Cregiau Glesion from Capel Curig

This is perhaps my most favourite walk in all of Snowdonia.  Although it isn't the highest, it just has stunning views down the Ogwen valley, coupled with some fantastic local views too.  Also, it is a quiet area from a walking perspectinve.  It would not be uncommon to walk for hours up here and not see another person all day.  You really get the mountains to yourself for the day.

I start my walk in the car park in Capel Curig (Still Free!!!!), and cross the road heading East over the gate into a field with a very well defined path.  The path leads up to the corner of the field and then along towards a gate to a small wooded section.

At a break in the trees, it's turn left and head straight up the hill.  This section will serve to warm up your legs and get you breathing!  At the top there's a style to cross, and procede north east along again a patchy path

Looking back down towards Capel Curig...

I cross a couple of rises, and head towards the end of a wall.  You can either follow along the wall now and take a later slope, I chose to take the rising path at the junction where you meet the wall. At the top you end up in a level gully and at this point I really recommend you turn around and look at the view behind you of Llynau Mymbyr and the Snowdon Horseshoe....just fantastic.  Click HERE for a Panoramic Photo...then scroll down to the image "The Path to Snowdon"

Or HERE for an even bigger version!
If your browser resizes it to fit your screen just click on the image to view at full size again!

Following the gully over a low wall you reach another style, which I just cross and keep going.  If you took the lower path before, you'll rise up to meet this style.


Continuing along the path which can be a little indistinct, a small body of water arrives on your left hand side.  The path skirts around to the right and eventually you'll reach the start of your ascent up Crimpiau.  Tryfan and the Glyders as well as some of the Carneddau will slowly start to apper in the distance.

Tryfan peeping into view....

Heading steadily up and you will reach a fantastic spot for breakfast, looking down on Llyn Crafnant and across to your next destination of Craig Wen.  From this spot you have and amazing view of most of the Glyders and the Carneddau all from a single spot.
Click HERE for a Panoramic Photo...then scroll down to the image "Crimpiau Pano"

Or HERE for an even bigger version!
If your browser resizes it to fit your screen just click on the image to view at full size again!


Good place for Brekkie!...

The next path is obvious, head down the slope then cross through the wall to rise up again onto the "Middle tier" of Craig Wen.  You can now stay on the middle tier, or if you like you can choose any way you like to summit Craig Wen also, before heading north to where the middle tier finishes.  The ground here can be a little "boggy" so waterproof footwear is recommended.  You'll see the obvious way to go and I follow a small stream straight up.  Then pick up on the path.  There are a couple of routes to choose from and you have you pick.  Once at the top again the path becomes clear.  I usually take on a bit of water now and once more take in the magnificent scenery.

Now I can see the final set of peaks in the "three humped" Cregiau Gleision.  The reservoir "Llyn Cowlydd" shows itself on the other side.  In good visibility this is a magnificent walk but in poor visibility it can be dangerous as the reservoir side edge is both steep and slippery.  In poor visibility I'd actually think carefully before doing the rest and would consider heading back the way I came which is still a fantastic way back.

The path is for the most part quite distinct, and runs along the tiers of Cregiau Gleision and at intervals the path cuts up throught the rocks to the next level.  The summit point is marked by a pile of stones...

 The summit with Tryfan stealing the show in the background...

 I must have rocks in my head...

After the summit, the path continues and some more fabulous views down to the reservoir and of some of the rock formations are around each corner...

Today I decided to go around the reservoir so I headed down.  The ground at lower levels gets REALLY boggy and for that reason its quite a long divert around to the head of the lake.  Even with the divert, you'll get wet feet unless you have waterproof boots.

From the other side of the lake it's just a casual stroll looking across to where I was a short time before, then finally saying goodbye to the lake and heading west towards the road.

If I did this again, the from this point I'd finish by heading back to the path I came from and back to Capel Curig over the same ground I came out.  It's just so much more visual than the walk along the road.

THE SNOWDON RANGER

This has to be one of my favourite ways up Y Wyddfa (Mt Snowdon).  It really is as easy as the Llanberis path, but it is SO much more enjoyable!

The first time I did this walk I was accompanied by my Wife Liana (A VERY RARE THING INDEED!!!), my good friend Tom, my son George, and my little sister Ash.  So it's definitely suitable as a "family" walk up.


It is perhaps one of the quietest ways up, but arguably (with the Watkin trail) one of the most picturesque.  On a clear day you will see 5 or 6 lakes and your gaze can follow the peaks down the Llyn too.


I'm going to walk this path again soon so that I can take better images, and I'm really looking forward to it.


Starting from the Snowdon Ranger Hostel, the path begins parallel to the railway before crossing behind a farm and immediately "Zig Zags" it's way up a steepish section.  It's not all that bad but it does get the legs pumping and will warm you up.  After 6 or so "Zig Zags" the path levels out and stays fairly flat for a good long stretch now.  As you shoulder over onto the flat section, Snowdon summit looms into view and you can see your goal for most of this walk now.  The views of the summit are just wonderful in good visibility even from this level.


If you stop often and look around you will see lakes begin to appear in the valleys around you and for the adventurous there are some "off the beaten track" alternative ascents which I hope to do and will blog when I have.

Tom smiling for the camera as clouds descend behind....

Eventually you begin to rise slowly and circle the lowest of a cluster of lakes from the glacial bowl.  Now another set of "Zig Zags" helps you elevate again more rapidly, then it settles into a "steady" rising path before settling once more into a flatter section.  This can be quite exposed from the wind and when we went this was no exception....and cloud came in too!  
 
Visibility can be poor here and the hard ground makes the path indistinct in places.  Please keep well away from the left hand edge as it's very steep, very high, and has some of the toughest graded rock climbs in the area so walking off would not be advised...!

Liana's looking cold.....but Tom cheers her right up!!!  Probably plotting what to do to me later!!!

A standing stone marks the point at which you cross the railway and follow the Llanberis path to the summit.  

We MUST be at the top by now!!!!...Nope!

But now we are!!!!!

Again if you want to come down this way just turn left at the stone and you'll find yourself back on the path.  This is an especially pretty way down too!

THE SNOWDON HORSESHOE

It all started for me with the walk pictured at the top of the blog.....

I live in Anglesey, North Wales and every day I see the mountains of Snowdonia.  They never stop awing me.  I had wanted to tackle this walk for some time.  The views, the experience, and also the challenge.. (I was in a bad motorcycle accident some years ago and am full of metal work....knee's, ankles, etc....)  I guess you could say that on a personal level this mountain has been calling me for ages.  Also I have a few friends (coincidentally it turns out) with a condition called Lupus.  One of them was quite ill at the time, and I realised that I had five friends with a condition I knew NOTHING about, and had not even heard of.  For anyone interested to learn more about Lupus, please click here...LupusUK  So I decided I would do a sponsored walk, and I picked the Snowdon Horseshoe as my goal.

I mean "how hard can it be?"  I bought a pair of walking boots, and a rucksack etc, walking poles arrived for my birthday!  I read about the route and began to think...hmm just what have I let myself into here.  I arranged for a friend (and an experienced walker) called Karen to join me so I wouldn't do anything silly like fall off.

Finally the day came....

We set off from Pen Y Pass car park at 07:30hrs and began the walk along the path towards the Pyg track.  The weather wasn't great, but it was at least dry.

The start of Crib Goch just touching the clouds....

The path rises fairly steadily and you warm up quickly.  As you reach the style, you have two choices.  You can carry on along the path (the Pyg Track) or you can leave the path and head "up" towards the ridge of Crib Goch.  This is the point at which you must decide...

• Is the weather ok?  
• Do I have the right equipment?  
• Am I feeling fit enough?  
• Am I stupid?    

All ticked yes and we decided we'd be ok to go up to Crib Goch.  There isn't really much of a path this way, but as a general rule..... "up" is good..!

Turn off here...

and head up here...

It gets a bit steep and eventually becomes a Grade 1 scramble.  At the top you can have a well earned drink and take a look back at what is for me one of those "remember forever" views...

Karen ahead of me going "up"..

Looking back to where we came from...just spectacular!

Then you look ahead...

...and believe me it feels NARROW.  The wind dropped and the cloud sat on the ridge for a bit, but this was perhaps the highlight of the day for me.  I felt on top of the world here, just looking down from either foot was incredible.

Dont look down.....

The cloud came down...

 It gets narrow...

At the far end of Crib Goch is the Pinnacles...  These appear like towers and they look unpassable.  Just be careful and you can go straight over them, this is most often advised as the best way forward.  Please be very careful if you think of going around them to the left as the scree is very loose.  Forget any idea of going around to the right.

The Pinnacles....We should have cought the train!

Once you pass the pinnacles, you have an easy time of it untill the next ridge looms ahead.  Crib y Ddysgl, again a spectacular section of ridgeline to cross.  You'll be rewarded handsomely with this view at the other end...

Now you will join the last section of the Llanberis path to the summit of Y Wyddfa (Mt Snowdon).

One very proud fat bloke at the top!!!!!

After a short rest and water / sandwich break.  It's time to move on.  Head away from the way you came up towards the Watkin path and when you see an enormous standing stone (we missed it as the visibility was zero, and ended up losing 40 mins by the time we saw entirely the wrong valley to our left when the cloud lifted!!!) take a left following the path over the edge down into the scree.  This is the last section of the Watkin path...

Then follow the well defined path towards Y Llywedd.  The ridge line allows you to look back at the route you came up...

Looking back at the scree from the summit...

Taking a rest, with our ascent in the distance.  Crib Goch and Crib y Ddysgl...

Not a bad view with a flask of tea eh?

Just one more mountain (with 2 peaks) left now...Y Llywedd

Y Llywedd doesn't really have any paths.  It's all just scrambling and it's great fun and really puts your energy levels back.  To use Karen's words.."It's real hands on rock stuff" and she loves that.  Karen has a real passion for the mountains and it's infectious!

When you reach the top, you can look across to the other summit...

...and then look at the way down....

The route down is obvious if a little steep but it eventually leads your way back onto the miners track and back to Pen Y Pass car park

A brilliant day out, tired feet, a HUGE thanks to Karen, and the mountains had me hooked!