Drosgl and Aber Falls

This week we deviated from our normal walking day of Friday, and walked on Saturday, just as well really as Friday was not a great day weather wise in our part of the world, Saturday was a bit gloomy as we set off from Buckley, but by the time we reached Aber, there was some blue sky about and the promise of a good day set us off with a spring in our step. The days target was a mountain we had not done before, at 758m Drosgl is not one of the biggest but it sure was a test.

But firstly we walked down the valley to Aber Falls, and to the foot of the big waterfall, it looked amazing as the ice cold water crashed down its Icy fall. Then it was off onto the lower slopes of Drosgl, and the wind picked up, and picked up and got colder. By the time we hit the top it was arctic, the wind chill must have been well into double minus figures!! But we did it.

We walked back skirting Moel Wnion, and back to Aber for a welcome coffee and Bara Brith in the lovely Cafe.

A great walk in really testing conditions, not a day for faint hearts in the snow and freezing winds, but great to be out and also again we saw some of our favourite wild Carneddau ponies, how they survive in such harsh conditions is amazing.

The bridge on the Afon Rhaeader near the start of the walk.



The lower slopes of Drosgl behind Sharon



The main falls at Aber, coated in ice



And from the side





Lovely patterns in the river ice



Looking across to Moel Wnion



Beautiful wild Carneddau Ponies







such a harsh environment they survive in







A steep climb ahead now!



but great views back to the valley head



getting very windy now, and it was a biting cold wind



nearly there!



done it, top of Drosgl, it was a quick photo and off the top, out of the wind for Sharons home made soup.....delicious.... and a hot coffee



Not many photos on the way back as the weather closed in a bit, but we did bump into another Pony, this one with an adorable little foal





Despite the elements giving us a real pasting, cant explain how freezing cold the wind was, it was a brilliant walk, in a beautiful part of North Wales, and with the bonus of the Ponies........ and we stayed dry again!!!

Snowdon Via the Bwlch Main Ridge/Watkin Path

Our good luck with the weather continues and as we headed towards the start of yesterday's walk up Snowdon, this is the view that greeted us - clear blue skies and sunshine!  This is our 4th walk of the year which has been rain free - which already seems like more than we had last year - we had so many wet walks with no views last year I just hope this is the start of a run of good luck for us weather wise!!




Snowdon's peak still looking a bit icy on top!



Gary can never resist a photo of his favourite Welsh ridge, the knife edge of Crib Goch, although it doesn't look like a knife edge from this angle



it was a gorgeous walk up from Nant Gwynant, the morning mist just sitting in the valley, this photo is taken on the Watkin path as it leaves the woods below





the Watkin path is lined by stunning waterfalls - the ridge at the back of the photo is the ridge we will be climbing to the summit of Snowdon





Holly looking beautiful as always - she loves being out with us, her tail never stops wagging





Just about to start the final pull up on to the Bwlch Main ridge to Snowdon summit





Just a bit of scrambling on the way up



looking towards Y Lliwedd



a zoomed in shot of the summit cafe which is closed throughout the winter



beautiful looking down at the clouds below us, stretching out as far as Arenig Fawr (on the left) and the Aran ridge (on the right)



the Moel Elio Horseshoe comes into view



and Mynydd Mawr beyond Snowdon's Rhyd Ddu path - a mountain we have not yet climbed - maybe next week!



the ridge narrows as we get closer to the summit



not a full inversion but lovely to look out over the clouds and see the tops peaking out in the distance





the post which marks the top of the Watkin path which will be our route down later



amazing how in the last few hundred metres of the climb, it became really icy and cold



the Snowdon cafe, closed of course as it only opens to the train tourists in the summer months - us walkers have to sit out in the cold!



looking down to Crib Goch - you can now see it's knife edge!



happy to be at the summit - a wonderful walk with amazing views -  but time to get my coat on - it's freezing!!!!



that's better, a bit warmer now with a coat! Holly pretty happy too!!



a kind walker offered to take a photo of the two of us....



Crib Goch ridge ... again!



looking down at the clouds below from the top of England and Wales




on our way down now and this is Y Lliwedd, looking wonderful from this angle - now that's a sheer drop from the top!



Moel Siabod - from the top of Moel Siabod you can pretty much see all of the Welsh 3000 mountains stretched out before you, and there's a fantastic view of the Snowdon Horseshoe from its summit



Looking back at Snowdon's summit, looking rather different from this angle


Thank you for looking and please don't forget to leave a comment so we know you've dropped by!


Photos by Gary, comments by Sharon!