Tal y Fan variants

Peaks: Tal y Fan

Area: Carneddau, Eryri

Tal y Fan from Conwy has long been a favourite run of mine. This morning, I varied the usual ascent via Hendre by taking the steep road past the Berthlwyd caravan site, which leads to a lovely steep twisting path right to the top of Maen Esgob. This is an obscure locale but a nice mini-peak with excellent views. From here, I followed familiar tracks past the stone circle to turn off for the quarry. Above, very steep slopes lead to the top of Tal y Fan and superb views across to the central Carneddau in constantly changing atmospheric conditions. It was great to be back in the midst of this longest of all lockdowns. I varied the descent from Sychnant to take in the wooded bridleway that leads up the side of Conwy Mountain.