Back from three days in Snowdonia, with Catherine and Hazel.
Thursday
An easy drive from Harpenden (M1 – M6 / M6 Toll – M56 – A55 – A5 – B4366 – old straight road – track) meant we reached Beudy Menai – our self catering cottage, a few miles outside Caernarfon – in just over 4 hours. Plenty of time for a glass of wine and some crisps to help us settle in….
Friday
Better weather than anticipated, and just right for climbing Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa, 1085 m / 3560 ft).
The car park at Pen-y-Pass being full by 11am meant a slight deviation from the plan was required, but handily there were still plenty of spaces at the A498 roadside parking 5 mins drive downhill, and a 1.5km stone paved path brought us up through sheep grazing and back to Pen-y-Pass.
Miners’ Track up; Pyg Track down. Both routes sheltered from the winds coming inland from the Irish Sea. The cloud cleared just as we got to the summit ridge (Bwlch Glas).
Plenty of time at the top to take windswept photos at the trig point, and to admire the views from Hafod Eryri as we ate our sandwiches and wrote postcards.
MAGIC.
Back at base by 7pm. Shower, drinks, dinner, bed.
Saturday
Rain, and plenty of it. A leisurely morning then in to Caernarfon to visit the castle (excellent) and to stroll around town, lunching at the very friendly and efficient Wal.
A drive down to Pwllheli and along the coast to Criccieth and Porthmadog, then back through the Snowdonia National Park (Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri) via Beddgelert and Llyn Cwellyn, with rivers running high and water cascading down the hillsides and across the road (A498 and A4085). Lots of low cloud and rain. No views.
Late dinner at the popular Gardd Fon waterfront pub / bistro in Y Felinheli.
Sunday
Up and out by 9.30am, retracing the roads back to Harpenden through sunshine and showers. Back at the Barbican by 2.30pm.
Photos
Snowdonia, July 2016 on Flickr.
Resources
Weather
Maps & Planning
- Ordnance Survey map OS OL17: Snowdon and Conwy Valley
- 10 Routes up Snowdon – Walking Routes in Snowdonia [PDF]
- Walks Up Snowdon
- Visit Snowdonia – Snowdon Walks – 6 Routes [PDF]