It stopped raining in Snowdonia today, and the skies were clear but with mist in the valleys following a chilly night. We took this picture of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) and Crib Goch from the viewing point near the Pen-y-Gwryd hotel at the bottom of the Llanberis pass, with a big fog bank having rolled up the valley from Llyn Gwynant.   

Today we dodged the showers and climbed Cader Idris (893 metres) from Ty Nant via the Pony path. This is probably the easiest route up the mountain with only a couple of short sections of steep, scrambly bits. Good views all round, and a few friendly fellow walkers on the route today (including a family carrying up a baby on their backs !).  

In our continuing quest to visit rarely-visited peaks in Snowdonia, today we climbed Moel Ddu (553 metres) from the car park at Nantmor, climbing through the lovely Aberglaslyn woods before striking out across open country (largely pathless) to reach the summit. Whilst not a particularly high peak, it provides one of the best all-round panoramas in North Wales with views of multiple ranges (Snowdon, Moelwyns, Rhinogs etc.) as well as great views of the Llyn Peninsula and down to Cardigan Bay. A very special mountain day - one of the best we have ever experienced.  

In our quest to visit remote, rarely-visited peaks in Snowdonia, today we climbed Ddaullt (662 metres), a remote summit to the north-east of Rhobell Fawr in the Arenigs. After taking the minor road from Bronaber on the A470 to the deserted farmhouse at Cwm yr Allt Lwyd, we walked up a good farm track to ford the infant Afon Mawddach river, before climbing onto the North ridge of Ddaullt. A relatively  short climb to the summit is guided by a fence on the ridge. The summit views are fantastic, with all the major peaks in Snowdonia being visible, and Bala lake easily seen to the East. A very pleasant day out, mostly in sunshine apart from a brief snow/sleet shower on the way up.  

It actually stopped raining in Snowdonia today, after a week of almost continual heavy rain. It was still very windy, so going on the hill tops was not advisable. We headed to the Ogwen Valley and walked around Cwm Idwal, with great views of the surrounding peaks - Glyders, Tryfan, Pen Y Ole Wen. A nice day out after being house (or cottage) bound for the last few days. 

The heatwave continues here in North Wales, as it does in most of the UK. We wanted to head somewhere for a cool relaxing day near some water. The coast and beaches were out of the question since they were rammed with people trying to cool off. We headed for the dramatic waterfalls in the rain forest at Ceunant Llennyrch above Maentwrog, thinking this might be a quiet cool spot. How wrong we were - the car park and lay-bys were jammed with cars, and we saw a long crocodile of people carrying picnic hampers, folding chairs etc, accompanied by children and yapping dogs heading up the path, so we moved on.   We ended up at Cwm Bychan in the Rhinogs - a lovely spot by the lake just below the Roman Steps path. They were a few happy campers there, but it all seemed very pleasant and  tranquil compared to the rest of Snowdonia at the moment. 

It was too hot to climb a mountain, but we decided to head for the isolated lake of Gloyw Lyn, below the summit of Rhinog Fawr. It was about a 2 km walk from Cwm Bychan car park to the lake, over some slightly rocky paths, but once there, the setting is magical and we had the place to ourselves.  We even managed a quick cooling dip in the lake before tucking into our picnic. The Rhinogs looked magnificent in the baking sunshine - a lovely day out. 

Back in Rhyd this week, just as the heatwave kicks in. However, in contrast to the coast, there were no staycation crowds in the Moelwyns behind the cottage when we ventured out today. It was hot work climbing Moelwyn Bach, but we took lots of fluids and stopped to cool off our feet in a mountain stream on the way. We did not see a soul all day in the mountains, with stunning views all round.  

Great walking weather here in Wales today. We went to the Northern Rhinogs and walked up to the summit of Clip (600 metres) from the farm near Cefn Clawdd. One of the best viewpoints in Snowdonia, yet rarely visited - we only saw two other walkers all day. 

Back in Rhyd this week, and the forecast for today was not bad, so the mountains beckoned. We went to take a look at the Arans, a dramatic ridge of peaks that stretch to the south-west of Bala and its lake (Tegid). We climbed Aran Benllyn (885 metres) following a circular route from Llanuwchllyn, via a single track lane to Talardd, then climbing up onto the Aran ridge past the lovely location of Llyn Lliwbran, then turned left for the tough final climb to the summit. The sunshine was a bit hazy this afternoon, so the pictures do not really do the vistas justice - they are spectacular. A great mountain day out, rounded off with a drink and meal in Bala.  

It is good to be back in Snowdonia after all the lockdowns. The weather has been great this week, so today we took a break from maintenance jobs at the cottage to go for a quick jaunt into the Moelwyn hills behind the cottage.