#llyn clyd

[alluneedissunshine]

View From Llyn Clyd by MDJL Landscapes Via Flickr: View of Llyn Idwal and Llyn Ogwen from Llyn Clyd on the way up to Y Garn

[greyfoxhiking]

Snowdonia - February 2019.

Tryfan North Ridge and the Glyders.

Just six days since my last hike and getting back to the kind of frequency I prefer I decided to head to Snowdonia. It was now the Friday of half term and I had planned to get two walks in during the week, the first at the Newlands Horseshoe already completed and the second in the Glyderau about to begin. The last time I ventured to Snowdonia was when I completed every Hewitt there in 2016, the 104 official mountains in the Snowdonia National Park. My route was to take in Tryfan’s North Ridge. A grade 1 scramble that I had never completed, despite summiting Tryfan 3 times, before heading round to Glyder Fach, Glyder Fawr and Y Garn.

With the standard 5am alarm I was up quickly and out of the house by half five, the drive to Snowdonia from Manchester is pretty similar to the Lakes in terms of time. The Ogwen Valley was just under 2 hours away. I was aiming for the Tryfan car park just off the A5 and was due to arrive just as the sun came up. A better forecast than Saturday’s hike in the Lakes the summits were going to be clear all day, with hazy sunshine and a strong breeze. I pulled up at 7:15am and the sky was glowing orange, beautiful reflections across Llyn Ogwen and plenty of space to park. I quickly got my boots on, bag out of the boot and set off out the iron gate at the back of the car park by 7:30am.

Scrambling over a large boulder field immediately after leaving the car park gave me a taste of things to come on the North Ridge and before too long I arrived at a stile over the famous wall at the base of Tryfan. After crossing the wall the route climbs steeply towards Milestone Buttress, a grade 3 scramble that is also accessible from this side of Tryfan, before swinging east and climbing again to pick up the start of the North Ridge. It’s a very steep start but necessary to reach the start of the scramble. At an elevation of around 580 metres the real hand on rock stuff begins.

Nothing too difficult initially just pretty basic scrambling, sticking to the polished rock to ensure I was on the correct line. Providing you stay as close to the ridge line as possible you can’t really go wrong. Sometimes there are options to follow easier looking paths but I found it best to stick to the scrambling sections. Before too long I arrived at the Cannon, a very popular photo opportunity which I could not resist. I set up my camera on tripod and a 30 second timer before scrambling to the top of the Cannon for a photograph. Great views from here across the Ogwen Valley to Pen yr Ole Wen, Llyn Ogwen and Y Garn. Directly behind the Cannon there is a difficult grade 2 scramble but being alone I found it easier to go slightly left and return to the main ridge.

Once clear of the scramble behind the Cannon I reached the large flat platform that leads to Notch Rocks, the most difficult part of the North Ridge. This was the only time I really had to think whilst on the scramble, quite a difficult way up but not as bad as it first seems. Eventually I came to a gully between Notch Rocks and the Central Summit where I had to scramble down slightly before climbing the gully and continuing over the familiar boulders to Adam and Eve at the top of Tryfan. The early morning clouds had started to burn off as I looked across to Llyn Bochlwyd and scanned the Glyders for the route I would take later in the day. Descending quickly I arrived at the Col between Tryfan and Glyder Fach and decided to avoid Bristly Ridge by detouring round to the head of Cwm Tryfan to pick up the easier route to Glyder Fach.

Climbing quickly over steep but easy ground from Llyn Caseg-fraith at around 750 metres to the summit of Glyder Fach at 994 metres the views were getting better the whole time. Early morning clouds were clearing and I had noticed that I could now see my shadow as the sun came out. I arrived at the summit plateau and spent some time exploring the interesting rock formations, the cantilever and a group of rocks that resemble a crown, nice views of Tryfan and Pen yr Ole Wen to go with the improving weather conditions. Quite a difference from the previous times I’ve been at the Glyders where I had fog and clouds to deal with.

After taking plenty of pictures of the rock formations around Glyder Fach I followed the ridge past Castell y Gwent and descended slightly to pick up the path to Glyder Fawr, at 1001 metres the highest of the Glyders and fifth highest peak in Wales. The view of Snowdon, Crib Goch and Y Lliwedd to the south is superb from the top. It was on Glyder Fawr that I encountered the first group of people I’d seen all day, quite different from the guaranteed crowds on Snowdon! I certainly know which type of hike I prefer. I began descending Glyder Fawr towards Llyn y Cwn just above the Devil’s Kitchen. The path down towards the lake has become badly eroded and is in desperate need of some repairs. Taking care not to disturb too many of the loose rocks I was soon down at the Col between Glyder Fawr and Y Garn.

The route to the summit of Y Garn from Llyn y Cwn is a simple 200 metre climb with an option about half way up to stick to the main path or take one that heads closer to the cliffs above Llyn Clyd. I would highly recommend taking the route out towards the cliffs as the views are so much better. Looking back over the Ogwen Valley towards Tryfan and the popular lakes of Llyn Idwal and Llyn Ogwen. After summiting Y Garn I started my descent back into the Ogwen Valley firstly back climbing to snow accumulations near the summit and then heading down the ridge towards Llyn Idwal. Once down from the steep descent off Y Garn I took my time to walk back to the large car park at Ogwen Cottage and then along the side of Llyn Ogwen to the Tryfan car park admiring the view of the North Ridge where the day had started.

4 Hewitt’s, 13km, 1200 metres of ascent and a first time up Tryfan North Ridge, a great day out and some super views. Happy to be able to return to Snowdonia.

Sharing pictures from this hike over on my Instagram page @greyfoxhiking, head there to see some of my favourites.