Beddgelert

http://www.umhc.org.uk/hikedests/gelert/gelert1.jpg The view from Snowdon to Mynydd Mawr

The Walks
Beddgelert nestles at the southern end of the Snowdon range at the confluence between the Afon Glaslyn and the Afon Colwyn. As well as Snowdon being accessible, the highest mountain south of the Scottish Border in the UK, other very good medium-height mountains can also be climbed. The mountain that dominates Beddgelert is Moel Hebog while other mountains reveal themselves round a few turns on the roads. The low level scenery is fantastic and thus this place makes an ideal summer destination for all tastes.

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Snowdon is described in more detail in the Snowdon section. The most popular route of ascent on this side is via the Snowdon Ranger path from Llyn Cwellyn. The way up is hidden from the best features of Snowdon until the final two kilometres to the top where cliffs overlook the corrie of Cwm Glogwyn. A subsidiary summit of Snowdon that can be climbed on this side is Yr Aran which rises to 747m. This presents a steep short climbed from the col but a gentle descent back down to Beddgelert.

A classic traverse to do includes the Nantlle Ridge which traverses about five summits and negotiates some quite narrow and exciting ridges. There is some scrambling to be had on these ridges and they overlook sheer 150m drops and so provide an ideal introduction to narrow ridges. The mountains are around 700m in altitude but yield nothing in quality to bigger summits. Even the Scotland-crazy editor thinks highly of this traverse and that's saying something! There is one section (avoidable) that involves grade 2 scrambling at the base of the highest summit, Craig Cwm Silyn.

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Moel Hebog is the highest summit in the immediate vicinity of Beddgelert and has numerous impressive cliffs lining the upper slopes. Numerous rocky bluffs provide some opportunity for scrambling. Extensive forests, however, make access difficult from Beddgelert. The forest tracks marked on the maps are more trustworthy routes of access than the marked rights of way on the map. The summit is otherwise a worthy summit to climb.

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Another summit that remains secluded from most roadside views is Cnicht. This summit lies at 689m and has a fine south-west ridge that is fairly narrow and rocky. From some angles you can understand why this is called the "Matterhorn of Wales"!. This summit overlooks a area that is typically undulating hillside with numerous rocky outcrops. The approach from Beddgelert follows a dismantled railway track through some tunnels so be sure to have your headtorch handy for this bit!

There is some excellent riverside country here with a combination of rapids, wooded lakeside and some fine low level summits. The walk from Llyn Gwyant to Beddgelert is very fine and passes through mixed woodland that is often backed up by steep hill side. This is the finest valley in this part of Snowdonia and shouldn't be missed.

Beddgelert
Apparently everyone stops for ice cream in Beddgelert, because the shop there does all sorts of wacky flavours - according to Chris Dixon anyway!

Travel
A low-frequency bus service serves Beddgelert from the Caernarfon / Bangor area. Check out the Gwynedd Bus Service website for details. Oh yes, and if you miss the hiking club bus on the way back, as Geoff Ross did last time, you could always hitch-hike out to Crewe!

* Check out this map * Check out Lou Johnson's two walks o Cnicht from Croesor o The Moelwyns from Croesor * Check out Andy Harbach's page on Nantle & Moel Hebog * Photographs provided by Anthony Dyer and Fred Reid * We need plenty of photos for this page