The
view of Tryfan’s best side from Caseg Fraith’s dormitory window was exactly as
advertised and no further encouragement to get on to the Ogwen hills was
needed. Everybody else wanted to
scramble or climb so I set off to enjoy the Carneddau on my own.
 |
| Pont y Bedol |
I
soon reached the picturesque bridge of Pont y Bedol and continued up the
trackless southern slopes of Pen Llithrig y Wrach, passing a small herd of
Carneddau wild ponies on my way. There
was no semblance of a path until I reached the cliff edge near the summit, at
which point the views opened out to the north, but it was still no match for
the view looking south.
 |
| Llyn Cowlyd |
 |
| Glyderau |
With
nothing to accompany me other than the superb panorama, I soon reached the
summit. The view into Colwyn Bay was dominated
by the arrays of wind turbines rising out of the sea, definitely preferable to
them being sited on our hills and mountains.
As I descended to Bwlch y Tri Marchog a yellow RAF Sea King appeared
from over Capel Curig, effortlessly rising and then disappearing over the
highest of the Carneddau.
A
quick descent to the col with its minor summit of Clogwyn Llech Lefn – rising
just 14 meters above the bwlch and so just missing Nuttall status – I took some
time to bask in the rare welsh sun. For
the first time during the day I saw other walkers, plodding past me and on to
Pen yr Helgi Du, my next target.
 |
| Llyn Eigiau |
The
walk up to the summit of Pen yr Helgi Du felt easier than the day’s first ascent,
but the summit is worthy of a more substantial cairn rather than the small pile
of stones currently marking the top. The
view to the classic climbing venue of Craig yr Ysfa caught the eye but it was
the descent which was to prove the highlight of the day.
 |
| Craig yr Ysfa |
With
Bwlch Eryl Farchog in sight, the ridge leading down to it gave some worthy
sport. Steep and narrow but oddly
without the exposure usually associated with similar terrain, it had good steps
and had obviously seen much winter passage if the crampon scratches gave any
clue. Care would need to be taken in
windy conditions as a fatal fall earlier in the year highlighted the
consequences of a slip here.
 |
| Pen yr Helgi Du north-west ridge |
I
had considered continuing to the summit of Carnedd Llewellyn but with the true
mindset of a fair-weather walker, a few drops of rain persuaded me to head back
to the valley. I’d been there before and
I’d ticked my major objectives for the day, so bailing out and heading for the
Ffynnon Llugwy access road came with no pangs of guilt.
Technically
a horseshoe walk of Cwm Tal-y-braich would involve a descent of the south ridge
of Pen yr Helgi Du, but the north-west ridge gives the better scrambling option.
As
I walked down the access road, the unmistakeable roar of jet engines grew and I
was quick to spot the Red Arrows flying along Ogwen, towards the coast. A group of five were followed by a group of
four which made me wonder where Red 10 was! They were transiting to an early evening display
at Newcastle in County Down, before performing a 9pm flypast at the Edinburgh
Tattoo.
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