Secrets of Eryri (Secret Snowdonia)

SUMMARY

Dates: Friday May 3rd to Tuesday May 7th – over the May bank holiday weekend 4 nights and 4 lovely walks

Guide: Anita Grey

Walking Grade: 2 Goats – there will be mountains but slow and steady. Expect up to 13km walks with 600m ascent. Average fitness. Some paths are uneven under foot so wear robust footwear – boots or shoes. One walk is more towards a 2.5 goat rather than 2 so you need to feel fit for mountains.

Base: The Royal Goat, Beddgelert – we couldn’t resist making this ‘goat’ hotel our base. It is newly refurbished and a family run hotel which we love to support. In the lovely village of Beddgelert in the heart of Snowdonia we felt it was the perfect base. There are plenty of walks from the door and there is a train station where you can hop on the Welsh Mountain Railway to give your legs a rest one day!

Arrive by 15.00 on Friday afternoon for check in, settle in and so there is a possibility of an early evening walk. Briefing with your guide is at 18.00 followed by dinner. Departure afternoon on Monday after a morning walk. Arrange travel for after 14.00.

Nearest station Bangor/Gwynedd is approx 20 miles away.

Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Manchester International Airport are a couple of hours away by car. The hotel has a car park for guests.

Price: £850 per person for a solo occupancy room  :

• Ensuite  room – bed and breakfasts.
• Welcome Dinner at the hotel on the first night
• 3 packed lunches on Sat,Sun and Mon.
• Expert local guiding
• Local travel required to walks including the steam train

Not included is :

• Travel to Beddgelert where the holiday begins
• Dinners after the 1st night – there are various local restaurants and these will be arranged for the group ( allow approx £30 per head per night to include 1 drink )
• Drinks from the bar
• Additional activities not on the itinerary

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DETAILS

Come and join us on the sunny side of Eyri (Snowdonia) The South side reveals it’s gentle nature, with ancient woodland, and tales of dragons and princes, and the crystal clear tumbling Glaslyn gorge, which flows through Beddgelert, our base at none other than the Goat hotel!

We will incorporate the spectacular Welsh Highland Railway one day, which tunnels it’s way through the Aberglaslyn gorge, before rolling down the estuary to Porthmadog. Hopefully we might catch a glimpse of the Glaslyn Osprey, which have made their home, under the stewardship of the RSPB.

We will explore lesser know footpaths, around the village, and the magical Nantmor, where the lure of Cnicht, the “Matterhorn” of Wales, may be too much to resist, if weather and will allows!

ITINERARY

The itinerary may change depending on the weather and is always at the discretion of your guide. Your guide will confirm your days walk each morning to be sure of the weather conditions. We ask you to trust your guide as they are highly experienced. Sometimes there are options and these will be discussed with you.

Friday 3rd May :Arrival at our base The Royal Goat Hotel in the village of  Beddgelert 

The guide will welcome you at 6pm for a briefing pre dinner with dinner at 7pm at the hotel. We suggest arriving for a 15.00 check in and  to explore or just sit and relax in this gorgeous location.

Saturday 4^th May: 9kms 500metres Ascent/Descent

We will catch the bus to the tiny hamlet of Rhyd Ddu, and set off on the famous path up Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) but very soon after, we avoid the crowds by following the old slate minors track up to Bwlch Cwm Llan, which is on the South Ridge of Yr Wyddfa, and offers incredible views of the horseshoe. At this point, we sneak down the other side into the cwm, to join the famous Watkin path, past the “Gladstone rock” where the Prime Minister William Gladstone addressed a crowd of over 2,000 people in 1892, on justice for Wales. We continue down past tumbling waterfalls, to the wonderful Gwynant café to refresh whilst we wait for our taxi back to Beddgelert.

 Sunday 5^th May We will have a choice on Sunday depending on the weather

Option 1:13kms approx 600metres ascent / descent

Taxi to Croesor. Gentle climb along the Cambrian Way initially. We will either make our way up Cnicht, gentle steady climb, until the final steep section, or head across the wild marsh land of Nantmor, and make our way through woodland to Nant Gwynant, to meet our taxi at Pont Bethania

Option 2: Moel Hebog 10km 700metres ascent – a circular walk from the hotel.

Up from the back of the Royal Goat Hotel, steep near the top, dropping down to Bwlch , where we could catch a view of Owain Glyndwr s cave, and take the path down side of Afon Meilionen , through Beddgelert forest to retrace steps back to the hotel

 Monday 6^th May Welsh Highland Railway adventure!

We will start on foot making our way up the magnificent Glaslyn Gorge, via “Gelerts Grave”, into the Nantmor woods, then along footpaths and lanes to Hafod y Lyn railway station on the Welsh Highland railway (6kms, narrow, rocky path in places, but we will take our time) we will then flag down our train and enjoy the journey through Osprey country to Porthmadog, where we will have time to explore the small town of Porthmadog before our return journey, through the tunnel alongside our walk, back to Beddgelert.

For those that would like to walk further, we could get off at Hafod y Lyn and walk back on the other side of the pass of Aberglaslyn, another 6kms, missing out the tunnel

 Tuesday 7^th May  8kms 150m ascent/descent – a morning walk.

Gentle walk along a lane to the South of the upper Glaslyn, to the start of the trail through ancient woodland, up to the iconic Dinas Emrys fort, the original birthplace of dragons!