Snowdonia Easter 2015

Snowdonia
4th to 11th April 2015

Saturday 4th April

After a busy drive along the top coast of Wales we arrived in our holiday home for the week - Trefan Cottage in Llanystumdwy (http://www.holidaycottagecriccieth.com).  It is a fantastic cottage complete with inglenook fireplace, beamed ceilings and and the most fantastic bedroom I have ever slept in.  We were warmly greeted by the house owners with a welcome pack of tea, biscuits, cake, fresh eggs and a bottle of chilled wine - a fantastic start to a holiday......and we brought the weather too!

Sunday 5th April

Fantastic weather this morning and we decided to climb 'the big one' - Snowdon.  The boys decided to traverse Crib Goch and the girls and Bill decided to go up the Pyg track.  The girls and Bill got to the top first and after a 50 minute wait the boys rolled in - not sure what kept them!

The top was really, really busy.....too busy.....so were soon on our way back down via the miners track.  Billy enjoyed a cool down with a roll in the snow and a swim in the lake on the way back down.  We stopped off at Beddgelert on the way home for a well deserved ice cream.

Monday 5th April

Another beautiful day with the sun shining so we decided to climb Tryfan - the reason for our visit. We parked at Llyn Ogwen and started our accent of the North Ridge.  Where the more adventurous between us could tackle the climbs, some of us went around the obstacles.  It was a rocky scramble all the way to the top, with plenty of pushing and pulling needed to get Billy up to the summit.  No one was brave enough to jump between Adam and Eve though!

We stopped off for a drink at the Pen-y-Gwryd hotel and saw all the fabulous Everest memorabilia and think about the link with the Everest expedition and the oxygen breathing apparatus trials that they did up Tryfan.

Tuesday 6th April

A rest day today to rest those aching arms, legs, backs, feet, paws.......whole body really.  We explored the Lleyn Peninsula cruising down the South coast with a play on the beach at Pwllheli and a walk to Hell's mouth.

We returned back to the cottage on the North coast and spent the rest of the day was playing in the lovely grounds of the hall and cottage

Wednesday 8th April

With bodies recovered we decided to walk up Y Garn.  We stopped at a fab deli at Porthmadog for some supplies - just look at their bread!

After a steady climb to the top we were rewarded with the most fantastic views and some more snow.

The way down past Devil's Kitchen was a steep decent - who needs step aerobics?

On the way home we stopped again at Beddgelert for another ice cream - well there are lots of flavours to work through!  We also went for a walk along the river and visited Gelert's grave.

Thursday 9th April

Another good weather day allowed us to walk along the Glyder ridge.  We walked from the campsite along from Llyn Ogwen past Tryfan and up to Glyder Fach.  We played on the Cantilever and climbed the castle of the winds - luckily it wasn't windy up there today.

Then it was on along the ridge to Glyder Fawr before a mad decent down a snowy, shale scree.  Then it was the long downhill walk past the Devil's kitchen once again.

Back home via Beddgelert and another ice cream - think we need to find another route home!

Friday 10th April

Another warm sunny start.  A morning visit to Caernarfon to visit the castle, as that is James' and Sarah's house at school.  Then we drove through the Pass of Llanberis on the way to Capel Curig and a last walk of the holiday up Moel Siabod.  Lovely views on the way up across to Snowdon, the Glyders and Tryfan on the approach but then the mist descended on the way back down.

Another drive home past the ice cream shop at Beddgelert - and the last ice cream of the holiday.  It will be a shame to have to go home tomorrow - but Billy said that it will give his rock warn paw pads a rest!