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Spring Walk, June 2011, Snowdonia,
09/06/2011 - 13/06/2011
Thursday 9th June.
Two cars travelled up to Betws-y-Coed, Ian took Paul, Graham and Dave and Andy took Steve and John. Both had uneventful journeys apart from Andy's car going via the old haunts of Andy's and Steve's of Stafford and Eccleshall. This wasn't actually deliberate, it was a case of nobody in the car realising that the M54 turning isn't accessible from the M6 toll road and therefore required a “slight” detour. (Note from SB. Actually Andy said ‘Trust me I know where I’m going’).
Unbelievably both cars arrived in Betws-y-Coed within a couple of minutes of each other around midday. Lunch was taken in the Caban-y-Pair cafe before donning boots and other suitable attire for a 4 to 5 mile walk around Lleyn (Lake) Elsi, down to Afon (River) Llugwy which was crossed via the miners bridge then back down to Betws along the north bank of the river. A very pleasant walk in fine weather with the odd light shower.
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It was then time to drive into the Snowdon massif proper and to Pen-y-Pass Youth Hostel, but not before sampling a couple of local pints of ale (Purple Moose Madog's Ale and Glaslyn Ale) in the Pen-y-Gwryd Hotel.
Dinner at the hostel was fairly basic, a choice of burger, quiche or vegetable stew. This required washing down with more ale from the Pen-y-Gwryd Hotel a mile walk back downhill on the twisty road without footpath, followed by a mile walk back up the said road as darkness fell. A good job it wasn't a Friday which brings the mad cap weekenders from Manchester and beyond.
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Friday 10th June.
With the weather set fair for a few hours and rain forecast later it was decided to give Snowdon a crack. Andy, Steve, John, Dave and Paul set off from Pen-y-Pass with an early start (8.45 is early by normal standards) to do the Snowdon horseshoe consisting of Crib Goch, Carnedd Ugain, Y Wyddfa (Snowdon) and Y Lliwedd. Ian and Graham set off slightly later via the Pyg Track to Snowdon. The Crib Goch virgins were suitably impressed with the tent like ridge and exposure to the several hundred feet drops on both sides. Dave, (poor pensioner that he is), even retrieved his walking pole that he had dropped 30 to 40 feet down towards oblivion! You can get a new pair in Llanberis for 2/6d you know!
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Unbelievably (again), the two parties arrived at the summit within a few minutes of each other. Excellent views were to be had but it looked as if the weather was closing in. Lunch was taken in the stylish “new” cafe come visitor centre come refuge. Some of the party, having eyes bigger than their bellies, gorged themselves on huge Welsh “cornish” pasties.
The full compliment of 7, set off together into a virtual white-out of hail/snow. The forecast rain, had arrived but at this level it fell as dry white stuff. Andy's choice of direct route down looked to be suspect, “like walking off the edge of a cliff” would be the appropriate cliché, but he had been outside some minutes earlier and done a recky before the route had disappeared from view and all was well.
It's not clear whether Ian didn't like the look of it or just fancied another cup of tea at the top because after 10 minutes of following the rest he retraced his steps to the cafe and returned down to Llanberis via the tourist route. Then there were 6.
The hail turned to rain as we descended towards Lliwedd but this eventually cleared to give blue sky for the tricky scramble down to Llyn Llydaw but with great views across to our ascent routes and the Snowdon summit itself. A very pleasant stroll along the level Miners Track saw us back to Pen-y-Pass at around 15.45pm.
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The drive down Llanberis Pass to Llanberis was very scenic. To kill time before the hostel opened Andy, Steve and John stopped off at the Padarn Hotel in Llanberis, another old haunt of Andy's from his long gone climbing days with Dave Wiseman, (now there's a name from the past). Seated outside they soaked up the rays and a few pints by way of reward for their days efforts, whilst Paul, Graham, Dave and Ian preferred tea and bites at Pete's Eats. Having settled in at Llanberis hostel, Andy, Steve and John (the breakaway rebels!) walked down town for fish and chips, the rest had a fine meal in the hostel. More evening refreshment was taken by all in the Victoria Hotel and the Gwyneth Hotel.
Saturday 11th June.
A circular route back to Llanberis via Snowdon Ranger, Mynydd Mawr (698m), and Waunfawr village was the plan for the day, a round trip of around 12 miles, including 2 by train, and the weather was set fair.
Another earlyish start on a track to the rear of the hostel soon saw us onto open ground and onto the gradual path up to Bwlch Maesgwm (Telegraph Pass). After the pass we descended down to the Caernarvon to Beddgelert road crossing the Snowdon Ranger path that leads to Snowdon on the way.
After a short refreshment break we started up the stiff climb to Mynydd Mawr, passing impressive steep gullies down to the valley floor below. From the summit we were rewarded with fantastic 360o panoramic views of the Lleyn Peninsular, Anglesey, the Menai Straits and the Snowdon massif itself. We didn't hang around too long as it was on the chilly side, although very sunny. Also we were hoping to catch the 1.30 steam train from Plas-y-Nant to Waunfawr on the narrow gauge Welsh Highland Line to save us a couple of miles (not really – we just like steam engines).
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We headed off down the the steepish NorthWest side of the mountain and it soon became obvious that we were going to miss the train, so a slight detour was made around and through an “enchanted forest” where the path was either overgrown or virtually faded to nothing. We eventually emerged onto the road and stopped for lunch at the Tafarn Snowdonia Parc Brew Pub at Waunfawr. We sat out in the sunshine with excellent ale (Snowdonia Ale and Carmen Sutra ale) and baguettes or sandwiches followed by a brief visit to their micro-brewery - we didn't want to leave, however with 3 miles still to go over the ridge followed by a fair drive to Betws-y-Coed Youth Hostel we saw sense.
In the evening we all ate at the hostel all around a big round table. Later on we retired to the downstairs bar for more refreshments.
Sunday 12th June.
For our planned walk up Moel Siabod the forecast was was not looking favourable with rain and gale force winds on the tops.
After some very hearty breakfasts catered by the Swallow Falls Hotel we set off anyhow knowing we had various shorter and lower options. As the drizzle turned to rain we donned full waterproofs and as the low cloud completely obscured Moel Siabod we turned off the track and made our way down to the road where 6 of us crossed safely at The Ugly House. Ian “hardnut” Cousins, following his customary 100yards behind, then had a “discussion” with a passing motorist. The others waiting ahead thought he was just giving directions but it turned out that the “boy racer” was very upset because the traffic had stopped to let Ian cross and he was giving Ian a mouthful of abuse!!! Why does it only happen to Ian?
We turned east along a forested track towards Betwy-y-Coed and continued along the river walk, getting a free glimpse of Swallow Falls on the way. Lunch was take at The Bistro in Betws-y-Coed and was followed by a spending spree in the outdoor shops, and it was still raining.
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We headed back up the hill to the Youth Hostel in the Swallow Falls Hotel complex where we had hot showers and changed, had a couple of beers in the hotel and headed back down to town for dinner in The Bistro. Six lamb shanks and one steak special later (guess who was the odd one out!!) we went to the Gwesty Glan Aber Hotel for one for the road and headed back to the Swallow Falls Hotel, and it was still raining. John & Steve and Paul & Andy relived their distant youth with a game of table football. After some flashes of brilliance from both sides John & Steve ran out lucky winners by 2 close games to 1!
Monday 13th June.
After another hearty breakfast provided by the Swallow Falls Hotel complex, all part of the deal with the Youth Hostel, both cars set off out of Snowdonia down the A5 towards Llangollen (and of course Dunstable) to have a look at the Horseshoe Pass.
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Elevenses was taken at the Ponderosa Cafe at the pass summit before heading up a short climb to Moel-y-Fain in fair weather. Superb 360o views were observed including the Welsh Borders to the South and Snowdonia to the NorthWest. On the descent we searched in vain for the famous Blue Pool among the quarry workings below. One huge pit strangely had a warning sign by it saying “Deep Water” - but somebody must have pulled a giant plug out as there was no sign of the promised deep azure lagoon!
Note: With the benefit of a Google Maps aerial shot back at home, it turned out that we had missed the Blue Pool by about 50 meters, we had spotted the back wall of a quarry in the right area but couldn't get to it due to a dodgy looking high ridge of spoil.
Back at the Ponderosa it was time to say our goodbyes. Ian's party had an uneventful trip home whilst Andy's car took a detour to Trevor Basin on the Llangollen canal and walked over the very impressive 120 feet high Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.
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This was another successful summer walk planned and organised by Paul, even the weather allowed us to squeeze in some excellent walking with some outstanding views. The beer wasn't bad either!
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