#25.Snowdon Rollercoaster.17-4-11.

Glyno had mentioned this walk to me a while back and asked if i fancy walking it one day and after googling it i said yes.The route was from Llanberis up to Moel Eilio and then Foel Gron,Foel Goch,Moel Cynghorion and up to Yr Wyddfa,it then follow's the Llanberis path back to the village,a nice route but i thought i could spice it up and add a bit more interest to it.Me and Julie have stayed at the Royal Victoria Hotel 3 times recently and have got to know Steffan who own's the Penceunant Isaf cafe,we alway's pop in for a drink after walking in the area and he said i could use his car park any time i'm in the area so i thought this would be an ideal starting point for the walk,we could then take in the ridge to the east of the Llanberis Path thus adding Derlwyn,Moel Tryfan,Llechog and Crib y Ddysgl to the route,now this would be some walk !
       There were a lot of Walking Forum meet up's planned for today but i noticed a few of my friend's were not attending them so i got in touch with them and arranged to meet Glyno,Killy and Julian C.Glyn and Killy met at my house at 6.30a.m. and we set off to meet Julian at the cafe.The forecast i saw was for cloud and possibly rain but Glyn had seen a different forecast and it gave a clear sunny day ?.The journey to Llanberis soon passed and it was a beautiful sunny cloudless day.We pulled into the small cafe car park just before 8a.m. and Julian arrived soon after,as we were getting our boot's on Steffan poked his head out his bedroom window and told us to wait there,he came out to tell us that we could only leave one car there as there was a charity walk on today and they needed most of the car park so Julian took his car down to the village and Killy followed him to ferry him back up.Whilst they were gone Steffan brought 2 massive mug's of tea out for us and the 4 of us shared them.We started walking just after 8 on the Llanberis Path but soon left this and gained height to reach the ridge and got some lovely view's.Looking across to Moel Eilio.

Down to Llanberis.

Across to Moel Cynghorion.

In less then 1 mile we had ascended 800 feet to reach the summit of  Derlwyn.Looking across Moel Eilio looked a long long way away.This ridge offer's great view's and fantastic peaceful walking as nobody bother's to make the effort to walk here,everybody just trudge's up the Llanberis Path to Yr Wyddfa's summit,they are definately missing out.Elidir Fawr's scarred south side.

Another 500 feet of ascent and less then 1 mile we reached Moel Tryfan and a similar ascent and distance and we were on Llechog.We had been walking now for over 1 hour and it was very hot so we had a break here and i put some sun cream on,we all remarked that we regretted not wearing short's and not leaving our wet gear in the car which would of made our bag's lighter.View up the Llanberis Pass.

We passed Clogwyn Station and watched a train descending and then in just over half a mile ascended the 1,000 feet to reach the summit of Crib y Ddysgl.

The summit of Crib y Ddysgl with Moel Eilio and Anglesey beyond.

Looking across to Crib Goch we could see people carefully traversing the arete and lot's of walker's below us on the Pyg and Miner's Path's aiming for Yr Wyddfa.

We walked down to the monlith at the top of the zig-zags and then up to the highest point in Wales,it had taken us 3 hour's.The train's were running up to the summit and this coupled with the walker's and cyclist's made for a very crowded summit.

After a few photo's we made our way across to the Snowdon Ranger Path and descended down to the top of Cwm Brwynog for a break.The cyclist's were soon shooting past us at speed.On the summit of Yr Wyddfa i stupidly made a comment that we had broken the back of the walk,little did i know how hard the remaining 4 mountain's and nigh on 6 mile's was going to be and i was frequently reminded of my comment by the boy's over the last part of the walk,especially on the ascent's when i was struggling.It was here that the conversation turned to top trump's and we joked about a Walking Forum pack and poor old Howie was getting most of the stick.Julian made a brilliant card of Howie later when he got home.Below,our route ahead.

The walk is aptly named as it was now a roller coaster walk as we walked over Moel Cynghorion,Foel Goch,Foel Gron in quick succession,well they were quick and i was slow,to reach the summit cairn on Moel Eilio.Looking back to Yr Wyddfa.

Looking back over Moel Cynghorion to Yr Wyddfa and a train arriving at the summit.

Foel Gron and Moel Eilio.

Heading back to Llanberis.

Last look back to Yr Wyddfa and satellite peak's.

We descended north following the fence and then turned north east down Braich y Foel to reach the railway line,a short walk up the line over the Afon Arddu bridge.

Our way ahead now was across a few field's and we finally reached the cafe where Steffan brought us free cloudy lemonade out to drink.It took 7 hour's and 15 minutes and we walked 11.5 mile's with 5,550 feet of ascent taking in 9 mountain's,an absolutely brilliant walk made even better with the company,these lad's are very very witty and we laughed all the way around,and the weather was awesome.


MILEAGE        173
ASCENT         66,450
TOPS              56

#24.Whitford Cross.16-4-11.

A short walk was the order of the day with Julie recovering from illness and with my massive walk tomorrow.We parked in Whitford and walked up the lane and entered the field's near Garreg Farm,seen here.

We then made our way to Coed y Garreg Forest.

We then detoured to see the Pharos.This round stone structure is reputedly a Roman lighthouse built to help ship's navigating up the Dee Estuary.Other's think it is a 17th century watchtower,built to give warning of pirate raid's.

We next visited Maen Achwyfan (Whitford Cross) a short distance away.

The function of the stone is uncertain,here is the information board's description.

A short walk down quiet country lane's to reach Whitford and it's lovely church.

Distance of walk was 3 mile with 450 feet of ascent.

MILEAGE        161.5
ASCENT          60,900
TOPS                47.

#23.Crib Goch,Llechog linear walk.11-4-11.

A meet up was arranged on the walking forum to enable the member's to get some 1. fitness in for the 15 peak challenge and 2. to find a route off Llechog down to Nant Peris,as i was on my day's off i was able to join them.The idea was to all meet in Nant Peris and leave our car's there and go up to Pen y Pass in Joe's people carrier,walk over the "Horn's",Crib Goch,Crib y Ddysgl,Llechog,down into Nant Peris and then up Elidir Fawr.I arranged to travel with Steve (gotmeheadshaved) so he travelled from Stoke and left his car at my house and we set off at 6.30 a.m. on a glorious sunny morning.The last 3 day's were very sunny and hot in Wrexham and the forecast for Snowdonia was for rain in the morning and to brighten up in the afternoon.By the time i had driven to the Rhug Estate it had gone cloudy and looking westward the sky was very dark.On the A4086 from Capel Curig it was very misty and i had to put the headlight's on and when i pulled in to Pen y Pass to use the toilet's it was a right pea souper.Within 100 metres of leaving the car park going down the Llanberis Pass unbelievably there was no mist at all,we could see all the mountain top's in the valley and it was sunny.We pulled into the Nant Peris car park at 8a.m. and waited for the other's.This is the view from the car park.

Soon Joe,Kirsch (Little Bird) and Paul (Barlos) turned up and suited and booted we headed back up to Pen y Pass to meet a waiting Glyno and Paul (Cogstar),it was still very very misty at the car park.The decision was taken to leave the Horn's out and to ascend the Pyg Track as it was misty but again within 100 metres of leaving the car park it was clear giving us some great view's down the Pass.

I was hoping that the weather forecast was wrong and that it would stay like this all day.As we neared Bwlch y Moch the skies turned black and it started to rain and the cloud covered the top's.We donned our wet coat's and after 30 minutes had reached the Bwlch.Joe had been struggling with an ankle injury and decided to ascend the Pyg Track and visit Yr Wyddfa and meet us where the Llanberis Pass goes under the Railway line to finish the walk with us.As we gained height ascending Crib Goch we were soon in the mist and lost the view's,the wind picked up significantly and the rain got heavier.Cogstar said that when he put's his wet trouser's on the rain generally stop's so he put them on.The rain got worse !.Steve was struggling on the ascent so i stayed back with him whilst the other's pressed on.

It was a difficult ascent as the rock's were very slippery and the wind and rain not helping us either but we soon arrived at the arete to join the other's.I first "walked" across Crib Goch in 1992 and this was my 16th time but these were the worst condition's i have encountered on the traverse,hellishly windy from the north and with a bit of sleet/hail thrown in for good measure.

Kirsch wasn't happy in the condition's and we made slow progress across.We eventually reached the Pinnacles and found a bit of shelter from the wind,relief.The decision was taken to miss out the Pinnacles and to traverse below them on the sheltered south side.We came across a massive rock that had fallen across a gully and we could all fit under it and get out of the rain to grab a bite to eat and a drink.Joe phoned up to say he was at the tunnel waiting for us and i said to the gang that we were a good hour away,he would have to wait for us.I was walking in my new Montane trouser's and they were keeping the water out up until our stop but after leaving our refuge and setting off in the rain i noticed my leg's starting to get wet so i stopped and put my wet trouser's on.Ascending up to Bwlch Coch we were back in the wind which if anything it was getting stronger and as Glyn was leading he made a great decision to stay on the south side of Crib y Ddysgl and found a decent path that ran about 100 metres below the the crest.I remember Howie telling me about this path as he had found it year's ago whilst walking in the mist and it brought him out by the zig-zags.After 50 metres on this path the rain stopped and amazingly the cloud lifted revealing the cwm in all her glory.

The path soon petered out and turned to scree but we were not far from the zig-zags and carefully walked across to them and came out by the wooden poles which are now adorned with coin's !.

We walked up to the monolith and turned right down the Llanberis path.We hadn't seen a soul all day as we were the only ones mad enough to go over Crib Goch but there were quite a few on the Pyg and Miner's path and load's coming up from Llanberis,yes the trainer's,short's and carrier bag brigade were out in force,we were passing a right motley crew as we were descending.It was still very windy but sunny and the view's were good.

1 hour and 15 minutes after Joe had phoned us we eventually reached him by the tunnel and he was freezing,poor thing so we immediately set off for Llechog which we soon arrived at.We located the stile and descended steeply down the north face.We couldn't find a path and the going was tough over heather,rock,scree,bog,moss,steep drop's,generally it was horrible.

Glyn and Joe had spotted a path/sheep track ? over to our left so we made for this and the going got a bit easier for a while.We eventually reached the Afon Nant Peris and in the 1 mile from Llechog we had dropped down 1,800 feet !.The river was shallow but Kirsch said she knew of a bridge down stream and set off with Joe and Barlos to find it,me,Glyn and Steve just waded across the river and cogstar went upstream to find a crossing.We reached the boardwalk a short distance from the car park and soon we were all reunited.On the descent i asked Steve if he wanted to do Elidir Fawr but he said he was shattered and didn't fancy it so i told the other's that we wouldn't be climbing it and everybody made the decision to leave it as it had been a tough day.I took Glyn and cogstar back up to Pen y Pass and we all drove to the Tyn y Coed to have a pint with Barlos and a de-brief.All in all it was a great day out and we clocked up 6 miles with 2,800 feet of ascent.


MILEAGE        156.5
ASCENT          60,450
TOPS               47.

#22.Bryn Alyn Limestone Pavement.3-4-11.

We only wanted a small walk today as we had quite a few drink's last night with my cousin Garry who was over from the Isle of Man and we woke up with thick head's this morning.It was a glorious sunny morning and like a fool i didn't check the weather forecast and took all our wet gear out of the rucksack,i even suggested that we wear shorts.We left after 10 a.m. for the short drive to Llanferres and after a few miles we could see some moody black cloud's in the sky,oh dear.We had 1 shower driving there that didn't last long and soon the blue skies overhead returned.We parked in the lay-by a little further up the road from the Druid Inn and entered the field and walked down to the River Alyn,crossed this small bridge and looked up to Bryn Alyn.

We passed 3 people,the only people we saw all day,returning to their car absolutely soaked and hoped we would not suffer the same fate.Looking back to where the car is parked.

The path followed this bridle path past a lime kiln and this quarry.

It was still sunny and warm but on the horizon we could see some dark cloud's looming and looking across to Moel Famau she was in cloud.

With the sun shining and the rain cloud's in the area we saw quite a few rainbow's today.

After passing a few cottages the path rises steeply up to Bryn Alyn through some trees.

There are a few geo-caches up here and as luck would have it one of them was hidden in an old shaft that has been mined and as we got there it started to rain so we sheltered in there until it stopped.

The hill is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and form's part of the Clwyd Range Area of Outstanding Natural  Beauty and stand's at a height of 408 metres,1,338 feet and give's you fantastic view's in all direction's.We now headed for the Limestone Pavement which is the second largest in Wales,seen here to the left of the hill with Moel Gyw to the right.

They are called limestone pavement's because they are flat and have crack's in them like a pavement,rain get's into these crack's and dissolves the limestone and form's block's which are called Clints and deep crack's are called Grikes,seen here.

Walking across to the summit we were hit by the mother of all rain shower's,it absolutely hammered down for 10 minutes and we got drenched,i wish the wet gear was in the rucksack,tool.The sun immediately came out and to be fair dried us out very quickly and we could again enjoy the view's.

The wind was a little bit keen to sit on the summit and have our break so we dropped down a couple of hundred feet and found some shelter to have a cuppa and still have a decent view.

It started to cloud over again so we made a hasty retreat and just got back to the car as it started raining again.We clocked up 3.5 miles with 1,150 feet of ascent today.


MILEAGE     148.5
ASCENT      37,550
TOPS             45.