#170 – The Cambrian Mountains of Mid-Wales

Posted on 09/03/2015 by Paul Shorrock
Looking east from Pumlumon Fawr towards Pumlumon Llygad Bychan

Looking east from Pumlumon Fawr towards Pumlumon Llygad Bychan

The route

The route

Although many in the UK will remember the late summer of 2014 that lasted from September until the end of November, it’s easy to forget that August was well rainy, and Chris and I spent a soggy few days in Mid-Wales dodging the showers. One of the walking targets for the trip was a corner of the Cambrian Mountains near Aberystwyth called Pumlumon (it’s pronounced ‘Pimlimon’ and means ‘Five Peaks’) but our first attempt was abandoned due to the rain.

Click to continue….

Posted in 6. Mid and South Wales, Aircrash Sites | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

#169 – Brecon Beacons day – Craig Fan Du, Corn Du, Pen y Fan and Cribyn

Posted on 23/02/2015 by Paul Shorrock
Brecon Beacons skyline – Pen y Fan is the highest peak towards the left

Brecon Beacons skyline – Pen y Fan is the highest peak towards the left

Looking towards Cribyn (centre) and Pen y Fan (left of centre)

Looking towards Cribyn (centre) and Pen y Fan (left of centre)

The route (clockwise)

The route (clockwise)

Living on the edge of the Clwydian Hills, with Snowdonia just an hour away by car, it’s easy to ignore the other hills and mountains of Wales. Last summer we took a trip south including a couple of days out in the hills, and our attention turned towards the Brecon Beacons. I’ve written about the Beacons before (see post #38) and we haven’t had a bad day here yet – Pen y Fan (the highest peak in the Beacons) was on the menu again, but this time from a different direction.

Click to continue….

Posted in 6. Mid and South Wales, Aircrash Sites | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

#168 – Mynydd Sygyn and the Pass of Aberglaslyn

Posted on 09/02/2015 by Paul Shorrock

The leader of the party bringing his two companions to the steeper finish (JB)Winter in Snowdonia (JB)

As I write this, Snowdonia has been transformed to an Alpine Winter Paradise, with people enjoying the snow-covered mountains. What have I been up to, you may wonder – I’ll tell what I’ve been up to, I’ve been getting over a monster of a cold! So, rather than sit sulking, thinking of the great winter conditions that I’m missing, I went back to look at the glorious weather of last September.

Click to continue….

Posted in 5. North Wales | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

#167 – More Carneddau wanderings

Posted on 26/01/2015 by Paul Shorrock
On the west slopes of Drum, in the Carneddau

On the west slopes of Drum, in the Carneddau

MapAfter the recent cold spell and storm force winds it’s difficult to remember that autumn in the UK was one long extended summer (OK, I exaggerate just a little!). It was late November when we decided on a Carneddau day – it wasn’t going to be too long, as Chris doesn’t much like walking in the dark, and if the weather wasn’t autumnal then the hours of daylight were.

Click to continue….

Posted in 5. North Wales | Tagged , , , , , | 18 Comments

#166 – Happy New Year for 2015

Posted on 29/12/2014 by Paul Shorrock
Happy New Year for 2015

Happy New Year for 2015

Hope you all had a Happy Christmas, and wishing you a Happy New Year for 2015,

From Chris, ‘Mist’ and meself!

(Now, can I remember how to get Chris back to her normal size ……..?)

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

#165 – Creigiau Gleision – Winter arrives in North Wales

Posted on 15/12/2014 by Paul Shorrock
Winter arrives at last in North Wales - Ogwen Valley and the mountains of the Glyderau and Carneddau

Winter arrives at last in North Wales – Ogwen Valley and the mountains of the Glyderau and Carneddau

Outward route - dashes. Intended route - dots, return variation - dashes & dots

Outward route – dashes / Intended route – dots / Return variation – dashes and dots

When we look back on 2014, in North Wales we will remember the wettest August for a long time, followed by a prolonged spell of warm, settled weather. Then, just a week ago, winter arrived, and not before time, because some of us have ice-axes, skis and other toys to dust off. It was only a hint of what may be coming, but good to see.

Click to continue….

Posted in 5. North Wales | Tagged , , , , , , | 11 Comments

#164 – Moel Hebog – “Bare Hill of the Hawk”

Posted on 01/12/2014 by Paul Shorrock
Moel Hebog (left), Moel yr Ogof (centre) and Moel Lefn (right)

Moel Hebog (left), Moel yr Ogof (centre) and Moel Lefn (right)

Route - the Moel Hebog Ridge (Click for a closer view)

Route – the Moel Hebog Ridge (Click for a closer view)

I was dithering a bit as I drove towards the mountains from Betws y Coed. It was a ‘good weather day’ and I was trying to choose between walking routes on Moel Siabod, Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) or Moel Hebog. All were worth the trip, but then I remembered that my last visit to Moel Hebog (see post #93) had been whilst I was recovering from a stomach bug that had left me feeling totally washed out – a return trip was indicated.

Click to continue….

Posted in 5. North Wales | Tagged , , , , | 11 Comments

#163 – The Berwyns? Where’s that? – Part 2

Posted on 17/11/2014 by Paul Shorrock
The Berwyn Ridge from Mynydd Tawr

The Berwyn Ridge from Mynydd Tawr

Overview map of routes in posts #162 and #163

Overview map of routes in posts #162 and #163

Route from post #162 in blue and #163 in red

Route from post #162 in blue and #163 in red

A walk in an area that I’m not too familiar with usually prompts a return visit, and the Berwyn Ridge (see post #162) was no exception, so in less than a week I was back again and enjoying the fine settled spell of weather we had for much of October. It looked like being a bit of a leg stretcher though, so Chris opted out of this one leaving Border Collie ‘Mist as my companion for the day.

Click to continue….

Posted in 5. North Wales, Aircrash Sites | Tagged , , , , , | 13 Comments

#162 – The Berwyns? Where’s that? – Part 1

Posted on 03/11/2014 by Paul Shorrock
The Berwyn Ridge from Llyn Lluncaws

The Berwyn Ridge from Llyn Lluncaws

The mountains of the Berwyns are best summarised as “The mountains the planners forgot”.  Standing between Llangollen, Corwen, Bala and Oswestry they are a significant bit of upland, but someone in an office decided that the Rhinogs, Arenigs, and Aran Ridge should be included in the Snowdonia National Park, but the Berwyns should not, despite the fact that one of the Seven Wonders of Wales, the waterfall at Pistyll Rhaeadr (see post #85) is one of the attractions.

Click to continue….

Posted in 5. North Wales, Aircrash Sites | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

#161 – Aber Falls and the Northern Carneddau

Posted on 20/10/2014 by Paul Shorrock
Aber Falls (just visible right of centre in the shadow) and the mountains of the Northern Carneddau

Aber Falls (just visible right of centre in the shadow) and the mountains of the Northern Carneddau

In September Chris and I took advantage of the unexpected late summer by heading a bit further afield to the hills of the Berwyns (two blog posts waiting in the queue) but then a free day and yet another forecast for sun tempted us back to the Carneddau. I’ve been to Aber Falls before, but usually just for a stroll out to the bottom or as an access point to the mountains of the Northern Carneddau – this time the plan was to have a mooch around on the paths above the falls.

Click to continue….

Posted in 5. North Wales | Tagged , , , , , , | 11 Comments