Carneddau run

Peaks: Drum, Foel Fras, Yr Orsedd, Pen Bryn Du, Foel Ganol
Area: Carneddau, Eryri
It seemed possible that this would be the last opportunity for an evening run in Snowdonia this summer, and the weather looked perfect, so Jez and I headed over for some 'Ben Nevis training' now we've both got a place in the race. The long climb from the coast, an extension of the normal race route, is ideal for that purpose although my legs were rather tired after the last two days. We kept a reasonable pace ticking over on the steep tarmac leading up from Aber, but it was with some relief that we gained the contouring bridleway which leads to Bwlch y Ddeufaen. The evening was developing perfectly: superb clarity of light as the sun began to drop over Anglesey. We stuck to the race route, over Drum, then the short descent before the boggy climb up Foel Fras. I usually walk most of this, and today was no exception - tired and dehydrated. We relaxed a bit at the summit of Foel Fras, great views over the rest of the Carneddau. A brilliant descent followed, as I took Jez over one of the my favourite corners of Eryri - the little known ridge over Yr Orsedd and Foel Ganol. The light was fantastic on this section as the sun dropped further. We took a direct line back to the top of the tarmac - must admit that I was tiring on the road run back through Aber.