Looking back, I've not posted since last time we went to Wales - to buy my new tuba (which is still big and still shiny). Seems about time then to tell you about our holiday to Snowdonia a couple of weeks ago. We've settled on a mini tradition of having a few days away over our anniversary (three years...), and with tackling the coast to coast walk later in the year, we decided we needed a bit more walking than Bedfordshire had to offer, so away we went for a week in North Wales.
We camped at a lovely site at Llyn Gwynant, which was very peaceful - camped next to a little river flowing down to the lake, with no cars allowed on the field we chose, and indeed no people sharing our field for the midweek nights. Campfires and one-burner dinners: good stuff!
Mostly we walked: a slightly busy Cadair Idris on the bank holiday, setting the pace for the week in terms of the weather;
Carnedd Dafydd and Llewelyn, the next highest hills after Snowdon;
a demanding and fulfilling scramble up Tryfan;
and a walk in the Snowdon foothills around Beddgelert on the one day there was cloud on the tops: we met some local widlife.
We never climbed Snowdon itself - I think after the beautiful day on Cadair, the majesty of the Carnedds and the brutality of Tryfan we didn't feel the need to go up the biggest one of all. We did allow ourselves a day off to go on the Welsh Highland Railway (Elspeth's choice) and wander around Caernarfon Castle (mine).
We also had a really nice meal on our anniversary at this bistro in Betws y Coed which we'd thoroughly recommend to anyone going that way.
I am very thankful to various family members who have contributed to my birthday present - a Pentax DSLR - which I have been beginning to learn over the holiday and since - expect some more photo posts from me, and I'm always interested in hearing people's views, so comment away. I think this one is my favourite so far - probably because it's a big picture of Elspeth :-)
All in it was a really good holiday, and we're very looking forward to upcoming camping weekends in Brecon and the Peak District with friends, and to our two week walk in September! I am extremely proud of Elspeth for tackling Tryfan the way we went up - it was a challenge well surmounted - well done love.
