Y Garn July09

Y Garn is one of my favourite mountains which is located in the fabulous mountain range of the Glyerau Massif.
It is a mountain that can be done within a few hours without the usual long walk in. There are many routes up this mountain, from the gentle but arduous slog up the south east face to the excellent northe east shoulder. Parking is also excellent, plus it is also easy to get to from the A5.

My route map. If I wanted to extend the day hike I could either climb Elidir Fawr or Glyder Fawr.

Parking is at Ogwen, the carpark hardly gets full and it is also free if you park outside the wall. As you can see Y Garn makes a perfect backdrop in the distant.

Waterfalls near Idwal Cottage.

Y Garn! The path up for me is the right flank.

The Devil's Kitchen. Situated between Glyder Fawr and Y Garn.

Glyder Fawr.

Y Garn from Llyn Idwal.

Devil's Kitchen from Llyn Idwal.

A view from Llyn Idwal we can see Tryfan in the background and start of Y Gribin in front.

The mighty Tryfan showing it's North and South ridges.

Nearly there at the summit!

Looking to my right or North West we can see Elidir Fawr and Foel Goch.

This scree path reaches it's plateau and the last stretch for the summit is left from here.
Another 100m or so to the top.


Summit view toward Llyn Ogwen.

Lunch break ontop of Y Garn, fantastic!

North East I can see Pen Yr Ole Wen.

Llanberis and Llyn Beris to the right. Some dark clouds are moving in!

Snowdon Massif with some cloud cover.

Llyn Cwn and Glyder Fawr.


Tryfan and Bristly ridge.



Glyder Fawr and Llyn Idwal.

Car Park to Y Garn Summit:-3km or 1.85miles, time:- 1hr 19mins.

Y Garn Summit to Car park:- 1hr.

Hafod Eryri via Crib Goch

Click here for a video of the summit cafe:-

Hafod Eryri
That was the name given to the Snowdon Cafe and visitors centre on the summit of Snowdon itself. Designed by architech Ray Hole, this building replaces the old concrete bunker.

It was recently opened to the public on 12th June 2009 at a cost of £8m to build.

The new building is designed to stand the extreme weather conditions at the peak, where winds can reach 150mph and temperatures drop to -20C.

This was my first visit to the cafe. I went with Jason (Shiqiwang from the Walking Britain forum).

Weather today was hot and humid, thunderstorms were expected later in the day according to the Met Office.

Arrived at Pen Y Pass at 9:30am, as I was waiting for Jason the car park was filling up extra fast! He had to park 1and a half miles further down when he arrived because he had been delayed on the M6. We finally set off at 11:00am.

Crib Goch up ahead, weather was still fine. We summited at 12:09, this must have been my record ascent in 1hr 9mins from the carpark!

Jason and the Llanberis Pass.

This view suddenly hits you when you ascend the PYG track.

This is the way we wanted to go for some ridge walking!

A guy who swims every week, runs 5miles 2-3 time a week, no wonder I had a hard time keeping up! Jason on top of Crib Goch.

A shot of me scrambling up to the summit of Crib Goch.

Cloud moving in but were at a high level. My eighth Crib Goch summit and arete traverse.
Skies darken, rain imminent.

Classic shot of Glaslyn.

Just before the down pour which lasted 10 mins!
More scrambling fun! This shot was taken after the easy section of Bwlch Goch Pass. Me, in orange, scramblimg up the Crib Y Ddsygl and the next knife edge section.

We followed the crest of the ridge with some superb scrambling which leads to the trig point of Garnedd Ugain.

Summit of Garnedd Ugain (Wales' 2nd highest mountain) and Snowdon in the backdrop.

Snowdon Mountain Railway. Runs by the rack and pinion system. The line is 4miles in length with the steepest gradient being 1 in 5.5.

The coal fired steam locomotive and a carriage full of day trippers!

Another Snowdon Summit, my ninth! But only a few in fine weather like this.

Quick summit shot as there is a lack of standing space on here!


Next stop the summit cafe, now with loo break facilities!

The main side entrance.

More details of the wall to the left of the doorway.

Inside, it is nice and cosy! Can't wait till winter!

The viewing wall of glass.

Train platform, access from the rear of the cafe.

Looking back again at the awesome Crib Goch.