Sunday 19 February 2012

Snowdonia - Llyn Idwal

Sunday :D Finally! Today was the last day of my most recent trip to Snowdonia. Again, only a half-day walk (and a very relaxed one) as we needed time to get back home :) Not a bad day, just relatively simple and boring!



Weather Forecast - UNKNOWN. Obviously, we had lack of Internet and MWIS only forecast three days in advance. However, it was snowing as we got up and was due to continue all day.


As I said above, today's route was very meh. All paths and mediocre in the difficult-ness. However, the views in the snow were stunning. Unfortunately, I once again did not have my camera so no pictures of the snow were taken*. However, I do have some pictures of it from a few years ago - not so snowy, but you'll get the idea :)


*I promise in the future I will make better effort to take my camera out whatever the weather!


Now we did the route around the lake clockwise - but of course you can do it either way around. In fact, Id recommend anticlockwise for reasons you'll see later.


The route up to Llyn Idwal is very simple. Where the A5 bends around the end of Llyn Ogwen, there is a hotel and toilets etc. This is where the very obvious path up to the lake (and most of the Glydders) starts. It is nicely paved, and just ignoring any turnings off, follow it over the river, round and up to Idwal.


Here, we turned left and made a start on our very basic route around the lake, taking in the beautiful views. As you come to the back of the lake, a path bends off to the right - which cuts round nearer to the actual water - however, we continued upwards on the path the Devil's Kitchen. 


We did start to gain height at this point, gradually. The view from the lake here was spectacular, as the snow began to fall more and more heavily - to the point where waterproofs became justified. 


Eventually, we came to quite a large stream running steeply down from the back wall of the corrie, which the path went straight across. TAKE CARE! Both my feet did leave the ground in order to cross, so just be careful and support each other across.


After the stream jump we had gained pretty much all of our height for the day and carried on along the back wall for a little while. We came to a large jumble of scree and rocks, where the path seemed to turn straight upwards. 


Llyn Idwal and Devil's Kitchen on a dry day.
Regrettably, our route did not go that way and we had to find our way down to the path coming up from the other side of Llyn Idwal. This is where coming round the other way seems more sensible. This involved quite a bit of one-handed scrambling and when its wet, going downhill is not the safest of things. Lots of slipping did happen but luckily we did find the path.


The route from now on was simple enough a baby could have navigated it. We were back on the main paved path and walked round, through a gate onto almost a pebble beach at the bottom of the tarn, and back down to the A5 by Llyn Ogwen.




In summary, this was by no means the best trip Ive had to Snowdonia - but it was just as enjoyable. A test of navigation in poor visibility is always a good thing and testing gloves, hats and waterproofs to their limits. Now, just a six-hour bus ride to look forward to!


2 comments:

  1. Yes, you have a chance.
    As in any business, a blog is important to make efforts. A blogger has to spend time or money and then may eventually turn out all right. Practice shows that creating a good blog should be from 2 to 5 years.
    So I wish you success.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Haha thanks for your comment :) Its great to have some supportive comments. Thank-you!

    ReplyDelete