Introducing the family to Snowdon

[martin.h]

This was one of those rare visits to North Wales, why they are few and far between escapes me, after all, with the roads being as good as they are its only a two hour drive from home to Snowdonia so more visits are on the cards now.

On this trip we had son Richard with us and we were to meet up with my brother Russell his wife Lesley and their two lads Cameron 13 and Rory 10, and to keep us company my sister Andrea and husband Paul were joining us too. This was the first time they’d been up a mountain so I was nominated leader. We all booked rooms at the Bangor Travelodge and agreed to meet Saturday am.

Snowdon from Rhyd-Ddu via the south ridge and returning along the Rhyd-Ddu path was the chosen route because its quieter than the normal routes and it would be a wee bit more interesting for the lads and the others who hadn’t been to the top before.

Saturday dawned with blue skies not a breath of wind and warm, perfect, we set off for Rhyd-Ddu and got parked in the car park by the Welsh Highland railway in good time and after a short while getting everyone ready we were off .
DSC01154 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr. Pre walk preps.

DSC01155 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr. Car park views.

From the car park we crossed the railway

DSC01156 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr. Over the railway, the walk begins, happy people. Top row: Lesley, Russell, Richard, Bottom Row : Rory, Paul, Andrea, Cameron and Denise.

DSC01158 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr. The views were great, weather fantastic.

DSC01159 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr.

DSC01160 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

DSC01162 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr.

DSC01163 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr.

DSC01164 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr.

it’s a nice steady walk to Bwlch-Cwm Llan, the col between Snowdon and Yr Aran, there were reminders of the mining from many years ago.

DSC01166 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr. Andrea surveying the remains of the mining.

DSC01167 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr.Miners views.

DSC01168 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr.

DSC01171 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr.

DSC01174 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr. Great views to have on a work day.

From there we turned left up the start of the south ridge on a good path which suited everybody,

DSC01181 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr. Looking up the south ridge.

DSC01182 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr.The remains of the intensive mining in the area.

DSC01184 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr. Rory inspecting his new "des res".

DSC01186 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr. The walk up begins.
DSC01188 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr
DSC01191 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr.
DSC01193 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr. Yr Aran.

DSC01194 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr. Lovely views.


The boys were getting a bit tired at this point but as soon as they saw a bit of interesting terrain above they soon forgot that and started scurrying ahead really enjoying their new experience.

DSC01196 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr. Interesting terrain ahead.

DSC01198 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr. Andrea and Paul getting to grips.

DSC01202 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr. Action shots.
DSC01204 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr.

DSC01203 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr. Thats where we're going.

The views were really good, it’s a part of Wales I’d never been to before and it reminded me a bit of the Lakes and the Southern uplands and the higher we got the narrower the ridge became.

DSC01246 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr. South Ridge.

DSC01212 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr.
DSC01214 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr. Paul people watching.

Soon the summit came into full view and I got a bit of a shock as to how busy and crowded it was, I suppose it’s the little train that goes up from Llanberis and the café on top that adds to Snowdons popularity but, wow, I’ve never seen a mountain summit so populated.

DSC01216 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr. Busy mountain.
DSC01219 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr.
DSC01221 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr.

Around the summit area we managed to find a little spot to sit down and have lunch and we managed to get brilliant views over the Snowdon Horseshoe which added to the great weather, looking over to Crib Goch and Y Lliwedd it reminded me a bit of Scotland.
DSC01225 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr. Lunch time views.

DSC01226 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

DSC01227 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

DSC01234 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr. Crib Goch.

DSC01245 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr. Top of the Pyg Track.

After lunch and a relax in the sun we all started our descent and headed for the top of the Rhyd-ddu path, there were still lots of people heading up taking advantage of the glorious weather.

DSC01248 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr. Looking back at the summit from the Rhyd-Ddu path.

DSC01249 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr. Descent views.

DSC01251 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr
DSC01252 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

DSC01255 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr. Little train from Llanberis on its way down.
DSC01256 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr
DSC01259 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr
DSC01254 by Martin Hawer, on Flickr

It was great to see all in our little group enjoying the experience, its something we’d talked about doing together for a while and now we were out there the whole thing was working out perfectly so with that in mind we started planning our next trip.

Our walk back down to Rhyd-Ddu was nice and relaxed, it was different for Denise and I to be out as a group and it was well worth it. Its nice to get the family involved and now we're planning another trip soon, not sure where yet, but Snowdonia will be high on the agenda.

[ChrisW]

Great to see an extended family meeting up for a hill excursion and what a way to hook new hikers than beautiful weather over stunning scenery. If you're not careful Martin they'll be wanting to come along every time and you'll have to start making excuses to get rid of em