Faching Hell it’s Ed Byrne!

[johnkaysleftleg]

When we visited Snowdonia last year the weather was poor, so poor in fact it felt as if we barely scratched the surface. One of our few decent days was on the Saturday when we were due home and we took advantage by walking up the Devils Kitchen to Llyn y cwn. This walk gave us a hint of just how fantastic the Glyders were but our limited time meant we could go no further.
With a perfect forecast for the Sunday we decided to take full advantage on the first day of our holiday and drove to Ogwen Cottage to explore this range properly. We set off up the well-made path to Llyn Idwal but this time we crossed the bridge and headed for the ridge up Y Garn.


Llyn Idwal by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

This route up Y Garn is my idea of hill walking heaven with amazing views improving with height as you ascend this well-defined route. The going under foot is good almost all the way to the summit with only a little scree to contend with. If the views on the way up are great the views from this top are truly wonderful. The alternative name for this mountain, The Eminence is certainly well deserved.


Pen yr ole wen by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


Llyn Idwal and Tryfan by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


Acsending Y Garn by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


Over Snowdon's Llanberris ridge by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


Y Garn summit by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


Grace on Y Garn by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

We had a bite to eat before making our way down easy slopes to Llyn y cwn. You could descend the Devils kitchen if you wanted to at this stage but as we had loads of time and a great forecast we continued up the scree path to Glyder Fawr.
This path was nowhere near as bad as we expected and we made steady progress up to the moonscape summit plateau of Glyder Fawr. We spent some time admiring the stunning rock architecture that in my experience is quite unique. The other half of our lunch was enjoyed with the stunning view spread before us.
Looming to the North East was the impressive looking summit of Glyder Fach, guarded by the Castell y Gwynt (castle of the winds).


Looking back to Y Garn by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


Glyder Fawr by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


Glyder Fach from Glyder Fwar by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


Shattered rock by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


Grace on Glyder Fawr by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


Tad scrambling on Glyder Fawr by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


Crown of Thorns by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


Glyder Fawr summit view by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr (click for large version)

The route across Bwlch y Ddwd –Glyder was very straightforward with more jaw dropping views before we came up against the the Castell y Gwynt. A quick look confirmed suspicions that we would be going around and not over this impressive obstacle. The relatively easy going up to this point came to a halt as we set about the absorbing task of clambering over the huge boulders on our way to the polished summit plinth.


Aproaching the castle of the winds by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


Australia lake by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


Cwm Idwal by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

If Glyder Fawr had been unique then Glyder Fach was in another league again. Just what forces left this summit in this incredible state boggle the mind. The summit takes the shape of a huge cairn constructed by giants. If the human contingent thoroughly enjoyed this amazing natural playground the canine among us hated every moment of it and the poor little thing wore the expression of being totally traumatized by the whole experience.
Next up was the Cantilever Stone. Turned out this was fun but not really scary at all. We all got the obligatory photo (saving Hughie more trauma by allowing him to stay put on terra firma).


On the summit of Glyder Fach by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


Glder Fach summit view by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr (click for large version)


Cantilever trio by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

We certainly didn’t want to attempt scrambling down the Bristly ridge (I strongly suspect it would be way beyond our abilities) and not knowing much about the bypass path we elected to take the long way around.
On our descent to the col we came face to face with the familiar figure of TV comic and celeb hill walker Ed Byrne. Both myself and Nicola considered saying something along the lines of, “you’re that Ed Byrne bloke of the TV”, but decided to leave the man alone and a quick “all right there!” sufficed.


Tryfan by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


Evening Light on Tryfan by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


Bristly Ridge by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr


Heading home by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

This descent route awarded us with some wonderful views of the mighty Tryfan and took us across some wonderful wild country but it was rough most of the way down and extended a long day even further. In the end the day was a bit of an epic but totally unforgettable. I would say that in my experience only the Cuillin is a more jaw dropping place than these mountains and anybody who loves hill walking should make visiting the Glyders a priority if you haven’t yet done so.

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[Ibex]

Ed Byrne, as in the Irish comic?

I must say that theses photo's are some of your best. Absolutely stunning!

I'm so jelous of all the walking you get to do. Nice that its as a family too.
Any chance you want to adopt a 31 year old?

If Grace keeps going at this rate, she'll be soloing the north face of the Eiger by the time shes 16.

[johnkaysleftleg]

Ed Byrne, as in the Irish comic?

The very same, quite strange when you meet somebody you know but don't know if you get my meaning

I must say that theses photo's are some of your best. Absolutely stunning!

It's easy in a place this beautiful as that.

I'm so jelous of all the walking you get to do. Nice that its as a family too.
Any chance you want to adopt a 31 year old?

Do you eat much?

If Grace keeps going at this rate, she'll be soloing the north face of the Eiger by the time shes 16.

She has some grand ambitions but I'm not sure they go that far

[charliebloke1]

anybody who loves hill walking should make visiting the Glyders a priority if you haven’t yet done so.

My wife and I were only discussing a change of scene for another long weekend on our drive back from the Lakes yesterday. . First report I come too and that's it i'm sold.. . . .Wales & first stop the Glyders it is then . . .

Jaw dropping set of photographs as usual.

[johnkaysleftleg]

anybody who loves hill walking should make visiting the Glyders a priority if you haven’t yet done so.

My wife and I were only discussing a change of scene for another long weekend on our drive back from the Lakes yesterday. . First report I come too and that's it i'm sold.. . . .Wales & first stop the Glyders it is then . . .

Jaw dropping set of photographs as usual.

You'll not regret it but pick a good day, I can imagine the summit plateau being a very confusing place in the mist with all those rocky towers looming up here and there. I can't believe you haven't been to Snowdonia before considering it's probably closer than the Lakes to your location.

[charliebloke1]

I can't believe you haven't been to Snowdonia before considering it's probably closer than the Lakes to your location.

It does seem daft now I think about it & only made worse by the fact i'm also half Welsh .

It all stems from one shocking holiday there about 20 years ago (boy can I bare a grudge! ). I can't remember the name of the place we stayed but I just refer back to it now as "The Slaughtered Lamb" (American Werewolf.) . . . . No full moon shenanigans but the locals were, lets just say, not exactly hospitable to "out-of-towners" from that there Englandshire.

Foolishly the experience has festered in my mind ever since . . . . until now

[johnkaysleftleg]

I can't believe you haven't been to Snowdonia before considering it's probably closer than the Lakes to your location.

It does seem daft now I think about it & only made worse by the fact i'm also half Welsh .

It all stems from one shocking holiday there about 20 years ago (boy can I bare a grudge! ). I can't remember the name of the place we stayed but I just refer back to it now as "The Slaughtered Lamb" (American Werewolf.) . . . . No full moon shenanigans but the locals were, lets just say, not exactly hospitable to "out-of-towners" from that there Englandshire.

Foolishly the experience has festered in my mind ever since . . . . until now

I have heard quite a few stories of English folk getting less than a warm welcome in the valleys. We've been the last two years and haven't encountered any problems whatsoever. I went when I was just a nipper and my dad still speaks with bitterness about people having the temerity to speak Welsh in his presence

[Ibex]

Your right about the place, it is a very 'photogenic' area.
When I climbed Tryfan a year or so ago, I couldn't stop looking at Y Garn. Really lovely views up there! I took a few photo's up there, but none of them are near as good as yours.

Unfortunately I eat like a bear, so maybe you wouldn't want to adopt me.

Out of interest, what does Grace have as ambitions?
I remember at the age of 8, walking in the Lakes with my Dad. I loved it so much I wanted to go back and climb all the hills I could see.
At that time I only knew about the ones surrounding Ullswater and knew noting of Mr A Wainwright.
A few years later, after a few more trips to the Lakes, I read about Everest. Became a bit of an obsession for the 10 year old me.
Its such a shame I didn't keep up with going to the mountains, throughout my teenage years. Now i'm trying to make up for lost time.

[L-Hiking]

Another cracker! Some great photos too. Not been down that way yet but your reports and pics make it an obvious choice

Cheers

[SusieThePensioner]

Wow, what a wonderful day! Breathtaking photos I hope your luck continued with the weather

[johnkaysleftleg]

Your right about the place, it is a very 'photogenic' area.
When I climbed Tryfan a year or so ago, I couldn't stop looking at Y Garn. Really lovely views up there! I took a few photo's up there, but none of them are near as good as yours.

Unfortunately I eat like a bear, so maybe you wouldn't want to adopt me.

Out of interest, what does Grace have as ambitions?
I remember at the age of 8, walking in the Lakes with my Dad. I loved it so much I wanted to go back and climb all the hills I could see.
At that time I only knew about the ones surrounding Ullswater and knew noting of Mr A Wainwright.
A few years later, after a few more trips to the Lakes, I read about Everest. Became a bit of an obsession for the 10 year old me.
Its such a shame I didn't keep up with going to the mountains, throughout my teenage years. Now i'm trying to make up for lost time.

We hope to complete the Wainwrights as a family in the next three years or so, as for Grace it's more a case of when we pass something like the Bristly ridge and I tell her it's a bit hard for us, she always claims she'll be back to do it as an adult. In reality I suspect she'll follow a similar path to yourself and many other kids who get dragged (not really the right word but you know what I mean) around the hills and pack it in as a teenager but return as an adult. As for your lost time how about me? I hadn't climbed a single hill until Ben Vrackie at the age of 35! Getting to the hills is about where you are in your life at a particular time. My Dad would never consider climbing a hill so as a kid I didn't, It wasn't till we felt Grace was old enough that we moved on from taking photos from the road side to actually getting out there.

Another cracker! Some great photos too. Not been down that way yet but your reports and pics make it an obvious choice

Cheers

Thanks Geoff, can't recommend it highly enough.

Wow, what a wonderful day! Breathtaking photos I hope your luck continued with the weather

Thanks Susie, unfortunately the weather was a bit hit and miss but we certainly made the most of it and seemed to strike quite lucky just about every day.

[Ibex]

Don't fancy any scrambling at all?
I suppose it would be difficult with Hughie. Though I have seen smaller dogs and people a lot older than yourselves scrambling along Striding Edge.
I think so far i've seen a few in their mid 80's. including one old fella on top of Scafell Pike, with calf muscles that were enormous knots of muscle.

Unfortunately me and my Dad got up to the Lakes around once every two years. He was always away with work and very busy all the time.
I think we only did around 6 or 7 trips together, but loved all of them. Wish I had been more times with him.
The last time we went was after he was getting over his throat cancer. We went up Great Gable and Helvellyn in the snow.
It was a nice little few days of walking. Since then he has gone off to live in America, so I now walk alone.
Just being in the mountains seems to relax me. Everything about it. The scenery, the smell and the lack of people. Like Wainwright said 'everyone that truly loves Lakeland is an exhile whilst away from it'.

[johnkaysleftleg]

Don't fancy any scrambling at all?
I suppose it would be difficult with Hughie. Though I have seen smaller dogs and people a lot older than yourselves scrambling along Striding Edge.
I think so far i've seen a few in their mid 80's. including one old fella on top of Scafell Pike, with calf muscles that were enormous knots of muscle.

Unfortunately me and my Dad got up to the Lakes around once every two years. He was always away with work and very busy all the time.
I think we only did around 6 or 7 trips together, but loved all of them. Wish I had been more times with him.
The last time we went was after he was getting over his throat cancer. We went up Great Gable and Helvellyn in the snow.
It was a nice little few days of walking. Since then he has gone off to live in America, so I now walk alone.
Just being in the mountains seems to relax me. Everything about it. The scenery, the smell and the lack of people. Like Wainwright said 'everyone that truly loves Lakeland is an exhile whilst away from it'.

We all like a bit of scrambling and Grace loves it but you've got to know your limits. We haven't done Striding edge but I'm sure we'd be fine with it. Sharp Edge on the other hand I've little urge to do at all. Even if I was by myself double exposure and polished rock just doesn't appeal. Anything of any real technical difficulty however I don't trust myself let alone taking care of Grace as well. One mans Everest is another mans Cat bells.

[Phooooey]

Great report and some fabulous photos ! I'll have to plan next years cottage holiday in this area.

[Ibex]

Oh yeah, I totaly agree that people should do what they are comfortable with.
No point in overdoing it. I found Sharp Edge was no more difficult that Striding Edge though. But we did do it going down, not up.

I really enjoyed scrambling when young. Feels so exciting and almost dangerous. I remember doing Striding Edge for the first time. Certainly was an eye opener, but I loved it. Plus it made that feeling of getting to the summit so much more satisfying.
So I guess I can see why Grace enjoys it so much. I've taken mine a little further now, by going on to learning how to climb with ropes. Not done it in the mountains yet though.