Cwm Eigiau Horseshoe

Starting in a remote and little visited area of the Carneddau, this grand circuit of Cwm Eigiau ranks as one of the classic walks of Wales, boasting soaring ridges, narrow aretes, high mountains and stunning landscapes.....that is what the guidebook said of todays walk.... and it wasn't wrong. This is one of the finest walks that we have both been on, the landscape is stunning, rugged and remote, and add to that the fantastic weather we had today, made it one we will remember for a long time.  As well as being a fantastic walk I can think of no other walk that includes two summits with such unusual names - Pen yr Helgi Du (Hill of the Black Hound) and Pen Llithrig y Wrach (Hill of the Slippery Witch)!  Fantastic names don't you think but no idea why they are called that -  lots of photos today and a real job to select the best, but here goes, we hope you enjoy reliving our day with us.

Todays route map below, it was 17km or 10.5miles, and with 1056m or 3465ft of ascent.

The first sight of where we were walking today, Cwm Eigiau, as we arrive not long after first light.



Beautiful Carneddau ponies



From Pant Y Gnafolen looking down towards the Dulyn reservoir



Wild Carneddau Ponies







Heading for Carnedd Llewelyn



Sharon and Holly with Melynllyn behind them



Pen Yr Helgi Du (Peak of the Black Hound)



Cloud coming in over Pen Yr Helgi Du and Pen Llithrig Y Wrach



Carnedd Llewelyn, the 3rd highest mountain in England and Wales



Still pockets of snow behind Sharon





Sharon and Holly on a new summit.... Foel Grach, one of the Welsh 3000's



Taking a break at the Foel Grach, emergency summit shelter



looking towards Yr Elen from Foel Grach



Sharon and Holly sillouetted against the cloud



Leaving Carnedd Llewelyn and heading towards the stunning ridge walk to Pen Yr Helgi Du



Sharon and Holly playing in the snow!!



The cloud was rolling around all day, but stayed away from us!!



Ffonnon Llugwy



Sharon points out...upwards!!



Holly enjoying the scrambling, or rather coming down to find an easier way up



Tryfan looking very mysterious



Holly the black hound, on top of the peak of the Black Hound (Pen Yr Helgi Du)



Sharon racing to the top of Pen Llithrig Y Wrach



and taking a well earned break



A Brocken Spectre



Looking down towards Llyn Eigiau, and our route back to the car



looking back at the ridge we followed, now very much cloaked in cloud



As we passed Llyn Eigiau we couldn't help but notice the broken dam wall which burst after heavy rainfall back in 1925, flooding the Coedty reservoir further down the valley, which also burst, sending millions of gallons of water onto the village of Dolgarrog and killing 17 people.  It made us think of those poor lives that were lost, very sad.



The view from the same spot as this mornings first photo