Day 36 Cwm Ysgolion Duon to Idwal

Tuesday : Up 08:00, away 10:45. Today is my continuation over the Carnedd mountains that I forshortened on Sunday because of extremely strong wind.

After leaving the Hostel, walked east along the A5 then up the foot path alongside Afon Lloer stream. I carried on to the tarn at the bottom of the Cwm that is the source of the Afon Lloer. This was far wetter than my route down on Sunday when I had 'cut the corner' and walked further east. Lesson learned. I then retraced my route up the green hillside to Cefn Ysgolion Duon. Some wind at the top but nothing like as strong as on Sunday.

Left/west turn here for a straightforward walk up to Carnedd Dafydd. Initially over grass, latterly small rocks. Quite an elaborate wind shelter here built with entrances in 3 directions on this, the second highest of the Carnedd peaks at 1044 metres / 3425 feet.

Route down to Bwlch Ole Wen was rocky then grass before short ascent up Pen Yr Ole Wen. The whole of this walk was a circuit around a Cwm with the tarn at the bottom always in view on my left.

I had been dreading the descent from Pen Yr Ole Wen knowing how steep it was the last time I ascended it. I had asked YHA Idwal cottage warden Jerone for advice, having found ascending it in 2022 required climbing. The descent did prove challenging taking 1:40. Resolved to return one day in future to establish which is the best route up and down. Once off Pen Yr Ole Wen I descended alongside Afon Lloer stream. This is my third time descending alongside this stream.

Once at the bottom of the descent besdie Tal y Llyn Ogwen farm I walked along the Cambrian Way route along the north side of Llyn Ogwen lake to Idwal Cottage. I discovered this path was part of the Snowdonia slate trail. There were lots of ups and downs over rocks & wet ground and the final 100 yards were a particular challenge over precipitous rocks.

Today's timings -
11:15 reached east end of Llyn Ogwen,
12:00 reached wall half way up Afon Lloer,
13:45 reached Cefn Ysgolion Duon,
14:15 reached summit Carnedd Dafydd,
15:00 reached foot of Bwlch yr Ole Wen,
15:10 reached summit Pen yr Ole Wen,
16:50 reached wall half way down Afon Lloer,
18:30 reached YHA Idwal cottage

Chatting to warden Saskia after supper she mentioned a guest had cancelled their booking. This was for the single toom in the Hostel (there is only one single room). So I managed to 'upgrade' my tent pitch to the single room. This allowed me to strike tent while it was dry and pack everything for an early departure tomorrow morning on what I expect to be a hard walk over Glyder Fach, Glyder Fawr and down to Pen y pass.

9 miles from Idwal Cottage back to Idwal Cottage completed at end of day 36th of walking and 4th on the Cambrian Way.
Total miles so far : 363
Average speed : 1.3 mph
Weather sunshine for most of the day with 20 minutes of rain around 12:30.
Number of people passed : 6
Objective tomorrow : Over the Glyders to Pen y pass.Read more