Area: Cadair Idris, Eryri
Next on Morgan's hit-list of iconic Welsh mountains was Cader. I wanted to do it justice, not settle for the Pony Path, so we made an early start on Easter Saturday, breakfasting en route and getting a parking spot at Minffordd. It has been some time since I did this path, never mind the full horseshoe. I went up to do one of the scrambles perhaps 15 years ago, but it may have been the 90s since I last did the full route from this side. It is certainly one of the best hillwalks in Snowdonia, varied and beautiful. A steep start through the woods initially leads to a levelling and then the lip of Cwm Cau, one of Wales's finest views. This dramatic valley is a famous example of a glaciated landscape and I used to take schoolchildren here when I worked at Rheidol. The tops were still shrouded in mist, but this was beginning to lift and some sunshine peeked through as we took the steep climb to gain the main ridge towards the pyramidal peak of Craig Cwm Amarch. Stunning views across the crags down to Llyn Cau, again among the best in Wales. As we ascended, the mist rose, and after the forepeak we slogged up the rocky terrain to the true summit of Pen y Gadair, quickly putting on extra layers in the hut as the biting easterly hit. M had no issues at all with either the terrain or the fitness demands - good lad. We had lunch gazing down on the Mawddach estuary and across to the Rhinogydd, still some cloud around. Afterwards, we enjoyed the splendid romp along the grassy ridge east to Mynydd Moel. I remember the descent from this as being quite obscure, years ago, but now it is a clear path all the way back to the path junction. Only about 3.20 at a steady walking pace, plenty of time to get back for the cup semi-final. I reckon I first did this exact route at Easter 1989, or perhaps 1990, a year or two younger than Morgan today at exactly the same time of year.
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