Thursday, September 19, 2013

Weekend in Snowdonia...the Snowdon Loop


Its well worth taking off a weekend to spend some time in Snowdonia and hike up Snowdon. The second highest Mountain in the British Isles and highest in Wales, its well worth the effort.

We drove up from the Sussex Coast on a Friday night, giving us Saturday to hike Snowdon, and Sunday afternoon to drove back home again.

We were very lucky, with incredible views over the surrounding Mountains, Mynydd Mawr and Trum y Ddysgl to the West and across the Irish Sea beyond and to Angelsea in the North.

We stayed in a fantastic little B&B called the Ty Mawr B&B and Tearoom. You MUST stay here, the rooms are comfortable and very charming and its run by a well travelled and extremely friendly and professional couple called Emma and Menno. Emma is from the UK and Menno, her husband is Dutch. After your hike, and if fancy, Menno will make you a most splendid Welsh Cream Tea!

Ty Mawr B&B and Tearoom

Emma and Menno recommended a route up Snowdon, taking the Snowdon Ranger Path, which starts about 1.5 miles up the road (20-30 min walk) from the B&B, and coming back down the mounatin on the Rhyd Ddu Path. The total hike is about 10 miles.

After a good breakfast at Ty Mawr, turn left and head up the country road towards the start of the Snowdon Ranger Path.

Rhyd Ddu

Keep going and enjoy views of mountains and glorious countryside on either side of you.


Eventually the road takes you past Lake Cwellyn to the left.


                                                               
Lake Cwellyn

Keep walking and you will eventually reach the Snowdon Ranger Youth Hostel to your right, and after another 25 meters to the right you will reach the start of the Snowdon Ranger Track.

Start of Snowdon Ranger Path
Now begins the climb! You zig zag up a path, that crosses the Welsh Highland Railway,  and up and yonder you trek towards the summit.


The path is well marked and you may well find yourself walking with others hikers, on the same quest for the summit.

Snowdon Ranger Path

Cloud Covers Mount Snowdon
                                                                                                                                                                     

Cloud clears near the top

Snowdon Summit and other Hikers
If you cannot be bothered to walk up, there is a mountain steam train from Llanberis that will take you to the top, there is also a little cafe and as such there can be hordes of people with you at the summit!

We very quickly slipped around the back of the cafe and found the Rhyd Ddu path, which takes you back down the mountain. We found a sheltered spot among some rocks and ate our packed lunch, with splendid views of the Irish Sea in the distance.

Lots of Hikers and Mountain Train Passengers at the top, looking West towards the Irish Sea

The climb back down is spectacular, above you Rooks glide and hover on the mountain wind emitting low and pleasant 'kaah' calls, and disappear into the silent mists.

On the Rhyd Ddu path back down the mountain
High Path

Good Country

Almost down

We popped into the Rhyd Ddu Village Pub, the Cellwyn Arms for a stonkingly good supper, worth trying their pies!

The drive to Rhyd Ddu is about 6 hours from the South Coast or about 5 hours or less from London...ENJOY!!

Map Snowdon Ranger Path and Rhyd Ddu path (Red Line) on Google Earth

Location of Hike, North Wales

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