Pen Yr Helgi Du

We are in North Wales this week. After the heat wave of Monday/Tuesday, the weather has been mixed with sunshine, showers and some hill fog.  The forecast for today did not look too bad, so we headed for the Ogwen Valley to climb a mountain. Rather than heading for Tryfan or the Glyders, we chose to climb the nice grassy ridge leading to the summit of Pen Yr Helgi Du, one of the less-visited peaks in the Carneddau, to the north of the A5. This is a very pleasant, and fairly easy climb, giving great views back to Tryfan and the Glyders. Starting from the campsite at Gwern Gof Isaf, a short walk east and across the A5 takes you to the track leading to Tal-y-brach-uchaf, where the walk starts. A short way up this track, you take a path (marked initially by National Trust marker posts) heading north-east to a footbridge over a leat (water channel) at the bottom of the Y Braich ridge. It is then a question of heading  steadily up the ridge-top path until after about 2 kilometres, you top-out at the summit of Pen Yr Helgi Du (833 metres) with great views across the  northern Carneddau towards the Conwy valley. The return walk down the ridge is pleasant, easy walking on a grassy path- easy on the knees, and with spectacular views across the Ogwen Valley towards Tryfan, the Glyders and Moel Siabod.  This is a pleasant mountain day that is not too taxing, but with great rewards in terms of views, and away from the crowds.