Alittlebitoutoffocus

Arenig Fawr Walk, Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park, North Wales

Ever since we moved to north Wales, we have driven along the A4212 between Trawsfynydd and Bala, either to see Jude’s family or, more recently, to get to the beach and golf course in Harlech. The road is a joy to drive as it passes the Llyn Celyn reservoir and has wide open views of the hills and mountains either side. Quite a number of times, especially on bright sunny days, we’ve looked up at a big lump called Arenig Fawr (that’s Welsh for Great High Ground, so you get the picture) and we’ve said to ourselves “we should go up there”!

So it was, last Tuesday, when the weather was set fair, that I decided to take my faithful companion, Tomos, up to the top. I’d checked out the OS map suggestions and found a 10.5 mile (17km) circular route, which also took in Moel Llyfnant. The descent between the two peaks didn’t look that big (on my laptop) but on the ground it looked huge. So I cut my losses and returned on a good track down the valley between the two peaks, making it only 8.5 miles (or 13km).

I was pleased that I had the wind behind on the way up (as well as Tomos to pull me along of course) but when we got to within only about 50 yards of the summit, the wind was incredible. (See angle of the leash in pic 12). I’ve never known wind so strong. There must be some sort of vortex created by the terrain but, boy was I glad to get behind the drystone shelter at the top. Tomos and I were nearly blown off our feet! I was leaning so far into the wind that when I did get behind the calm of the shelter I nearly fell over to the side!

It was all worth it though for the 360 degree views from the top. I could see Harlech beach as well as Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) and the Glyders (about 17 miles or 27km away). See panorama pic 15.

However, it was sad to see a placque, attached to the leeward side of the shelter, in memory of 8 US airmen whose Flying Fortress crashed on the mountain in August 1943. (See pic 13). I’m sure it will be there for many, many years to come and those poor souls will never be forgotten.