Walkers on a High in Snowdonia
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Twenty-six walkers travelled to North Wales and the mountains of Snowdonia for the Mid-Ulster Walking Club’s 2008 Spring Trip. The peaceful village of Betws-y-Coed (Prayer-House in the Woods), with its idyllic woodland and river setting, was their base during a very active weekend.

Snowdon
On Saturday two groups of walkers formed, both setting out from Pen-y-pass to climb Snowdon, the highest peak in England and Wales at 1085 metres.
For the larger fourteen-strong party the route was the classic Snowdon Horseshoe, approaching the mountain via the plummeting knife-edge arete of Crib Goch (923 m), a famous and exciting ridge scramble, and descending via Y Lliwedd.
Enjoying the views of the rugged mountain scenery of the Llanberis Pass they followed a path to the base of Crib Goch. Here they got to grips with the rock as the scrambling began. With the caution due to its exposed and potentially calamitous heights, especially on a rather windy morning, the group made its way safely along the ridge.
A final scramble over the further arête of Crib y Ddysgl brought them onto a good path that led to Carnedd Ugain and finally, four hours after setting out, to the top of Snowdon. It was a very crowded summit, there being several routes up Snowdon, but a very happy one on what was now a glorious, sunny afternoon, the breath-taking views in every direction inducing a distinct ‘top of the world’ feeling. Far below the previously grey waters of Glaslyn and Llyn Llydaw were green and sparkling.
Having made brief contact with the other group they pressed on, dropping down sharply over awkward ground before speeding on to climb the rock-strewn slopes of Y Lliwedd (898 m). This offered more joyful scrambling and another magnificent vantage-point. A tricky descent again followed however before the group were down to the Miners’ Track and, as shadows began to lengthen, ready for the final level two kilometres back to Pen y Pass.
The other group had followed the Miners’ Track from Pen y Pass to the shore of Llyn Llydaw. The cliffs of Y Lliwedd soared before them, the highest precipice in Wales. In a cave somewhere in its crags a band of King Arthur’s warriors reportedly reside, awaiting his call to arms.
Having made the long strenuous climb to Y Liwedd’s precarious twin-peaked summit they pushed on to Snowdon for another tough climb, briefly following the Watkin Path up scree-laden slopes to the top. A long ridge then led them south to Alt Maenderyn (704 m). Descending further they eventually rejoined the Watkin Path which was established in 1892 by Sir Edward Watkin, Victorian railway tycoon, Liberal MP and ‘dreamer’.
The final stretch of the walk along the Afon Cwm Alan and through May woodland provided a restful contrast to the spectacular but harsh higher ground.
For all the walkers it had been a long, challenging but exhilarating day, one to relish and remember.

The Carneddau
The next day twenty walkers headed to the Carneddau range, a vast swathe of upland to the northeast of Snowdon and home to Snowdonia’s second highest mountain, Carnedd Llywelyn (1064 m), named for the last native Prince of Wales. Two groups of seven and thirteen walkers assembled, the latter setting off first to accommodate a planned return leg via Pen yr Helgi Du.
Otherwise the route for all the walkers was identical and it involved immediate steady climbing as they followed the tumbling waters of the Afon Lloer upstream. Some straightforward scrambling up good dry rock followed before a final pull brought them to the top of the decidedly rugged Pen yr Ole Wen (978 m).
With the severest climbing over they continued along the skyline to Carnedd Dafydd (1044 m), before arcing northeast above a fearsome line of cliffs towards LLywelyn. Northwards mountain and valley stretched to the coast while to the south rose the Glyders with the charismatic peak of Tryfan towering directly opposite.
The weather all day had been uncertain, breezy and with some light rain eventually developing. But now, as the first batch of walkers topped Llywelyn, the rain became more earnest and mist abruptly closed in. It was decided to abandon Pen yr Helgi Du and instead they dropped down below the cloud into the quiet of the valley below. Before the final stretch home a break was taken by the shore of Ffynnon Llugwy. Six of the group disappeared into the shelter tent, from which mysterious sounds of merriment were soon emerging.
The other party found themselves just below Llywelyn when the mist enveloped them, perhaps under the malign influence of the nearby Pen Llithrig y Wrach, ’the head of the slippery witch’. But they pressed resolutely on to the summit, thereby completing their third 3000 feet peak of the day. The late change in the weather had only slightly marred what had been another terrific walk and in good spirits they followed the others down.

Thanks
That evening the Club celebrated with an exceptional meal in ‘The Bistro’ in Betws-y-Coed. It rounded off a very successful trip and thanks must be expressed to principal organisers and walk leaders Samzie Hale and Eamonn Flanagan, who put in a huge amount of work to ensure a great weekend for all.