Snowdon (Snowdonia) |
Map used:- Snowdon/ Conwy Valley/ Explorer OL17 |
Yr Wyddfa/ Dyffryn Eryri/ Explorer OL17 |
To get your copy click on the map below:- |
One thing with walking in the UK is that you always seem to be governed by the weather. So after a couple of days waiting for the weather to clear up and with time running out we just decided to pick a day and go for it. Okay we knew we were going to get wet and we also knew the views probably weren't going to be great but we were in Snowdonia and were in walking mode! Sometimes you just have to try it. Vicky had never climbed Snowdonia before and had heard of the many tales of Grib Goch and with the weather being fairly unstable we decided to keep things simple and go up the Pyg track and return along the miners track. Both of these tracks are well marked and easily found on the map suggested above. |
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| We parked up in the Pen-y-pass car park and were greeted with a light shower. We decided that a little shower wasn't going to put us off, so jumped out and and geared up. |
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Because it was the beginning of september we were caught in between dressing in full gear because you know you are going to get wet and the weather on top is a lot harsher than in the valley or go a little lighter and keep layers handy because you know if that if the sun pokes out your going to warm up pretty darn quick! |
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So with waterproofs on we headed out of the car park and onto the Pyg track. The first part of the track pretty much consists of big rocky steps with a little bit of scrambling which is fairly easy but we soon found ourselves over heating as the odd sunny spell broke through the rain clouds. Which I hasten to add were engulfing the summit and most of Grib Goch. We carried on and soon reached the gate near Bwich y Moch. This is where you can turn right onto a steep track which heads up on to Grib Goch. But we stayed on the Pyg track and headed into the valley where we started to come across more interesting terrain including, rocky climbs, small streams and uneven paths. Still fairly easy to walk along but certainly an added bonus. We soon found ourselves entering the cloud level and things started to get a little wetter. Well we were kind of expecting it so it didn't bother us to much! We suddenly came across a big upright stone in the path and this is where the miners track meets the Pyg track. From here you come across a well made path with good steps which leads up onto the ridge which we followed hoping for a break in the weather. |
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No such luck when we reached the ridge with the wind going sideways still we had found the next upright marker stone which meant we had to turn left and walk along to the summit and an added bonus of a hot cuppa! After a short walk were arrived at the summit and quickly jumped up onto the summit marker and took a few pictures. |  |
As you can see it was a little wet and a little windy but we were loving every minute of it. But we did make a quick exit into the cafe situated next to the summit for a hot cup of tea. |
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After a nice rest we grabbed our gear and headed back the way we came to the marker and back on to the track. Oh and back into the rain! We took our turning at the upright stone back onto the miners track. Neither of us had been onto the miners track so we decided that we would follow it all the way down the valley and back to the car park instead of turning off back onto the Pyg track at the upright marker. |  |
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And it was a nice way to walk back down and as soon as we left cloud level the path leveled out and walking became easy. It takes a a different route to the Pyg track and heads down into the valley past the old mines (hence the name) and you get to see all of the lakes too. |  |
| So after an nice easy trek through the valley we arrived back at the Pen-y-pass car park a little wet but loving every minute of it. Snowdon had been climbed and the weather hadn't beaten us. Snowdonia never fails to impress. |
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