‘Explore. Dream. Discover.’ Mark Twain: Back to the Mountains

Like a magnet Snowdonia drew me back. Definitely my favourite area of Wales I think, although I have loved it all. Maybe it’s growing up in Norfolk in such a flat landscape that makes mountains seem so infectious to walk up, I don’t know. I do love hiking up them though.

I have been up Snowdon before, but wanted to do it again on a different path. This was a walk of two very different halves. The first two hours I saw just two cyclists as I headed up past Foel Goch and over the summit of Cynghorion in the clouds. As there was also a herd of cattle right on the path, we also negotiated a barbed wire fence on the way up and a slight detour to get around them safely! It was only on the descent out of the clouds that the Rangers Path with lots of people who looked so tiny came into view. It reminded me of the old computer game Lemmings, as they disappeared up the path and back into the cloud on the climb up to Snowdon’s summit.

At the top by the trig point, it was (as expected) shrouded in cloud and ridiculously busy, so I didn’t hang around but instead headed for the Miner’s track to descend and find a quiet spot for lunch. Back in Llanberis it was time for rewards - cider in the sun, chocolate and coffee and back at the campsite a glorious, hot shower!

We also then walked up Moel Siabod the following day, which was a totally different experience as only saw a handful of other walkers and yet the scenery was still magnificent. The delicious, late cafe lunch complete with a Black Forest style cake was very welcome afterwards.

Before our loop back to the peaks in the north, we drove through and walked a route in the Elan Valley from Rhayader. A very industrial landscape with the huge dams and Victorian engineering on display. In complete contrast, on a beautiful, blue-sky day, we found ourselves at Powis Castle, just outside Welshpool, where the gardens were full of colour and the air was filled with that wonderful smell of freshly mown grass. By chance there was an exhibition on by Kaffe Fassett inside the castle of his stunning quilt designs.

As May approaches I am coming towards the end of my time in Wales, as a brief visit back to Norfolk calls. I have again felt very fortunate to spend time amongst its forests, along the coastline and especially in the mountains. We have also cherished being joined by friends on walks, meeting new friends and again for people’s kindness in sharing their homes and driveways with us.

From an afternoon napping spaniel and I, we hope everyone reading is well and that you have adventures planned for all the bank holidays coming up.