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The forecast for the day put the inversion at anywhere between 600 and 800 metres, but did stress it was very uncertain. Often the best bet is simple, go roughly as high as possible to give the best leeway. So me and my brother settled on the place I often go if an inversion is forecast, Glyderau. These also happen to be some of the most interesting mountains in Wales and, even if the tops are hidden in cloud, the rock formations compensate for the lack of views.
We arrived earlyish and parked near Gwesty Pen y Gwryd, just on the Conwy side of the border to avoid the pay and display. Approaching these mountains from the south misses the drama of Dyffryn Ogwen, but is much quieter. First target was Moel Berfedd, a good view of Crib Goch awaits at the top, but there's not much in the way of paths to get you there. The path appears after you get to the way up from Pen-y-Pass and leads through the rocks up Glyder Fawr.
- Looking towards Nant Peris
- Cloud wave looking like it's about to break on Crib Goch
- Starting to get into the cloud
The top of Glyder Fawr is a highlight, with its shattered rocks and views to Yr Wyddfa. There were a fair few people up here now we'd joined the busier routes. The views over the inversion to the south were excellent. It was then an enjoyable walk above the clouds towards Glyder Fach.
- Emerging from the cloud near the top of Glyder Fawr
- Looking west from near the top of Glyder Fawr
- Yr Wyddfa
- Crib Goch and Yr Wyddfa
- Triangles
- Glyder Fach from Glyder Fawr
- Nant Ffrancon
- To the south you could see bumps in the cloud where different mountains were hidden below. It was fun trying to work out what was what, although I can't remember what I decided this bump was
- Y Gribin on the left, Carneddau in the centre and Tryfan on the right
- From near the top of Y Gribin looking to some of the rocky outcrops on the southern slopes of Glyder Fach
My brother had to tick off Castell y Gwynt from his Nuttall list so we made a detour there on the way. The massive pile of shattered rock is awkward to climb, as castles should be I guess. We seemed to get to a hard bit near the top every way we went and then would have to retreat move round and try again. I couldn't remember the way I'd been up in the past. Eventually my brother found an ok way from a flat area west of the top.
- Llyn Bochlwyd, a thin strip of a mirror like Llyn Ogwen and the pointy shadow of Tryfan
- Y Garn and Foel Goch
Next we missed out the summit boulder of Glyder Fach which had a few people clambering about. We bypassed Y Gwyliwr (Cantilever Stone) which also had people clambering back and forth taking photos. We found a spot not far away and had some food so we could enjoy the views above the clouds before we lost height and visibility.
- Selfie
- Looking east from Glyder Fach
We were soon in the cloud heading for Y Foel Goch in the hope that some magic parting would happen. It didn't and we descended back the way we'd come up. When we got to the frozen Llyn y Gaseg Fraith the clouds did briefly part, revealing Tryfan beyond. Then it was the fairly simple decent south down the Miner's Track towards Pen y Gwryd. After a bit we popped out the bottom of the cloud and were treated to some great views of Crib Goch and Yr Wyddfa.
- Tryfan across a frozen Llyn y Gaseg Fraith
- Under the cloud looking to the first hill of the day, Moel Berfedd
- Yr Wyddfa, Crib Goch and Garnedd Ugain across Llyn Cwm Ffynnon
We couldn't really ask for much more weather wise!
