Snowdonia – Walks With Olly

Planning for Snowdonia – March ’23

In a few weeks’ time, I’ll be heading north to Snowdonia for a few days, just as I did in this same month last year. In this post, I’m going to share some of the walks I’m looking to embark upon. Each of which will be new to me.

The Aran Ridge (Snowdonia)

Tuesday 29th March 2022

My inspiration for this walk came from a trip to Snowdonia in May 2019. A group of us were camping at Bwch yn Ychaf in Llanuwchllyn and very close to the Bala Lake Railway. We spent much of the weekend looking up at the ridge but, with other plans on the table, not one of us quite decided to venture up and explore it (even fewer of us could pronounce its summits).

It’s been on my mind ever since. I had to wait almost three years but I’m pleased to say that I have tackled and conquered the Aran Ridge. My walk starts in the small car park at Llanuwchllyn, after a forty-minute drive from Ffestiniog.

The Carneddau

Monday 28th March 2022

With one walk from this trip already under my belt, it was time to embark on one of the two particular walks that I’d most been looking forward to. Having checked out of the Glan Aber Hotel in Bets-y-Coed, I drove for fifteen minutes along the A5 and in to the Ogwen Valley.

Last time I was here, in July 2018, I scrambled up Tryfan and in to the Glyderau with three friends. On this day, I was to climb the other side of Cwm Ogwen and meet the Carneddau.

Moel Siabod and Carnedd y Cribau

Sunday 27th March 2022

My first walk in Snowdonia since May 2019. It had been a long time in waiting; the first walk in what would be, for me, a series of days spent roaming about this National Park alone. I’ve driven up and checked in to the hotel the night before. A glorious day of weather was on the cards.