#40.Jersey.Gorey to St. Helier 18-8-11.

Having walked the north coast year's ago and most of the west coast i wanted to walk the east and south coast on this trip.There was a fete on in Gorey so me and Julie took the 10 o'clock bus to Gorey and had a walk around the fete first before setting off for St. Helier.It was a beautiful morning and very warm as we walked down Gorey pier.

The castle looking majestic on it's lofty perch.

We left the fete at 11 o'clock and set off for St. Helier.We applied sun cream straight away and i walked with my top off and as soon as we reached the beach we took our walking shoes off as well.It was lovely walking at the waters edge,the sea lapping at our feet.

After stopping for an ice cream the beach started to get pebbley so we put our shoes back on and walked on top of the sea wall.Below is Fort Henry on the Royal Jersey Golf Course.

After the last French invasion in 1781 which happened on this coast Britain built a lot of Round Tower's.These tower's are bigger and predate Martello Tower's,and there are a lot along this stretch of coast,and are all privately owned.

Leaving the Royal Bay of Grouville we rounded La Rocque Point and into St. Clement's Bay.

Below looking out to Icho tower which lies a quarter of a mile out.

Rounding La Nez Point we could now see St. Helier in the distance,but it was a long walk along the beach at La Greve d'Azette.

Luckily now it had clouded over but was still very hot,walking bare foot over the sand was awkward because of the lug worm casts.

Finally we reached Harve Des Pas outdoor swimming pool where we both quickly got into our swimming costumes and plunged into the cooling water's.

Although we both enjoyed this walk it was really uncomfortable as there was no breeze,it was 80 degrees and with us being caked in sun cream we were sweaty and sticky,the swim was heaven.The distance of this walk was 7.5 miles with no ascent !


MILEAGE      301
ASCENT       69,350
TOPS            76.

#39.Y GARN,via the "sheep path" and Foel-goch.2-8-11.

Today's walk saw me return quickly to the Glyderau with Glyno to take in Y Garn via the little walked "sheep path",Foel-goch and returning via a path neither of us had walked.I have noticed 2 stile's at Bwlch y Brecan that lead in the direction of the A5 in the past but don't know anybody who has walked them,and a while back Glyno was talking to the Ogwen Cottage warden who described the path so we decided to try to find it and use it as our route back to the car park.
    The weather forecast was for a cloudy start with rain shower's but to improve by dinner time,so ideally we would have liked to have started out late but we both needed to be back home handy so an early start was arranged.We started walking at 8.45am and looking up to the mountain top's it didn't look to bad,although the skies were grey most of the top's were clear.Below is Foel-goch and the new footbridge at the outflow of Llyn Idwal.

Unfortunately the condition's soon got worse and the mist covered the mountain top's and it started to rain,the Devil's Kitchen looking menacing.

As we rounded the lake via the west bank the rain got heavier so the wet coat's were donned.The rain made the rock's very slippery so great care was needed.We soon made the bottom of the large cleft and we broke away from the main path to locate the sheep path.

I cut across looking for the path to soon which left us with a tricky scramble up to it,it would have been easy in dry condition's but with the rock's being wet it was quite difficult.Here's Glyno finishing it.

After this little scramble it was a straight forward walk up the track.

Looking down to Llyn Idwal.

The scramble was soon over and we gained the main path up from Llyn y Cwn to the top of Y Garn.

It was cold and wet at the summit so we didn't hang around and we set off for Foel-goch.It is over 1 mile away but we walked it in 20 minute's again not lingering at the summit as the mist stopped us having any view,quickly down to Bwlch y Brecan via the slippery,steep scree path to locate the second stile (nearest Mynydd Perfedd).Stepping over it we were surprised to see that there was a very well walked path leading to Y Galan,and happily the weather started to improve as well.We were sheltered from the wind as we descended lower,the rain stopped and the sun came out,happy day's.The view's all around were brilliant,and improving all the time as the weather improved.

Once we found the "shepherd's path" we set off on the return journey.The next few photo's are taken from this path on our return.

We stopped for lunch below Y Llymllwyd,the view to Tryfan and the Ogwen Valley was amazing.We could now see the scout hut,Y Hafod,that i stayed at on a forum meet up.

This path stay's very nearly at the same contour for over 1.5 miles heading for the wall in the distance.

On reaching said wall a stream run's down from Llyn Cywion,here we had 2 option's,the first to follow the wall back to Cwm Idwal or the second to follow the stream down to Y Hafod,we choose the later as i wanted to show Glyno the tank trap's in the valley.This was a wise choice as the faint path that stay's close to the stream revealled some lovely little waterfall's on the descent.

Last view of the Ogwen Valley before we got to low.

Nearing Y Hafod.

Friendly ponies.

The tank trap's and a distant Foel-goch.

Today's great walk was 6.5 miles long with 2,800 feet of ascent.


MILEAGE     283.5
ASCENT      69,350
TOPS           76.

#38.MOEL DYWYLL + MOEL FAMAU.25-7-11.

With the weather still very sunny and warm me and Julie took in this walk after she had finished work for the day.Starting at 4 pm for the village of Cilcain we took to the deserted lanes and immediately got swamped by flies,i dropped my bag and grabbed the deet and sprayed us quickly and the flies disappeared.I love this walk but it's the worst one for getting attacked by flies,always has been.Anyway passing to 2 new lay-bys we got our first glimpse of Moel Famau in the distance.

Although it turned cloudy it was very warm,we walked in t-shirts and shorts.We had a break on "Edgar's" bench,taking in the great view and peace and quiet.Top reservoir and Jubilee Tower below.

When we reached the bwlch we had a great view of the distant Snowdonia mountain's.

Our next stop was on top of Moel Dywyll,a lovely hot drink of tea.I have never seen the distant mountain's looking so clear,from left to right i could see the Berwyn's,the Aran's,the Cadair Idris range,the Arenig's,the Moelwynion,the Nantlle,Moel Siabod,Yr Wyddfa,the Glderau,my beloved Tryfan,the Carneddau and the Great and Little Orme.Moel Dywyll's cairn with Moel Famau looming large.

The last steep climb to the summit of Moel Famau and the sun is shining down on a deserted Jubilee Tower.

What a contrast to our last visit on a saturday afternoon where there were hundreds on the summit.

A few last photo's of Eryri before we headed back to Cilcain.

Steeply down along side the forest and onto the lane that leads to Cilcain the flies decided to pay us another visit so i quickly sprayed us again and we had a trouble free walk back to the car.6 miles and 1,350 feet of ascent.



MILEAGE      277
ASCENT       66,550
TOPS            73.

#37.TRYFAN via Little and North Gully.24-7-11.

After seeing a trip report on the walking forum that Julian posted when he ascended Tryfan via these gullies and with me never have done them i asked him could he show me the way up them,his reply was yes so we hatched a plan to take in Bristley Ridge,descend Gribin,enter the Nameless Cwm and ascend Senior's Ridge,descend to Llyn y Cwn,ascend Y Garn and then take the Sheep Path back into Cwm Idwal.A few phone call's and we have 7 in our group,namely me,Julian,Glyno,Cogstar,Howie,Dave Hall and Photopaul.Assembling in the walled car park at the foot of Tryfan,suited and booted and we're off,we picked our way across the boulder field to the high stile at the top of the wall to pick the North Ridge up.Layer's started to come off as it was getting hot under a lovely blue sky.This is the view down to Llyn Ogwen.

We ascended the north ridge for a while and then left it to traverse across to the Heather Terrace.

Passing Nor Nor i noticed some rope climber's.

The cloud's above Tryfan were amazing,i couldn't stop looking up at them.

We took a breather at the bottom of Little Gully and then got stuck into it.It is a relatively easy scramble and i really enjoyed it.

The scramble lead's right to the foot of Adam and Eve and as we neared the summit we could see some people jumping them to gain "Freeman of Tryfan status".

We summit'ed 2 hour's after we started off and enjoyed a break at the top.Photopaul jumped Adam and Eve and i duly followed,my 15th jump on my 29th ascent of Tryfan.Replenished with food and drink we quickly descended to Bwlch Tryfan.Heading for Main Gully on Bristley Ridge Cogstar lead the way.Into the first difficult chimney he quickly made his way out and over the top and out of sight.Glyno approached the wall and was undecided how to ascend it,so as Julian and myself were a little way below him we had a better view of the wall and told him to take the left line,just as he made to move off a shower of stone's came cascading over the lip ,there must have been about 30 of all sizes and before Glyno could react the largest hit him on top of his head.Julian and myself had a bit more time to react and curled up into a ball,luckily only the smaller stone's showered us.Glyno immediately clutched his head and blood started to ooze out from between his finger's.I told him to come down to us as we were in a better position.The blood was running down his forehead and nose by the time he reached us.The only bit of first aid kit we had was Julian's,so Glyno put 1 buff on his head,i put a gauze bandage on the wound and put Glyno's second buff over it.A bit of blood seeped through but it stopped quite quickly.Amazing Glyno said he felt ok and was willing to carry on but i persuaded him to leave the mountain.Unfortunately Cogstar could not descend so had to finish the scramble on his own and met us by Llyn Bochlwyd and we all walked back to the car park.Happily Glyno suffered no further pain and had a good night's sleep and was able to go to work the next day.Our curtailed walk came in at 3 mile's in distance with 2,200 feet of ascent.



MILEAGE       271
ASCENT         65,200
TOPS              71.