Carneddau loop

Peaks: Carnedd Dafydd, Carnedd Llewellyn

Area: Carneddau, Eryri

Another familiar outing, but with an interesting twist for the last day in April in that it started snowing just as I began the Llech Ddu spur and by the top of Llewellyn the landscape was entirely covered and the day became rather hostile. I set off from Gerlan, as usual on this loop, jogging up the lane that crosses the Llafar and Caseg streams. As with yesterday evening, the ground was still pretty dry in Cwm Llafar, usually a very boggy locale, although the weather was clearly on the turn with clouds scudding in from the north. The upper reaches of Cwm Llafar are some of the most dramatic in Eryri with the walls of Llech Ddu and Ysgolion Duon hemming the cwm in. In fact, all the high cwms of the Carneddau are some of my favourite parts of Snowdonia. I ploughed up the steep side valley below Llech Ddu then doubled back along the nicely exposed path that leads to the base of the Llech Ddu/Crib Lem spur, one of the best easy scrambles in Wales, albeit a little short. For position and isolation, though, it is unmatched. The snow was fairly light at first, and I took a direct line up the spur and thoroughly enjoyed it despite cold hands - only the 4th or 5th time I've done it. I didn't hang around, getting from the bottom of the scramble to the summit of Dafydd in 19.59. The snow was sticking on Dafydd and the mist was down, so I pelted along the familiar ridge to Llewellyn, reaching the top in 25 minutes. The weather had really closed in by now and it was very cold. The snow was of the dense variety making nav quite tricky, even though I had run from Llewellyn to Yr Elen just a couple of weeks ago. I ended up dropping down the very steep western slopes to Cwm Caseg in thick mist and diabolically slippery snow covered scree (particularly in old fell running shoes). I took my time, necessarily picking my way down, and eventually confirmed my location as the vague outline of Llyn Caseg began to show at the base of the cwm. This is one of the remotest spots in Snowdonia (another of my favourite places). Many years ago I came up here for some solo ascents of the snow gullies. It's a long way back to Bethesda, so I jogged at sustainable pace gently downhill, just enjoying the surroundings as the weather began to clear. By the time I reached the lower valley, the sun was out, the skylarks were singing, and the weather was warm: an extraordinary contrast. I popped out by the car in Gerlan completing a full loop with no retraced steps, so from an aesthetic perspective actually an improvement on the familar old Carneddau race route. Later that day, a five mile Collie jog in warm evening sunshine was a nice way to warm the bones.

Siabod loop

Peaks: Moel Siabod

Area: Moelwynion, Eryri

Last time I did Siabod from Pont Cyfyng was on my birthday with the whole family three years ago. It's a circuit I've done many times over many years but treated as a mini-session today as I was quite late starting off. Conditions were perfect for a quick time: it has been an extraordinarily dry April and it was nice and cool throughout. I took it easy on the steep tarmac, then pushed a little as it levels off towards the quarry pools. A sharp climb gains Cwm y Foel in its bowl below the Ddaear Ddu (SE ridge), usually a boggy hollow. Some bog today, but far better than usual and I took a good line up to the ridge. This is a bit too broad to take directly and always involves some weaving around, but I did it fairly directly and got to the trig in 48.22 from Pont Cyfyng, almost 5k uphill. Views were superb across to Yr Wyddfa and down to the sea - perfect clarity. I took the race descent straight down, always awkward through the rocks near the summit, and continued fairly cautiously to reach the A5 in 23 minutes. Warm down to Bryn Brethynau, the beautifully situated North London MC club hut (!) where I looked back up Siabod watching swallows feeding, and then to the pied flycatchers in Coed Hafod: a superb evening's entertainment.

Band of Hope

A slightly longer ride on the new bike, testing its climbing capabilities just a little. I decided to stay fairly close to home, formulating a 'boucle' with Hope at its centre. From HK, it is essentially a continuous climb through Penyffordd and Treuddyn up to Llandegla. Glorious though, with the scenery gradually shifting from pastoral to open moorland with views of distant Arenig and Aran. From Llandegla, I turned back to Bwlchgwyn, then the plummeting descent down to Cefn y Bedd and all the way down to Rossett for another scenic contrast. After two pork pies and a pepsi, I crossed the border and turned off for Eccleston, with trees in full blossom and birds singing: another wonderful spring day. Into Handbridge then home down Lache Lane - 62k in 2.30, which is OK by my appalling cycling standards. 

Trafford 3000

Race: Trafford 3k

Time/Position: 10.23 (1st V50)

Not an obvious place to be on yet another glorious spring day, but I was desperate to race again and these brilliant track meets were an obvious starting point as they are 'Covid-legal'. I've raced at Trafford twice before, and that represents (almost) the grand total of my track racing experience. My 3k PB is 9.49, recorded in 2013. I knew I couldn't run sub-10, as I've been training for very different things! I started getting a little more specific last week which is not exactly sensible or thorough preparation, but that has always been my approach - do everything averagely. As it happens, I'd been too conservative with my time prediction and found myself in the slowest heat. I was thoroughly enjoying myself three laps in, which is not really the idea! I was reluctant to take the lead, but had to after three laps and 'won' the heat fairly comfortably with a big negative split, 3.05/km pace on the last lap. Mixed emotions - it does bode well (I am currently ranked 9th V50 over the distance in the UK - doubt there have been many times recorded!), but I should have been a tad bolder. Plenty of chances to race the distance again this summer though.

Carreg Wastad

Crag: Carreg Wastad, Nant Peris

Routes: Skylon (HS 4b:led p.2), Crackstone Rib (S 4a:sec), First Test (VS 4c:sec), Wrinkle (VD)

The longest lay-off I've ever had from proper climbing, so this was always going to be tricky. I remained passenger for most of the day and was happy to do so, partly because I've led all these routes in the past anyway and partly because I have very little upper body stamina at present. I followed Vic up the first pitch of Skylon, which I've led in the past - it is easy bar one or two tricky moves where the crack steepens. I then led the simple final pitch up slabby shelves. Crackstone Rib is probably the best Severe in Wales but I didn't feel up to leading even this familiar and easy classic. It is always wonderful though, with its slabby traverse left to the brilliant exposed step on to the rib and tiptoeing finish upwards. First Test is a little more obscure and takes a not-very-obvious line up the vague corner right of Wrinkle. If we got the route right, it gives good climbing with sharp incut holds and an unsurprising lack of polish. It steepens at a white wall with good moves to a big hold (I've never done it before, as far as I can remember). I led a bit of the last pitch of the very simple Wrinkle (last done 30 years ago!) but didn't even fancy that.

Llewellyn loop from Aber

Peaks: Bera Mawr, Carnedd Gwenllian, Foel Grach, Carnedd Llewellyn, Yr Elen

Area: Carneddau, Eryri

A slightly refined version of a longish loop I've done twice before. That said, I included Bera Mawr, which always slows progress considerably. In essence, this is Carnedd Llewellyn from the coast, as it sets off from Aber and takes the 1000m peaks race route above Aber Falls and into Cwm Afon Goch, always a lovely place to be, particularly on a perfect spring morning (which this was initially). The route up the cwm is not easy, however, and twists around boulders and the river bed continually. I can never remember the exact race route, even though I've done it three times, and headed up to the plateau too early - this means a very steep climb up the side of the cwm to gain marshy ground below Bera Mawr. I was going slowly, and it looked like it would cloud over, so I decided to take in the complex top of Bera Mawr for the views (after all, it features on the cover of my new book). The rocks do slow you down, and by the time I rounded Yr Aryg it had clouded over and was pretty chilly. I began to speed up a little over Foel Grach and there were a few snowfields on the familiar climb up the north side of Llewellyn. Predictably cold at the summit, and I had it to myself despite the end of lockdown. Probably the least sun-drenched spot in Wales today, so I pelted down and across to Yr Elen, one of my favourite Welsh mountains. I always enjoy the view back to Llewellyn, and Ysgolion Duon looked pretty hostile and wintry today. Down the steep spur and then to the base of lonely Cwm Caseg following the old Carneddau race route towards the giant sheepfold. I drank from the stream and refuelled on authentic Turkish lokum, before taking a higher contouring line to leave Cwm Caseg than I have taken previously. There's a narrow path that loops the drystone wall and takes a comfortable line round the shoulder of Gyrn Wigiau to gain the valleys above Bethesda - much better than looping lower down. From the boggy base of Cwm Marchnad, I aimed for the gap between Moel Faban and Gyrn which gives access to the series of superb ancient tracks that lead north then east around the base of Moel Wnion. You get a raised grandstand view of the Menai Strait throughout - absolutely brilliant. Back to the car in Aber in a fairly relaxed 3.40.

Pot Hole climbing

Crag: Pot Hole Quarry

Routes: Selva (VS 4a:sec), Cristallo (VS 4b:sec), The Dog (HVS 5b:sec), Right Wall (E1 5c:sec)

Another training session at the old venue, kicking off with easy routes on the right and moving across to the better lines on the left. All of them done dozens of times before, the low crux on The Dog becomes harder and more polished with every passing year. By contrast, Right Wall is the nicest route on the crag now in my view, technical and interesting with sharp little incut holds. It was an absolutely glorious spring evening, so we finished with a run up Bryn Alyn and over to Findeg in crystal clear evening sunshine.

Tattenhall circuit

A pleasant bike ride, 60k or so, in perfect spring weather. I met Peter and Jeremy in HK and we rode out to Holt via Pulford and Rossett - always a long and exposed drag for the last few miles towards Holt, even when the winds are light. Over the old Dee bridge and into England, then we broke off from Churton towards the Peckforton Hills along a narrow lane with dreadful road surface. A pleasant cafe break in Tattenhall then back to Chester via quiet lanes, along the Dee and back down Lache Lane.

Cylch Machno Round

Peaks: Y Ro Wen, Foel Fras, Manod Mawr (Graig Ddu), Moel Marchyria

Area: Cwm Penmachno, Eryri

Another idea I have had in the back of my mind for some time, and as I was tired after recent mileage, and with a vicious wind likely, today seemed a good opportunity to head across to the ancestral home for an attempt to link the surrounding hills into a logical round. It was a brilliant outing, hard in places, but it definitely needs a little refinement as sections of it could be made even better and more challenging/logical. I parked in Penmachno itself, and took the Ty Mawr road which forks off to the north after a mile or so. A steep tarmac climb leads to the unmarked turn on to a boggy bridleway which leads via Bwlch y Groes to Dolwyddelan. I assume this is an ancient crossing point but now much of it is in conifer forest with multiple deep bogs slowing progress. At the bwlch, great views to a snowy Siabod, with the side peak of Drosgol nearby. I cut through the conifers to gain surprisingly comfortable terrain which I assumed lead towards Y Ro Wen. It did, and in fact I picked up a comfortable track towards the top which led to the summit. This has a surprisingly commodious wind shelter for such an obscure peak. Sadly, it did little to mitigate a vicious north-westerly which cut into me continually throughout this section. In response, I ducked down to the Machno side but was then surprised to find a path which led round the conifers of Cwm Penanmen to gain open ground below Foel Fras. Cwm Penanmen, above Dolwyddelan, is well-known for Carreg Alltrem and its little collection of excellent rock climbs. The weather was closing in a little, with sleet and low cloud. I ploughed up the front of Foel Fras to its unmarked summit, then came the worst part of the day - tussocks and bog along the plateau towards Llyn Bowydd and Cwt y Bugail. The latter is the sight of the most remote slate quarry of all, where taid worked in (I assume) the 1930s. It is at least 500m up, exposed to the full force of the westerly wind. It was an essential part of the 'round', as was Manod Mawr, which dominates the head of the valley. So I trudged dutifully up its steep slopes to the summit. Mist, snow, wind: no place to linger. The terrain down to Rhiw Bach quarry (another of taid's workplaces - visited with dad a few years ago) is complex, so I took a weaving line down to the winding house. I then had the opportunity to join the marked slate trail down to Cwm, but rejected this for a contouring line up to Moel Marchyria, fixated on the skyline. This was predictably pathless - very arduous until a track is gained. Very steep ground then leads to the lonely road up to Migneint. Down this to Carrog and Beniarth, before a 5k road jog back to Penmachno - 24k, 1300m. This needs refining to include Moel Penanmen, Llyn Conwy and Pen y Bedw: then it will be the full tour, industrial heritage and landscape combined.