Friday 2 June 2023 - Y Garn and the Glyders

 
This is one of my favourite walks, and a surprise that I haven't followed the route since 10 October 2018.

Today's weather matched that in 2018, and Sue and I enjoyed he 12km circuit at a leisurely pace, taking over 7 hours compared with the usual 5 hours taken for this walk. I am slowing down.

It was busy by Llyn Ogwen, but we found a space to park about a 15 minute walk from Ogwen Cottage. At least that enabled us to relish the flat start, with good views along Llyn Ogwen.

After an 8 o'clock start from home, a walk, and a leisurely coffee and cake at the Visitor Centre, it was 11 o'clock by the time we set off up the hill.

They have installed some posts with holes that you can look through to see the hill that is named on the post.

The path to Llyn Idwal is very well surfaced and accommodates hundreds of walkers every day.

Tormentil

We left the crowds after reaching Llyn Idwal, and slowly rose up the slopes of Y Garn, meeting just three people before encountering a guided group of 10 or so on the summit. This picture taken near Llyn Idwal shows the majority of our day's route - click on the image for a better version.

The sky was a clear blue colour, but thankfully it wasn't too hot.

The summit of Y Garn reveals good views of the Snowdon massif and beyond - towards the Llŷn Peninsula.

In the other direction, the Carnedds and Tryfan.

Down at Llyn y Cwm, we found a fine spot for lunch, under the beady eyes of a watchful herring gull.

A further short but slow slog got us up to the 1001 metre summit of Glyder Fawr.

There's a good view back to the eroded path up Y Garn.

Ahead, the gnarly summit of Glyder Fach.

There were the usual good views across to Snowdon.

I'm sure we took some pictures at the summit of Glyder Fach, reached with some rock climbing children - Sue must have them.

She then ventured onto the Cantilever rock for a bit of yoga.

Then it was down to the Tryfan col path junction for another break and to finish off our second flask.

The path down from here is strewn with bags of rocks that will be eased into position by way of reparation of the eroded route.

The stile at Tryfan col marks the start of the final, sometimes rocky, descent to Ogwen Cottage.

The water in Llyn Bochlwyd looked pretty cold, but that wasn't putting off some hardy 'wild swimmers'.

Here's the 12km (or so) route, which involves over 1000 metres ascent. It's a classic. Today it took us nearly 7.5 hours, but in the past it has taken just 5 hours.

Fish (three fishes actually) and chips in a park in Ruthin rounded off a great day out.