Hebog-Nantlle

Peaks: Moel Hebog, Moel yr Ogof, Moel Lefn, Gyrn, Trum y Ddisgyl, Mynydd Drws y Coed, Y Garn

Area: Hebog/Nantlle, Eryri

Last time I did this route, in 2019, I concluded that the Paddy was probably a tad too hard for me. This is the shortest of the five legs, and isn't all that arduous, although the terrain is tricky. Today, the weather was so wonderful that I decided not to bother with Bryn Banog and went straight up Hebog from my parking spot in Beddgelert. It was early, and in contrast to yesterday the hills were completely empty. In fact, I didn't see anyone all day - but the weather was even better. I felt tired on the famously steep climb up Hebog - which, frustratingly, I have done way more quickly in the past (I've done the race three times). I was particularly slow for the section up Y Diffwys, a crumbling rock band. The reward, however, was stunning summit views: there was a soft band of mist to the west and south with Yr Eifl and the Moelwynion peeking above it. Closer at hand, some tendrils of mist were still draped over Nant Gwynant. Snowdon and and my onward route to Nantlle were all radiant, stunning clarity. After a wonderful few minutes enjoying the views, I ran down the steep slopes to gain the weird cleft that leads up Moel yr Ogof - memories of the Pedol Cwm Pennant which I ran twice (far quicker than this!). Moel Lefn is awkward to the summit, and I rested a while before the slatey descent towards Bwlch y Ddwy Elor. From here, I took the Paddy line up Gyrn, a short but horrible additional climb that nobody in their right mind would normally bother with (indeed I've never been up Gyrn before). Tenuous paths lead over this to finally gain the bwlch, after which the nasty climb up Trum y Ddisgyl is pretty relentless. I remember flying up this on the first Cwm Pennant race, feeling very good indeed. Quite a contrast today, slow and increasingly dehydrated as the heat built. The best section of the Nantlle Ridge comes next, however, and I perked up for the rocky ridge over Drws y Coed to Y Garn - always enjoyable but particularly so today with great views across to Mynydd Mawr and Snowdon. From Y Garn, an awkward descent down Cwm Marchnad leads to a stream and a very welcome drink. After this, and a snack, I felt revitalised for the run down fire tracks through the forest to Pont Cae Gors - a Paddy changeover point. Around 5 or 6k down twisting tracks with some additional climbing leads back to Beddgelert.

Bochlwyd/Idwal horseshoe

Peaks: Tryfan, Glyder Fawr, Y Garn

Area: Glyderau, Eryri

A slight variation on an old favourite, done multiple times over many years. The weather was stunning, always my favourite time of year in the Welsh hills (and everywhere else) and lockdown was only partially released (to Welsh residents) so the crowds weren't too bad. I went for this grand old circuit, but planned to take in the Gribin rather than Bristly, as I've done that a few times recently. I scampered up Tryfan's north ridge in 47 minutes precisely, always enjoyable, then veered off the south ridge descent towards Bochlwyd. A drink from the stream, then over the outflow to pick up the path leading up Y Gribin. This stays very gentle until the top section and is another route I have done dozens of times over the decades. I took a little break on the Glyder plateau, reliving old days in Cwm Cneifion, tracing the lines of Manx Wall, Y Gully and Hidden Gully, all of which I retain vivid memories of! Stunning views from the top of Fawr across to Yr Wyddfa, perfect clarity and not many people around. It was warm and still - it doesn't get much better. Down the scree to Llyn y Cwn and then I upped the pace a bit for the climb up Y Garn (exactly 15 minutes). After a wonderful few minutes at the summit, marred slightly by a drone, I ran straight back to Ogwen cottage in 22 minutes, down Banana Ridge via Idwal. Around 2.5 hours for the circuit, after which I had a picnic lunch in Mynydd Llandygai overlooking the Carneddau as the weather got even better.

Berwyn extension from Dyffryn Ceiriog

Peaks: Mynydd Tarw, Foel Wen, Cadair Berwyn, Moel Sych

Area: Berwyn

The best route in the Berwyns is probably the horseshoe around Cwm Maen Gwynedd. I've done it a few times over the years but one of the big problems is parking (there is none in the valley). This large extension gets round that problem by starting miles away in Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, and it also massively extends the loop to 32k with 1400m ascent. Jez joined me, and we set off in bracing sunshine and strong winds for the long climb out of the Ceiriog valley. This road is very quiet, so the tarmac is no hardship, and eventually leads to big views out over mid Wales before descending to the very quiet Cwm Maen Gwynedd itself. We ploughed up the front of Mynydd Tarw, which is very steep indeed, before embarking on the excellent ridge over Foel Wen towards Ffordd Saeson (which has great historical significance) and the menhir which I assume is 'maen Gwynedd' itself. We went straight up the steep ridge to the main Berwyn ridge, which had a little light snow on it. A cold wind blew, but it was somewhat lighter here than it was on the road luckily. Over Cadair Berwyn to Moel Sych and a short break, before the superb descent into the jaws of Llanrhaedr, the over-deepened valley rising from Llanrhaedr y Mochnant and culminating in Pistyll Rhaedr and Llyn Lluncaws, two of North Wales' most outstanding features. The views are wonderful, and the glowering skies (it had long since clouded over) made it even better. We took in the views from the top of the waterfall before descending the zigzags to the Pistyll Rheader car park. I've only been here a couple of times as it is so inaccessible for us. A long road section down this lovely valley led to a junction a mile or two before LyM. We decided to avoid the village, and cut back along extremely quiet lanes north through the isolated but beautiful valley of the Afon Lwrch. I don't think I have ever been up this valley before, which is quite remarkable. After lovely relaxed running with the sun peeping through, we arrived back in Cwm Maen Gwynedd and embarked on the long climb back over to Llanarmon DC. Around 3.5 hours of gentle running, a superb start to the Easter break and a great way to celebrate the end of the Welsh lockdown (which ended today).

Taith Famau

The full tour, starting at the bottom car park, running up to Bwlch Penbarras then down the Hotfoot descent route to the Vale of Clwyd side. Round the bottom of Moel y Gaer then down to Nant y Ne and up to the summit via the Gully. From the top, I took the full OD descent over Moel Dywyll and Llys y Coed to the Moel Arthur car park. Then down to Cilcain church and the Pump House before climbing back up to the top via the race route and down the direct descent to the bottom car park. This route maximises the scenery and climbing on our small hill, but never covers the same ground: well over 1000m ascent.

Old Horseshoe Pass loop

Arguably the most brutal road climb in north-east Wales, I wanted to incorporate it into a meaningful loop with OHP as the climax. I have run it before (at the end of a truncated Llangollen Round) and I've cycled up it (which is even harder). But this loop went from the Ponderosa to the top of Cyrn y Brain (9.58). Then across the always boggy plateau to join OD, before a long section on quiet roads to Pentredwr, girding the loins before the vicious climax up the 'Old Shoe'. It climbs over 700ft in a mile with almost no respite - despatched in a respectable 11.25 from Pentredwr to the Ponderosa.

Anafon return

A blast up to Anafon from the A55 at Aber by way of a modest training session. I wanted to see if I could break the hour, there and back. I couldn't, but I did go reasonably well up the tarmac to the track that leads into the wild upper cwm. The mist was right down, but began to dissipate from Llwytmor as I reached the lonely shores of the lake. I didn't really go full gas on the descent until I reached the tarmac, and then I did to record a slightly disappointing 1.07 for the 13k/550m climb there and back from the A55.

Brymbo horseshoe

Perhaps more accurate to call this the Nant y Ffrith horseshoe, although that wouldn't be strictly geographically precise either. I cycled to Cefn y Bedd, staying within lockdown rules, intent on exploring the urban side first. Again, this is a function of lockdown. There was a time, not long ago, that I was exploring the South Pacific, West Africa, Central America, the Caucasus. Now I get my kicks from the Wrexham suburbs. A week or two ago, I did an interesting loop through this post-industrial landscape from Gwersyllt to Bryn Teg and Wrexham. Today, I headed to Sydallt, climbing up to join the Blast Road through the terraced streets of Brymbo to gain the site of the old steelworks, now regenerated as a little park: it's a very interesting town, of course, with a fascinating industrial history. From here, I left the urban half of the horseshoe and ran down to the Bwlchgwyn road. On the other side of this, a charming 3k (very undulating) route leads along the Glascoed road to join more familiar terrain above Ffrith. This comes out at the hairpin in Bwlchgwyn after another lengthy climb. From here, steep paths lead down to Nant y Ffrith, before a long climb goes up into the woods and eventually joins the rocky path to the top of Pen Llan y Gwr, a huge contrast with the other side of the valley. Next comes the familiar 'dream descent' from woods to road, then down to Ffrith village, then Cymau, and through the Ffrwd nature reserve back to Cefn y Bedd and a bike ride home. 

Pot Hole climbing

Crag: Pot Hole Quarry

Routes: Unaided (VS 4b:sec), Treffynon (VS 4b:sec), Grizzly (HVS 5a:sec)

As with races, climbing has been completely obliterated by Covid. In fact, I haven't climbed properly since summer 2019. I did an easy mountaineering route in Spain, but it is just one of those things that had to be sacrificed last year - any limited freedom meant that just being in the hills was a relief. This was certainly not a return to climbing - just a brief top-roping session at a venue I've been visiting for well over 30 years. No finger/arm strength and battered old shoes (my new ones were stolen in Bergamo) made life predictably difficult, but it was great to be back even if only in the most limited way imaginable.