cnicht ~ the welsh matterhorn

[phileccles]

When you're walking along the High Street of Porthmadog it's easy to see why they call Cnicht the Matterhorn of Wales. From the south west the peak is sharp as the ridge rises abruptly from the village of Croesor to a 689 metre summit. It dominates the area and draws the eye better than most other peaks of Snowdonia. Jo and I thought that this pristine winter day, where the skies were cloudless and blue, would see many a like-minded walker wanting to shed some calories in time honoured fashion. But no...the mountain was completely and utterly empty. Ours were the only footprints of the day and, boy, did that make for heavy going. The windless weather had left the snow exactly where it had fallen. There were no drifts at all - just deep, soft, unconsolidated snow.
Our usual ascent time is normally a little over an hour. Today two hours and twenty minutes ticked by before we sat astride the summit rocks. We had worked hard and hadn't stopped other than for an occasional photograph. The views were of magnificent clarity. Easily over 25 miles. To the East and South the peaks of the Moelwyns were laden thick with snow. More snow, apparently, than anyone can remember hereabouts. To the North the mighty Snowdon and her glistering white acolytes made a picture perfect backdrop. In the West the sun slid ever lower into the greyness of the Irish Sea. The pink, blushed hues coursed slowly towards the dusk. Occasional shafts of bright sunshine broke through the clouds and speckled the snowy fields below.
Big memories from a small day.

The pyramid peak of Cnicht ~ little surprise it's known as the Matterhorn of Wales

Snowdon and her glistering acolytes. Low sun and long shadows. And across the frame a fox has left some tracks.

The ridge drops to the plains of the Afon Glaslyn with Porthmadog and the Irish Sea beyond

The dropping winter sun ignites the horizon

Small walk ~ big memories

[yorkie bagger]

That's a stunning hill isn't it. I've only done it once though - would love to do it again. You have some great photos there

[malky_c]

Beautiful Obviously the last day of the good weather though. I came down to Wales on late boxing day and everything was in full warm/wet/windy melting mode by then.

[susanmyatt]

Really enjoyed this hill and ts neighbours, some ruins to explore as well, good report

[mountainstar]

Cracking day you had there, I really like Cnitch, but living in East Wales means I don't get to it as much as some of the other hills as its that much further away by car, especially Croesor, so I've only been up it about 15 times

[tango]

I done that hill back in November, i thought it was a great hill very different from the rest around it!!

[icemandan]

If Cnicht is the Matterhorn - does that make Porthmadog Zermatt?

[Allan 601]

If Cnicht is the Matterhorn - does that make Porthmadog Zermatt?

Surely Beddgelert would be Cnicht's Zermatt.

[yorkie bagger]

More like Croesor...