Cadair Idris - back in the mountains!

Long time no post I know - we've not done a lot of walking over the Summer which has been a real bug bear - for one thing I had iron deficiency anaemia and it was affecting me quite badly, then Gary had a bit of a heart scare and had to rest, then I needed an operation which I needed to rest up after, so it's stopped us getting out and about as much as we would like.  But we're both over our ailments now and determined to get back to full fitness again and to keep the blog up to date with our wanderings, starting with the beautiful Cadair Idris in Southern Snowdonia, one of my favourite places to be. Hope you enjoy the photos and please leave us a comment, we'd love to know if you've been there yourself and your memories of this beautiful part of the world!

This is the beautiful Cwm Cau with Craig Cwm Amarch in the background.  A glaciated bowl cut into the mountain you are surrounded on all sides by this wonderful ridge which will lead us to Penygadair the summit of Cadair Idris, out of view on the right hand side of this photo.

The outlet of Llyn Cau

Yours truly very happy to be in one of her favourite places

As we start our walk up the ridge the sun lights up the Cwm

Looking down from the ridge above onto Llyn Cau

The view from the summit Penygadair down into the estuary and Barmouth

Holly's pleased to be back in the mountains too!

Looking down on to Llyn y Gadair and Cyfrwy, the Saddle

My favourite view of Cwm Cau and Llyn Cau, seen from the walk down from Mynydd Moel, absolutely stunning!

A passing Hawk jet

We hope you enjoyed seeing some of our photos from the day and that it gives you the incentive to get out there yourself if you don't already!  It's good for the heart and soul, a great escape from the trials and tribulations of life, I sure have missed it!

Mount Snowdon

Not the ideal day to walk up Snowdon on a Saturday, but the weather forecast was superb and were better to be than at the top of the highest in the UK outside of Scotland..... even though the top was full of idiots in tracksuits and trainers, slipping and sliding on the icy compacted snow that covered the upper slopes. It never ceases to amaze me how some people walk to these high places so obviously under equipped and then wonder how accidents happen and Mountain rescue are needed to get them off the mountain.
Anyway rant over... back to the walk. It was a beautiful morning when we set off from Pen Y Pass, heading up the Miners Track to ascend Snowdon, and we came back down the Watkin Path and back over Y Lliwedd, eventually dropping back down onto the Miners Track. It was a great walk, always tough because of the rocky terrain, but very enjoyable with great views.... hope you enjoy the photos.

Sharon as we start our ascent on the Miners Track



First views of Snowdon from the Miners Track



Two thirds of the Snowdon Horseshoe.... Snowdon and Y Lliwedd





Looking back south



Snowdon across Llyn Llydaw



very iced over!



Snowdon nicely reflected in the one bit that hadn't iced over



Further round where the ice hadn't formed Holly was soon in





Crib Goch .... doesn't look half as imposing from this angle



Our route back down was over Y Lliwedd



getting nearer!



The Miners Track









Snowdon above Glaslyn



An ice skating gull on Glaslyn





Holly tries out the ice



The three of us at Glaslyn

getting nearer the summit



and the view back down our ascent



Crib Goch



On Snowdon's summit

Sharon taking a picture of me taking a picture


Ravens on the top of Snowdon





Starting the climb up onto Y Lliwedd



Looking back to Snowdon and its South Ridge



Looking across to Crib Goch


Holly looking beautiful in the afternoon sun



looking across to Yr Aran



Crib Goch



Looking across to the Glyders



Moel Siabod