October 2021 saw a return to Snowdonia for the first time in several years. Pete and Tav arrived at lunchtime on day 1. The original plan had been for a low level stroll as a warm up but the weather was glorious so we decided a stroll up Moel Siobad was in order. The last time we were on this mountain together was back in May 2003 and the weather that day was biblical. Today the contrast couldn’t be greater with clear skies and gentle winds. We made good time to the summit, taking in views of Tryfan & Snowdon as we climbed. A gentle loop back to the car and the very short drive to the Bryn Tyrch and a rendezvous with Dave E and Lewis.
The Bryn Tyrch had been a really good pub when we’d stayed previously. Now a hotel, it did have a restaurant that had just opened, and while the menu was fancier than is typical for a Tav’s Tour we spent a pleasant evening catching up.
Day 2 dawned and while the weather wasn’t quite as good as the previous day it was at least dry. Y-Garn was our chosen mountain, last tackled by us in 2010. The last time we we had come from Llanberis, this time we started from Llyn Ogwen, climbing to Llyn Idwal before taking the narrow and steep path from the corner of Idwal, that climbs below Pinnacle Crag and around and above Cam Clyd. It’s a steep ascent and progress was slow, but we eventually summited Y Garn with its fine views as a reward. It was still relatively early so we wandered across the ridge to Foel-Goch for more fine views across to Pen-y-Ole-Wen and the valley below before retracing our steps back across Y-Garn and down Devil’s Kitchen, taking the smaller path to the far side of Llyn Idwal.
Having decided that Bryn Tyrch’s menu couldn’t stand a second evening we wandered down to the Tyn-Y-Coed for more traditional Tav’s Tour fare.
