Despite the weather remaining extremely wet and blustery, we just had to get out and about and up into the mountains of Snowdonia. We decided that today’s walk should take in the summit of Y Garn above Llyn Idwal in the Ogwen valley.
We waited until mid morning to see if the weather abated a bit: but no such luck. So at around 11:00 we took the path adjacent to the Llyn Ogwen Youth Hostel and headed up towards Llyn Idwal and then round the Llyn (lake) to reach the “Devils Kitchen”: an imposing headwall of cliffs that is breached via a small ravine right in the centre.
Even though the weather was really poor there was a two-man team climbing “Faith” route on the Idwal Slabs – pretty hardcore due of the awful conditions.
From the top of Devils Kitchen it was a straightforward walk to the summit of Y Garn (947m or 3,107’). By this stage the wind was picking up to the forecasted 60mph gusts, with driving rain. We stopped only briefly for a spot of lunch before hurrying down via the north-east ridge for a cup of tea and currant slice at the kiosk café by the Youth Hostel.
Here’s hoping that the winter weather improves :-).