Ras y Moelwyn 2011

3^rd Saturday of April, must be Ras y Moelwyn, the rugged alternative to the London Marathon. From Blaenau through Cwm Cwmorthin, up Moelwyn Mawr, over Craigysgafn, then Moelwyn Bach, Moel yr Hydd and steeply home. Ten and a half miles with 2,800 feet of altitude gain in about 80 minutes – some do take quite a lot longer. This is what it looks like in the middle section on Craigysgafn and below Moelwyn Bach. The speed of the runners blew away the mist!

Diolch Blaenau Amateurs football club and Antur Stiniog.

Springwatch in the Vale of Ffestiniog - 2

My first swallow was on the 4^th of April, pied flycatchers on the 9^th, redstarts on the 10^th – as for the ospreys, they are well ahead of schedule with their 1^st egg on the 2^nd of April. Pied wagtails have been playing kiss chase at Dduallt station. Outside the kitchen loads of black bees humming around a fragrant shrub. Fresh soil is being pushed up through the mounds above the railway with millions of busy ants below. No kid goats thus far. Our gander watched on yesterday as one of the Indian runners tried to mate with the goose as she sat on her clutch of eggs.

But for me the most amazing sight was an emperor moth – common but impressive! 

Around Snowdonia in 80 Miles

A round or very elliptical trip from Porthmadog to Blaenau, to Beddgelert and Caernarfon then back to Port. This was the 4^th such journey to date and was organised by and for the London Area Group of the Ffestiniog Railway. 80 miles, rattling through the mountains. Not mind numbing but something lower down. This is how it looked from Campbell’s Platform as filmed by the honorary stationmaster.  

Springwatch in the Vale of Ffestiniog

Sunday 6^th March. In the foothills of Moelwyn Bach, on a sunny afternoon, Haydn was enjoying splashing through puddles on his bike when something caught his eye! A lively adder, woken from its siesta, wriggled away with ‘wheelspin’ as it struggled to find purchase on the long grass. Spring – watch out! 

Ffestiniog in the East!?

Yes, even Moelwyn Bach, just a few miles from Cardigan Bay, is in ‘The Eastern Peaks’.  This is the 3^rd volume in the comprehensive quadrilogy describing ‘The Mountains of Snowdonia’.

Moelwyn Bach

The beauty of the series is the depth and choice. Unlike other books, that compromise and short-change you by squeezing into a single volume, this sprawls out like a range describing every significant peak and the many ways of linking them together. Not just a route up and down but full à la carte choice to plan the expedition you want.

What I like is the balance between interesting information and details of navigation. I think John Gillham has got it right.

I live in the top right hand corner of my ordnance survey sheet, within 30 minutes walk I can be on to the next sheet. To get round this I’ve bought a customised version centred on our house.  With ‘The Mountains of Snowdonia’ I live at the intersection of 3 volumes. To get round this I’ve bought the set.

Using volume 2, ‘The Western Peaks’, I tested out the day route covering the southern Rhinogydd. No amount of adjectives can ever bring to life quite how magical it can be but the author does it proud nevertheless. As for the guideline time of 5 hours, I don't think that included much opportunity for savouring the best bits. Bumping into the farmers and their dogs gathering sheep off the ridge between Y Llethyr and Diffwys is an occasion I will remember for ages, with an indignant column of wild goats marching out of the way.

I wish I'd consulted volume 1, ‘The Northern Peaks’, before my last effort on Tryfan. I know now exactly where I went wrong! The panoramic 3D maps, with a touch of artistic licence, make so much sense of the routes.

My home range, the Moelwynion, is covered in volume 3 and, even though I don’t feel I live in the eastern peaks, I am very glad that the Vale of Ffestiniog has been described so thoroughly. The Ffestiniog Railway gets a mention too – it’s a great way to start and even better way to end a long day’s walk, maybe with a bottle of Snowdonia Ale from the Purple Moose Brewery in Porthmadog.

All 4 volumes sit in pride of place on my shelf of walking books whilst others gather dust.

Country Tracks enjoys the Vale of Ffestiniog

Ellie on the rock cannon

BBC’s production team for Country Tracks has been filming in the Vale of Ffestiniog. Basing themselves in Maentwrog they sampled the hospitality of The Oakeley Arms and The Grapes.  The episode will include a Ffestiniog Railway journey from Blaenau taking in the story of Colonel Campbell, William Madocks, the 200 year old Cob and rock cannons. Broadcast date likely to be early summer. 

For more information about the area visit the Vale of Ffestiniog website.

4 legs good, 2 legs better

The wild goats in Maentwrog nature reserve (Forest of the Wolves) have been enjoying the removal of the double height fence. This has provided an abundance of previously untouchable winter food. After a couple of months of feasting, the brambles are looking in a sorry state and ivy leaves can only be seen above the five foot mark. Maybe this was how the giraffe started off.