Snowdonia

16-19 April 2026

Nine club members made the journey to Bethesda, North Snowdonia for a long weekend in April 2026. Our accommodation was a community centre, turned bunkhouse, which we somewhat unexpectedly shared with the local Brownie unit on the first evening! After they had left we had the place to ourselves and having located the greatest concentration of working radiators made ourselves comfortable in one end of the main hall.

On Friday the main group set off for Craned Dafydd under grey skies with the aim of tacking the northern spur. This was abandoned mid-way due to high winds but after a restorative lunch, the group split with four members summiting via easier slopes to the west despite a ferocious wind on top. Fortunately the winds eased and the skies brightened on the descent down the Mynydd Du back to the village. After the obligatory cake, a bulk order of takeaway pizza from the local pizza trailer formed the core of dinner. 

Saturday was sadly a damper prospect initially, but hoping for better weather later we drove up to Llyn Ogwen. Some members decided to enjoy the weather below the clouds and had a lower level walk around the lake and down the valley, back to the village. Others decided to enjoy the weather in the clouds and headed up Y Garn via the steep, but very well maintained, Devil’s Kitchen path. The peak was gained and the weather fortunately did improve during the day with summits and skies clearing later. A heavy shower extended the well timed coffee stop at the National Trust’s visitor centre at Ogwen Cottage and also allowed for some impromptu ornithology.

As often for Snowdonia, the day you leave provided the best weather and the three cars each went separate ways depending on the desires of the occupants. Two members could not resist the improved conditions and opted for a frontal assault on Tryfan’s north ridge, gaining the summit in sunny weather after some challenging and enjoyable scrambling. It turns out that new paths have been built between the road and Llyn Bochlwyd which confused on the descent, with map navigating conflicting with the evidence of walker’s eyes! However, a joyful jog down got the occupants of the final car on the road home by lunchtime where working taps (in short supply in our accommodation!) could be relied on once again.

Richard