon and its surrounding peaks. My own views were increasingly obscured by lowering cloud and some light rain showers at this point, though the weather cleared slightly as I reached the end of the Bwlch Main ridge at about 3050 feet.

Here the character of the walk changed again and a narrow crest led on towards the summit of Snowdon which was still obscured by cloud somewhere ahead. This is the best part of the walk and while on first sight it might look daunting from some aspects, there is a good path and even on the crest the way is without difficulty, though after winter snow this would not be the case.

Hiker on the Bwlch Main

The Rhyd-Ddu path climbed up the slope to the left to join my route at the start of this section and the two routes converged to cross the Bwlch Main. At the far end a stone pillar marks the descent by the Watkin Path and the Snowdon Horseshoe route where it continues via Y Lliwedd to Pen y Pass. A rough but steady climb now brought me up the last couple of hundred feet to where the summit station of the Snowdon Mountain Railway appeared out of the swirling mists. Just beyond the station and its attendant crowds of tourists rose Y Wyddfa, the highest point of Wales at 1085 m or 3560 feet above sea level, which is attained by rocky steps behind the station. I might have had the trail to myself but not so the summit,

Looking down from Bwlch Main

and I now shared this lofty belvedère with both fellow walkers and train passengers who had arrived here by the power of steam.

The view had vanished but the winds of Snowdon were producing a strange effect; a tunnel through the cloud had appeared on the eastern side of the peak that brought to mind the time vortex in Doctor Who - if you watch the video you will see what I mean. It was likely caused by the wind channeling over and around the peak and when Clara Oswald failed to appear, I decided to make my way back down.

My descent route today lay back over the Bwlch Main ridge and down to the right at its far end on the Rhyd-Ddu path where it joined my ascent route. This path - as its name would suggest - leads back to Rhyd-Ddu this time down the ridge known as

The Wild Side of Snowdon

Llechog which is a broad and stony shoulder of the mountain that overlooks the wild Cwm Clogwyn to the north. This path can also be used in ascent though I prefer doing the circuit this way around as the South Ridge is the more interesting way of the two. In total the walk is about 12 km with just over 900 m of ascent and descent.

Waiting to see if the Tardis would appear!

And here's Day 2...
 Pen y Gwryd to Glyder Fawr

and the film of day 1 - check out the Dr Who Time Vortex effect near the end...