Day 40 Cnicht to Maentwrog

Saturday : Up 06:00, away 07:00.

Wind strength was unbelievable during the night. Tent was continually flapping violently against my sleeping bag. I felt sure my Terra Nova Wild Country Zephyros 1 tent was going to shred at any moment. I was kept awake much of the night both by being battered by the flapping tent and the anxiety of thinking I could be homeless in any moment!

At 6 am, wind was still wild, but the tent had held and it had not rained, in fact the sun was shining. I skipped cooking porridge as stove was unlikely to work well in the wind. I had plenty of Pepperarmis, energy bars and a sandwich from Beddgelert grocer bought yesterday.

As I walked down the gentle slope towards Llyn yr Adar wind was the same strength but didn't feel as bad walking with rucksack packed. Psychosomatic no doubt. Then a right turn down towards a large disused Slate quarry. This mile looked straightforward but took a while as I referred to map frequency to try to stay on the Cambrian Way route. Met a German couple here who had wild camped beside Llyn Cwm-corsiog. I forgot to ask them how windy it was. I wondered if it was better sheltered than my pitch.

Through the disused Slate Quarry it began gently raining. The route ascended a slate incline that was very wet, I placed each foot step carefully.

After leaving the slate workings behind and beginning my ascent up Moelwyn Mawr I met WO2 (Warrent officer 2) Sargeant Major Steve. He had retired just a few months earlier in September 2022. He was carefully assessing his position on an OS Map using the contours and features. A skill he said he had lost as he ascend the ranks. Apparently this tends to be a role for more junior Soldiers. We met a few more times as I ascended (because he kept overtaking me) and chatted about lots of things military. He echoed what I had heard a few weeks before from a former Royal Marine on Offa's Dyke path, that UK territorial forces were being built up as UK has been behind other countries in this regard.

Having only met 4 people all morning, at the top of Moelwyn Mawr a party of 8 arrived soon after me. Steve was already there making a brew - of course! I was amazed how light his JetBoil stove was. Even including the Gas canister it was far lighter than my MSR Saucepan.

Down from Moelwyn Mawr took a while needing care on the tricky scrambles down. Once at Bwlch Stwlan descent was an easy, though boggy, zig-zag down to Llyn Stwlan Dam. The mile below Stwlan Dam through Camfa Derw was slow, picking through high Ferns. I am sure these were not here last June 2022?

I passed the turn off to Duallt station on the Ffestiniog narrow gauge railway by not paying attention. Although gentle, the ascent back seemed to take forever because I was tiring.

Once on the road, route was straightforward and once I had left Cambrian Way I put my thumb out and eventually got a lift the last few hundred yards to Llechrwd Riverside campsite.

Teachers accompaning Duke of Edinburgh students pitched next to me. Maria had a Terra Nova Laser 1 tent. It was exactly the same design as mine, but made from lighter material that made it lighter. How I envied that saved 0.5 Kg! ... although not the extra £400 it cost.

Had supper at the nearby Grapes Hotel a mile away in Maentwrog. No success in hitching this time sadly.

9.5 miles from Cnicht to Llechrwd Riverside campsite completed at end of 40th day of walking and 8th on the Cambrian Way.
Total miles so far : 398.5
Average speed : 1.3 mph
Weather : Extremely strong wind overnight and dry. Sunshine at first with very strong wind. Cloudly with spots of rain from 08:30. Cloud rolled in around 10:00 which l was in until mid afternoon. Sunny, reducing cloud and temperature increasing for remainder of the day.
Number of people passed : 18
Objective tomorrow : Day offRead more