Blogs from Snowdon, Gwynedd, Wales, United Kingdom, Europe

There are a variety of routes up Mount Snowdon but the more achievable of these is the Llanberis Path. Despite this we were still feeling anxious and concerned about heading into the unknown. The ascent begins on the High Street but quickly we were confronted by an incredibly steep hill. It was still a tarmac road at this early stage but the incline was severe. Our calf muscles were burning whilst every step became harder and harder. Surely it can't be like this all the way? Luckily it flattened out or we wouldn't have climbed 100m let alone 1100m. The path was originally used as a pony and mule track. The poor asses were used to carry tourists up from Llanberis. To our right, as we steadily climbed, were stunning views across the Rushy Valley, named ... read more

Well the first of the three peaks is completed. Yesterday two friends and I climbed Snowdon in Wales. We went up the Pyg track and down Miners. It was not quite what I expected or in some ways was equipped for, but read on. The first surprise was how busy it was: it’s only just spring here but when we arrived just before 9:30 in the morning the car park was already full and there was a constant stream of people making their way up the tracks to the top. The next surprise was how hot it was. I have been monitoring the forecasts for the last couple of weeks and the previous weekend snow had been forecast and for the day of the walk, bright sunshine 10 degrees Celsius and dry. When we left home ... read more

There was a reason for the timing of our climb up Snowdon. As my alarm called its robotic chant at 6.30, it was exactly one year since we were climbing the highest mountain in England, Scafell Pike in the Lake District. The warmth of bed was the antithesis of that climb; the day began cool and wet and got worse, on the way I misjudged a river crossing and spent the rest of the day squelching those cold, wet, sore feet, as we got higher the winds became stronger, driving in hail and mist and pretty much everything else weather can strike you with. This was only the half-way point of the three peaks challenge though, the pointless journey to climb the highest mountain in England, Scotland and Wales and drive between them in less than ... read more

29/5/2010 Dolleglau With the rain bucketing down we made a slow start. Anticipating the worst of British roads with a wet start to the bank holiday weekend. We set off under the guidance of our sat nav along the motor way but with less traffic then expected. We cruised along the beautiful lush welsh countryside, along the narrow roads lined with cobblestone fences making it to Dollgelau with glimpses of sunshine. Unbeknown to us today was the Annual Dolleglau fun run a 5km run up Ras y Fordd so we grabbed some fish and chips and watched the predominately male crowd set off to the subzero peak. Following the main event start we wandered around the small village amongst the stone buildings and watched the under 12's set off for their mini run. We layed a ... read more

We had originally been hoping to do the three peaks challenge for Mandi's birthday, but when we realised we didn't have any friends stupid enough to volunteer to do the massive amounts of driving involved we decided on a cut down version, with a 2-peaks challenge being the filling in a three day road trip sandwich. We roped in Fleur and Ed and soon enough we were rocking northwards for the Lake District on a sunny Friday morning in August. There were only three of us in the hire car for the initial leg, Ed would be getting the fast train to Penrith to meet us in the Lakes on Friday night. The weather had been good to us and we'd tucked into a sunny pub lunch next to the canal in Mandi's home town of ... read more

Over the May Bank Holiday, we decided to make a return to Snowdonia in Northern Wales. This time we took our own wheels and accommodation in the form of ‘Brian - not sexy but damn good,’ the big blue van. At 6am on Saturday, Noogs, Sam, Hamilton, Chris and I, all piled into Brian and hit the road. What a trip. While the girls snoozed, the boys were squashed into the front seat, an arrangement that made them look a bit like the members of a George Michael fan club. Luckily us girls awoke for that momentous occasion - the entry into Wales. Woohoo! After the road signs became unpronounceable, we really began to feel like we were in Wales proper. The hundreds of sheep in the fields and green countryside made us Kiwis feel quite ... read more