Snowdonia's iconic 3000-footer, Tryfan in the Ogwen Valley, will be featured on BBC Countryfile next Sunday (BBC1 at 6.00 pm). As part of their Countryfile Ramble for Children in Need programme,  Matt Baker leads a visually impaired teenager up the mountain. I am not sure of the route they will take, although a preview clip I saw last night it looked a bit like the Heather Terrace route - we will watch with interest !.   

The weather was not quite so spectacular in Snowdonia today - a bit murky, but dry with the occasional bright spell. We walked up to the ancient Bronze Age stone circle, Bryn Cader Faner, from the picturesque small lake (Llyn Tecwyn Isaf) above Llandecwyn (just over the new road bridge between Penrhyndeudraeth and the Harlech  A496 road). The path is well marked, as it forms part of the recently opened Ardudwy Way, a trail that runs from Llandecwyn to Barmouth, to the west, coastal side of the Rhinogs. This walk gives you a glimpse  of the wild, remote landscapes in the Rhinogs, as well as great all-round views of the coast and mountains.  

Perfect weather continues here in Snowdonia - blue skies and just a gentle cooling breeze - great for hillwalking. The garden at the cottage looked great in the autmn sun this morning. We headed up to the top of the nearest proper mountain the cottage - Moelwyn Bach (710 metres) -  this dominates the skyline to the north of Rhyd, as shown in the header photo on our home page. It is possible to walk to the top within 2 hours from the front door of the cottage - it is steady climb up the west ridge after a short walk up the Croesor road behind the cottage. The views today were as spectacular as we have ever seen - Cnicht and Snowdon horseshoe are dominant to the north, with the Porthmadog estuary and Rhinogs to the south.  

There are some great viewing points local to the cottage that you can walk to - no need for a car. Directly opposite is the hill Moel y Llys - a tough scramble up through the rocks and heather (there is no path) gets you lovely views down the Porthmadog estuary, and back across the major peaks of Snowdonia. Just up the road towards Maentwrog is  Fron Goch (217 metres) -also good for views of the Moelwyns  and down to the coast. Last night we walked into the forest opposite the cottage and climbed up to the viewpoint of Y Gysgfa (234 metres) - this gives great views across the Afon Dwyryd estuary down to Harlech (you can see the castle), and across to the northern Rhinogs.