Area: Carneddau
After a fierce battering yesterday, confined to the old Ogwen road and the side of Crimpiau in 50mph westerlies and torrential rain, today was far nicer. Using Tal y Bont as a starting point for forays into the Carneddau is something I've done a few times, and it does have certain advantages: no driving up tiny lanes for a start, and a lot more elevation to get into the hills. I headed up past the Bull and then continued up the very long drag to Cae Coch below Tal y Fan. This gives around 5k of more or less continuous climbing, with great views of Dyffryn Conwy. It was cold and clear, some snow on the tops, all nicely bracing. I got to Cae Coch in 23 minutes, a CR, and then continued to Bwlch Y Ddaefaen and straight into the climb up Drosgl to gain the Carneddau proper. Some snow on the top of Carnedd y Ddelw, and more for the very cold crossing to Drum. The northerly wind was rather painful so I didn't have much time to take in the superb views of a snowy Foel Fras. A superb descent through the snow to the skirting path round Pen y Castell down to the old tracks above the Dulyn. This was all superbly enjoyable, so I took in the hillfort of Pen y Gaer (wonderful panoramic views down to the valley and up to the Carneddau). After this, the only flaw as damage from Storm Arwen meant I had to bushwhack through impenetrable paths - obscure enough at the best of times - through multiple fallen trees to regain the road back to Tal y Bont.
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