After a year without mountains to make way for Japan, I had planned to return to Scotland – more specifically Braemar – to meet the SMG and get some more Munros under my belt.
Due to circumstances beyond my control, that had sadly been kyboshed. But, undeterred, I set my sights on a trip to Snowdonia and the hut at Caseg Fraith for my next adventure.
This time, nothing was going to stop me!
I set off from my home in Sussex by train to Sutton in London suburbia. There, I was met by one of our group for the six-hour car journey to the hut, in the foothills of iconic Tryfan near Betws – y – Coed in Snowdonia.
We arrived in the early evening and after meeting up with the rest of our five-man party, we settled down with maps and a pint to catch up and plan our adventures.
The Glyderau
Our first day in Wales dawned wet and windy. And so it was in full waterproofs we headed up the Glyderau on an 11.3 circular route from the hut. I had done both Glyder Fach and Glyder Fawr back in 2012, but this particular route was a new one for me.
We picked up the ridge onto the miner’s track up to Glyder Fach (994m) but we were forced to abandon our (second attempt) to scramble up to the actual summit as the rocks were far too wet and slippery!
We then re-routed over to Glyder Fawr (999m) via Castell – y – Gwynt (Castle of the Winds) via another treacherous ridge walk and actually managed to get to this summit!
Descended over and down Llyn Idwal via the ‘Devil’s Kitchen’ before dropping past Idwal Slabs back to the cottage for a drink and a breather. Myself and the group considered using the hourly bus but – honour satisfied – walked the rest of the way.
Cnicht
Day Two could not have been more different as the over trousers and waterproofs were replaced by shorts, T-shirt, sun lotion and cap.
As part of a ‘recce’ for an upcoming BBMC meet, we decided to follow a route up Cnicht (which I had also done in 2012) – a lovely little mountain dubbed the Welsh Matterhorn owing to its classic profile and rocky, alpine-like terrain.
This was a nice circular route of just under eight miles starting and finishing in the village of Croesor. It took up straight up the mountain via a pleasant and shapely ridge directly to the summit (691m).
As per the route, we left the top over the other side to pick up a winding but steadily descending pass past the ruined former slate works over boggy marshland to rejoin a more distinct path. Followed this all the way back down the valley into Croesor and then headed back in John’s car to the hut.
Pen yr Helgi Du
Our third and final day in Wales saw a new route and a new summit for me, which is always a nice achievement. Phil, David and I (Andy and John had gone to tackle a climbing route on ‘Little Tryfan’) followed the track onto the A5. We followed this for about half a mile before picking up a paved, steadily climbing track up to the reservoir. Then swung up via a tricky scramble on to the Crag yr Ysfa ridge.
Took this to Bwlch Eryl Farchog, then to the exposed and unremarkable summit of Pen yr Helgi Du (833m) (Peak of the black hunting dog). Continued in a southerly direction along the ridge in thick fog and rain before we dropped down other side (via another scramble) to rejoin the path back to the reservoir road and the track. Picked up the road again back to the hut.
York (A)
Everyone went their separate ways the next day. I had decided to extend my trip to visit my aunt in Lancashire for a week. It was really nice to spend some time doing a bit of walking in the Pennines. We went to Skipton and I took myself off up Boulsworth (a vast expanse of moorland at 517m spanning the South Pennines between Pendle and Calderdale). We had a couple of days in York where we went to Jorvik Viking Centre, the Minster, Clifford’s tower, walked the city walls and a river boat trip) and of course plenty of tea and cakes.
All in all, a fantastic twelve days away with dear friends and a beloved relative. A very different trip with a bit of everything and some challenging mountain routes.