Welsh Mountain Challenge Weekend - The Welsh One Hundred Pinboard

An unusually free weekend in the calendar brought about the opportunity to escape for a weekend into the mountains. The plan: pin six more peaks towards the Welsh One Hundred Pinboard Challenge.

First, to pick up essential fuel for the weekend's activities; Stop 1, the Rhug Estate to pick up their butcher’s BBQ pack, and Stop 2, Siop Mynydd Mostyn in Cerrigydrudion for fresh milk and strawberry milkshake from Mynydd Mostyn Dairy. Camping essentials sorted!

We booked a camping pitch at Garth Farm Campsite, a stone’s throw from Capel Curig, the starting point of our first hike. After a warm welcome from Telor, we found a quiet spot to pitch our tent with a fantastic view of the Snowdon Horseshoe and fired up the BBQ. Fast forward a significant amount of time and our outside burnt, just about cooked in the middle BBQ was ready. Very tasty as it turned out, despite the questionable BBQ cooking skills.

In the morning, the first of our two planned hikes began from the old Holyhead Road behind Joe Brown’s in Capel Curig. The route follows the start of the old Holyhead Road before a left turn leads you onto the track that climbs up onto the grassy ridge towards Gallt yr Ogof (47) and Y Foel Goch (34). If you fancy an epic hike, you can continue towards Glyder Fach (6) and Glyder Fawr (5). We followed the route suggested by Dafydd Andrews in his book ‘The Welsh One Hundred’ and summited Y Foel Goch first where we enjoyed our sandwiches on the summit with spectacularly clear views of Tryfan! We then headed back towards the summit of Gallt yr Ogof before descending over rocky, heathery ground to Gwern Gof Isaf. We then returned to the starting point via the old Holyhead Road. Next stop, Plas Y Brenin for well-earned lime and sodas before heading back to the campsite for a relaxing evening.

Day 2 started with a drive to Nant Peris, the starting point of our next hike. The aim: pin four more peaks – Elidir Fawr (14), Mynydd Perfedd (31), Carnedd Y Filiast (30), and Foel Goch (27). It was a scorcher of a day, and the route was somewhat steeper than we had anticipated which resulted in a rather slow ascent up the steep slopes of Elidir Fawr. The views from the top were well worth the effort, and the ensuing ridge walk was a welcome relief from the strenuous ascent! Elidir Fawr was the only summit we shared with any other walkers. On the remaining three summits, we had the amazing views to ourselves. After a slightly questionable selection of a 'path' for our route down, we felt relieved to be back at the car and en route to yet another well-earned lime and soda…and then a beer (or two) once back at the campsite!!

All in all, a successful weekend of peak bagging and six more pins satisfyingly added to The Welsh One Hundred Pinboard!

34 pinned, only 66 to go!

Sara Griffiths