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For me, Cadair Idris is a special hill: every step of the walk seems filled with beauty.
It's fitting that Richard Wilson's painting of the mountain, exhibited in 1774 (
https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/wilson-llyn-y-cau-cader-idris-n05596) weaned popular taste away from classical Italian landscapes, kick-starting our national fascination with the cold, windy Great British Outdoors. Before Wilson painted Cadair Idris, the usual words to describe British hill scenery were "ugly" and "awful".
After breakfast in Machynlleth, we set off from the Minffordd car park in lovely autumn morning light and crossed the little river.
IMG_6760 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Looking across the parkland to the Tarren hills.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
The climb up through the woods was very beautiful.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
I thought even the stones and shadows were looking very nice.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
After a little while, we began to get views through and above the trees and across the valley.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
A bit further, and we got our first view of the monster cliffs of Cwm Cau.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Striations by the side of the path.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Llyn Cau from the path. It had begun to cloud over, although we enjoyed patches of sunshine for the rest of the day.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
From the top of the ridge, there was a view down to the ripply Tal-y-Llyn.
IMG_6862 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Looking up at the last section of the climb to Craig Cwm Amarch.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
We passed the mouths of several big gullies, this is one of them.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Llyn Cau from the summit of Craig Cwm Amarch.
IMG_6895 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
A spot of sunshine on the lake shore.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
A different view of the lake from the col between Craig Cwm Amarch and the main mass of Cadair. A steep path descends to the lake near here.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
After the col, we followed the stony path towards the summit of Pen-y-Gadair.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Looking back to the cliffs.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Looking west to Craig-y-Llyn. A widening view of the sea appeared from here onwards.
IMG_6933 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Another view back down to Llyn Cau.
IMG_6938 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
The main path rises towards Pen-y-Gadair here, but I took a short detour weaving through the rock tors and came out on the ridge west of the summit, with a new view, down to Llyn y Gadair and north-west to the Cyfrwy Arete and its Table. A couple of sections of the Mawddach estuary can be seen in the distance.
IMG_6953 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
At the summit trig we were nearly in the clouds.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
A gap in the clouds below us, the Table catching the sun.
IMG_6988 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Looking back from the shelter hut to the summit.
IMG_6996 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
We then headed east along the ridge to Mynydd Moel, with some nice views down the huge crags to Dolgellau, the Mawddach valley/estuary and the distant Rhinogs. Among these photos I got a snap of what must be one of Britain's highest trees.
IMG_7031 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Looking back along the cliff-tops. In the very far distance can be seen one of the Cregennnen lakes and its little island, and the beach and bridge at Barmouth (easier to see if you click on the magnifier thingy on the Flickr image).
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Our party approaching the top of Mynydd Moel.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
After crossing a stile, we reached the summit of Mynydd Moel, which is much grander than it looks from the plateau.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
A couple of contrasting views from the top (Cregennen lake and island more visible now), and a nice Mushroom.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
It was time to head down. After taking a few steps, we debated whether to head back to the stile, or to take a beeline for the descent route lower down the fence.
IMG_7094 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
On the descent, we were lucky enough to have beautiful patches of low-angled autumn sunlight. This is looking down our descent route, from the spot where Wilson's painting of Cwm Cau was done (but the view in the Cwm Cau direction was all in shadow, so I didn't bother taking a snap of it).
IMG_7102 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Looking down into the valley.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
giant Tussocks near the fence.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Tal-y-Llyn catching the sun.
IMG_7158 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
A small patch of sunshine at the mouth of Cwm Cau.
IMG_7184 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
The bridge over the stream of Nant Cadair is made of huge slate slabs. I don't know who the boots belong to.
IMG_7208 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Back down into the woodlands.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Mellow evening light.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
The last few steps back to the car - destination, five pints of Evan Evan's Cwrw at the Slater's Arms in Corris.
IMG_7293 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
