Walking & hiking (The Glyders)

[driver_problems]

Moving on from the impressive Cadair Idris thread, me and some mates are going to do the Glyders in the Snowdonia range in the next couple of months. Has anybody done this? Would appreciate some advice - routes, comments, places to stay etc - It seems that the YHA is the best base?



(mistake in the title once again - sorry about that)

[ogwalla]

This is on my list. Let us know how it goes!

[skyblueheroes]

Yep, let us know and take photo's !

Now I've done Cader I'm on the lookout for others !

Originally Posted by driver_problems

Moving on from the impressive Cadair Idris thread, me and some mates are going to do the Glyders in the Snowdonia range in the next couple of months. Has anybody done this? Would appreciate some advice - routes, comments, places to stay etc - It seems that the YHA is the best base?

The Glyders are my 2nd favourite after Snowdon.

For me the BEST way up is through the Devil's Kitchen. The wonderful walk by the lake and then approaching the vertical wall that is the Devil's Kitchen.

Looking far more challenging than it is, it is a good ascent - just as you get to the top there you literally step onto a plateau from which you can look back down and it surely is a wonderful sight.

I always like to sit and make a cuppa by the small lake on this plateau. You can then look towards the Glyders themselves - and you'll see you've got a bit of a way to go before you get to the top.

There's 2 ways up from here. Either go straight up behind the small lake - that's a bit of a scramble and hard work, but it's straighforward. The other way is to go to your right, around the back and ascend from there. It was 25 years since I tried that route, so I can't really describe it. I think it's possibly a better route.

Once you're on top, you basically walk along the ridge. If you walk along the western edge, you'll find the Cantilever Rock - dare you to sit on the end and dangle your legs over

From there, if you carry on to the northern end of the ridge, there is a footpath on the western face, that runs straight down towards the saddle between the Glyders and Tryfan (Now there's another great peak!)

If you carry on over the saddle and down you'll end up back in the valley where you started.

Alternatively, turn right at the saddle, climb up Tryfan and then jump from Adam to Eve (you'll see when you get there ) and down the other side, which drops you into the carpark.

The Glyders are a wonderful day out and not really tricky. (Though having been up there in a blizzard, I can't recommend them in that kind of weather!)
Tryfan, however, is much more tricky. More climb than walk, but fabulous nonetheless.

I can guarantee you will have a wicked time. Info on the Snowdonia peaks.

Can't help you on accommodation - when I did it last I camped at the base of Snowdon, climbed that on the Saturday and then packed up and did the Glyders on the Sunday.

[littld]

Should be illegal. Poor wales.

Oh walking, I see. That's okay then.

[altis]

If you're confident on your feet then you could try this:

Up the North Ridge of Tryfan; Leap between Adam and Eve; down the ridge on the south side to the col and then straight up Bristly Ridge; have your photo taken on the Cantelever on Glyder Fach; troll along the top passing the Castell y Gwynt (Castle of the Winds) to Glyder Fawr; down the hill to Llyn y Cwn then down Devil's Kitchen; past Llyn Idwall and all the climbers on Idwall Slabs; then down to the road at Idwall Cottage. In descent weather, this must be one of the best days out in Britain.

There's a YHA at Idwall Cottage and also a nice camp site a little way along the road towards Capel Curig.

[danielf]

Some terrifying (imo) photos here:

http://www.wilderness-wales.co.uk/pg/gl/gl.html

I think it's fair to say the chances of running into me up there are near zero . But, some might say that can only be a good thing

Originally Posted by altis

If you're confident on your feet then you could try this:

Lol. That's more or less my route in reverse. Except you've picked the 'extreme' way up to the Glyders and what is, in my opinion, the least satisfying way to experience the Devils' Kitchen - going down.

---------- Post added at 11:10 ---------- Previous post was at 11:05 ----------

Originally Posted by danielf

Some terrifying (imo) photos here:

Some rather nice pics. I actually think those pics are nothing like as terrifying as some of the actual views. LOL.

Thing is, they only look terrifying. You don't have to do anything 'risky' to get full enjoyment.

Originally Posted by danielf

I think it's fair to say the chances of running into me up there are near zero .

I have a terrible head for heights. I hate tall buildings - I even get queasy walking over bridges.

Despite all of that, while I might not go for climbing the vertical walls you'd see on your left as you went up the Devil's Kitchen, the rest of the route I described is an easy walk. You get to see the most spectacular views too.

If you get the chance, go, you'll not regret it.

[driver_problems]

thanks for all the advice and assistance. Will post some photos as soon as they happen. Best thing about trips like this is that you don't have to muck about with airports and the like and the drive up there is quite nice also

[danielf]

Originally Posted by ScaredWebWarrior

<snip>

If you get the chance, go, you'll not regret it.

Actually, I do like walking, and we do go quite regularly. I prefer shorter walks (3 hours - 4 max) though. Any more and my feet start to ache (with proper boots). But I may find myself out there some time.

[altis]

Originally Posted by danielf

Actually, I do like walking, and we do go quite regularly. I prefer shorter walks (3 hours - 4 max) though. Any more and my feet start to ache (with proper boots). But I may find myself out there some time.

Perhaps you need some custom footbeds - try a podiatrist.

Anyway, my reason for reawakening this thread is that I notice that this month's Trail magazine has quite a big article about a long weekend in the mountains for newbies. First day out is - guess what - the Glyders. Their route starts and finishes at the Pen-y-Gwrd hotel (also well worth a look). If you're interested then, at £3.50, the mag is well worth the money - and there's some excellent pictures too.

Originally Posted by altis

Anyway, my reason for reawakening this thread is that I notice that this month's Trail magazine has quite a big article about a long weekend in the mountains for newbies. First day out is - guess what - the Glyders. Their route starts and finishes at the Pen-y-Gwrd hotel (also well worth a look). If you're interested then, at £3.50, the mag is well worth the money - and there's some excellent pictures too.

I think I may try track that down.

That Hotel, that's the one on the NE side of the Glyders, isn't it? There's a path up/down from that - you'd get onto the Glyders but miss out on doing the Devil's Kitchen.

I recall using that route to come down one year when we got caught ina blizzard (and 2ft deep snow) on top and we were looking for a fast, safe way off the Glyders.

BTW - does the hotel still have the tables with names carved in etc?

[altis]

Here's the PYG:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.sr...6015&ay=355855

It's the hotel that the first team to summit Everest meet in every 5 years. There's an 'Everest' room with the signatures of many summiteers on the ceiling. Look carefully and you'll find "E.P.Hillary".

The Trail route heads out NE along the Miner's Track and then bears left across G.Fach and G.Fawr then left again, down the ridge, past Llyn Cwmffynnon and home. I've done this, or something very similar, a couple of times. As I remember, the Miner's track can be wet underfoot but the last bit by Llyn C. and over Moel Berfedd is quite pretty.

Originally Posted by altis

Here's the PYG:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.sr...6015&ay=355855

Ah, that's the one I meant - was obviously thinking upside down. lol.

Originally Posted by altis

It's the hotel that the first team to summit Everest meet in every 5 years. There's an 'Everest' room with the signatures of many summiteers on the ceiling. Look carefully and you'll find "E.P.Hillary".

Their tables also used to have signatures scrawled in them. Chris Bonnington (who I met a few years ago) was one, and mine is there somewhere as well

[driver_problems]

Originally Posted by ScaredWebWarrior

Ah, that's the one

http://www.pyg.co.uk/INDEX.html

room prices are as follows:
£35 per person per night without private bathroom
£40 per person per night with private bathroom

£42 per person per night for the 'garden room'
£24 per person for the five course meal which includes coffee

Weekends tend to be busiest as you can imagine