Day 37 YHA Idwal cottage to Pen y pass

Wednesday : Up 06:00, away 07:50.

Last night's packing worked splendidly, allowing me to get away my earliest yet after breakfast. Walk began with gentle ascent over river bridge then across laid rocks to foot of waterfall on Nant Bochlwyd. Then steep up to Llyn Bochlwyd lake. I navigated too far south towards the lake. My excuse for poor navigationis that the path is faint here!

Onwards up to Bwlch Tryfan over rocky path, some of it laid. Last year there were goats on this section but not this year. Over the stile onto the Miners track which is over very loose scree and stoney surface so I walked on it with considerable care. Reaching the top the route takes a hairpin right towards Glyder Fach. After 600 yards, a significant ridge of rocks required some careful scrambling to ascend over huge boulders.

Once on the top route was straightforward passed Glyder Fach, Castell y Gwynt and Glyder Fawr. Mostly over rocky ground.

Descent down from Glyder Fawr was challenging. The route was unclear, I ended up lowering myself down rock walls and laterly over very wet ground to get to Pen-y-pass.

Today's timings -
07:50 started walking,
09:50 reached Bwlch Tryfan ladder stile,
11:00 reached top of Miners track,
12:10 reached Glyder Fach,
13:00 reached Glyder Fawr,
15:00 reached Pen-y-pass in good time for 15:35 bus to Pont Bethania

I was well ahead of the 10 hours I took to cross the Glyders last year so was able to catch 3 hour earlier bus. Arrived National Trust campsite Hafod-y-Llan around 16:30 with plenty of time to pitch and shower before catching 18:49 bus from nearby Pont Bethania to Beddgelert for supper, Cider and device charging.

In Beddgelert I tried the Prince Llewelyn and Y Bistro yn yr Hebog for supper but both had all seats taken so ended in the Tronnoen Inn where I had suppered last year and wanted to avoid! Got talking to an Australian-Canadian couple who were staying next door to the Inn. They kindly drove me back to campsite when I said I was going to get a taxi. People are so kind. They live in Australia. The Canadian lady said she doesn't miss Canada, it is too cold!

6 miles from Idwal cottage to Pen y pass completed at end of 37th day of walking and 5th on the Cambrian Way.
Total miles so far : 369
Average speed : 1.2 mph
Weather sunshine and glorious. Another hot day with a welcome ENE breeze for much of the day.
Number of people passed : 21
Objective tomorrow : Over Snowdon from Pen-y-pass to Pont BethaniaRead more