Forty Six - Gwynedd - Snowdon (1085m)

Our second-to-last Welsh peak, and only one day available to climb it and company, our eldest daughter, (Welsh born and bred), who was desperate to reach the top. And the forecast was for fog and cloud until lunchtime. Classic bad news, and we did consider waiting til midday to go up but we do like an early start and we wanted a spot in the carpark. Fingers crossed that the mist would lift as we climbed, we set off up the Pyg track in heavy cloud cover and a smattering of drizzle. At least the weather put paid to any ambitions to climb Crib Goch as not everyone was keen on that idea, even on a clear dry day. We made good progress, prepared to turn back if things took a turn for the worse, but as the path levelled out we began to see Llyn Llydaw glinting below us to our left.

Low cloud starting to clear with views opening up

Carrying on up we made a note of the tall stone post marking the beginning of the Miners Track and our route down past Glaslyn later, and then continued to climb, using hands on occasion to help us. We could hear the train whistle going up the Llanberis pass before we reached it, and eventually we joined the path running parallel with the track to the top. and with it a lot more people.

Snowdon Mountain Railway

The easy way up!

First glimpse of the summit through 

more drifting fog and cloud

But there was plenty of room at the summit to have a look around and take pictures. Not the very best views from the top, but still great to be up there, and of course you have to visit the cafe for a cuppa- because it's there.... They also sell beer and pasties as big as your head, which we didn't need as we had brought a picnic to eat overlooking the lakes below.

View from the top

Brass plaque and trig point at the summit

Brunch bars all round!

"Here you are nearer to heaven", reads 

the inscription on the side of the café

Jess - highest person in the whole

 of England & Wales

Jess, the previous day - Graduation from 

Manchester Uni - a bit of a difference!

Lunch spot on the way back down

Back at Pen y Pass, we were thirsty, so we called in at the legendary Pen-y-Gwryd Hotel for three well deserved pints of beer and a gawp at the climbing memorabilia.

Three pints of "Purple Moose" ale

Excellent walk, and only one more Welsh "County Top" now to go, Carnedd Llewelyn, which despite a summit 21 metres lower than Snowdon, is regarded as a harder climb.

Forty Five - Anglesey - Holyhead Mountain (220m)

South Stack lighthouse - start and 

finish of the walk

It's very busy up here on a Sunday afternoon.  The RSPB have a carpark but it's full, as is the overflow carpark, but we manage to find a space a bit further up the road and admire the lighthouse at South Stack before setting off.

Multiple paths across the mountain,

 but well signposted

There seem to be a lot of options, pathwise, but it's pretty obvious where we're going and as we get closer the way  to the rocky quartzite top is well signposted. There are plenty of climbers as well as walkers making their way up too.

Quite an impressive sheer-sided hill, 

for such a relatively low altitude summit

We reach the summit quickly and admire views of the ferry coming in to Holyhead below us, though it's not clear enough to see the Wicklow mountains this afternoon. The town's harbour wall is impressive from here ; it's 1.7 miles long and was built using rock from the mountain.

Trig point at top, with harbour breakwater

and Irish ferry in background

The route down again is quick and easy, leaving us plenty of time to get to our holiday cottage in Menai Bridge.