Britain 09 - Day 34

Introduction

Today we intended to reach the top of Mt Snowdon before returning to our accommodationin central Snowdon. The day was cloudy, no rain, but the cloud was high and we thought it might just clear the top of Snowdon. It didn't, sitting over the summit like a woolly hat. And there is stayed, all day. We took the 11.00am train to the summit, then returned to Llanberis. From there we headed south, through small towns and villages in central Snowdon, finally arriving back at our accommodation. Dinner that night was at the local pub, the Red Lion. (We noticed as we drove through Snowdon that nearly all villages had a Red Lion.....)

The train up Mt Snowdon

The Snowdon Mountain Railway trains to the summit run half-hourly. You can book in advance or wait to see how the weather is fairing before committing to the fare. We had arrived the previous evening just as the booking office closed, so I headed off there before breakfast in order to get on an early train. But I was too late, they were booked up until 11.00am. So we had a leisurely breakfast, paid our bills and drove back to Llanberis. A stop at the Post Office for stamps took a long time as the one person who sold stamps had a long queue by the time they opened, then talked at length to each customer before moving on to the next. We then headed for the slate mine and visitor's centre. We should have known - the centre did not open until 10.30, so there was not sufficient time before our train trip. We had coffee at the train station and watched the tour parties instead.

Our time came and we were herded onto the train. We had tickets for compartments but not actual seats, so eight of us crowded in, with no room to turn and no room for bags or cameras. Then the train was off, up the hill climbing steeply all the way. We stopped at various sidings to wait for trains coming down, then just as we approached the top we entered the cloud. The top terminus is new and has good facilities for visitors. Outside lies a small knoll that marks the real summit, and here everybody headed, standing on the top amongst the swirling mist for photos. Then we were on board again and heading down, past the lakes, stoney fields, stations and the upcoming steam train. Before long we were back over the slate roofs of Llanberis and off the train. It was an interesting trip, and was well worth the time and cost especially on a fine, clear day.

The lake at Llanberis feeding the underground power station	Part of the old slate workings	The slate mine cut into the hillside at Llanberis
Waiting for the mountain railway	Two of the little engines	Starting the climb, looking back to the slate quarry
View across the lake	The walking track up Snowdon is more of a highway	Higher up and more slate quarries.
Rocky crags and deep valleys on the south of Snowdon	Looking down onto the A498, the road we had driven along	More of the A498.
The railway creeping over the steep bluff	Going higher into the cloud	Passengers tightly packed into the carriage.
Another view down into the valley	Nearing the top, and walkers appear out of the cloud....	hurrying on.....
and on.	We made it to the top....	but even the carriage disappeared into the mist.
The very top, crowded for pictures	The surveying ground mark on the top, to prove I was there	The height recorded in the walls of the Visitor Centre

After 30 minutes at the top, time for a few photos and a coffee, our train was loaded up again ready to depart. We had a little more space on our seat, as one of the passengers decided to walk down....... On the way down, we soon dropped below the cloud, then we met a steam engine coming up. Shortly we were looking out over the roofs of Llanberis, all covered in slate of course.....

Just below the cloud, looking north towards, Bangor and the Menai Straits	One of the trains stopped at Clogwyn Station for us to pass	The railway climbing behind us
Looking down into the lake of Llyn Du'r Arddu	I wonder if he is lonely up here
Part of the rocky fields	At Halfway Station, looking down onto Halfway House, a refreshment stop for walkers	The railway continues down to Llanberis
A steam train making its way up.....	puffing a bit on the steep part....	getting closer,
then stopping to take on more water.	The steam engine	The toothed rack and pinion track
Taking on water	Then getting up steam before continuing	The valley below
More of the valley...	and the solitary farmhouse	The slate roofs of Llanberis
Back at the station	The engine off to refuel	The Llanberis terninal
Our little engine	The station's name...	and a subtle warning to passengers.

And back to Cwm Chwefru Cottages

From the train, we recovered our car from the expensive and over-crowded car park opposite and headed south again on the A4086, back through the Pass of Llanberis to the old climbing inn at Pen-y-Gwyd. Then we took the A470 through Betws-y-Coed, Blaenau Flestiniog, Dolgellau, Mallwyd, Llanidloes, Rhayader to Newbridge on Wye and finally our cottage at Cwm Chwefru. Then it was off to the Red Lion Pub for dinner.

Cwm Chwefru Cottages

The Red Lion Pub at Llanafan Fawr

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Last updated: 16/06/2017