Cymoedd

The valleys of North Snowdonia.

Cymoedd literally means "valleys" (with cwm being the singular form), though in North Wales, it is usually reserved for glacial valleys. The area we were staying in was a series of glacial valleys that separated the major mountain massifs.

Afon Glaslyn

• Gallt y Llyn.
• Yr Aran (747 metres) and Y Lliwedd's West Peak (898 metres) and East Peak (893 metres) from Nantgwynant.
• Yr Aran from Llyn Gwynant.
• Llyn Gwynant.
• Llyn Gwynant with Carnedd y Cribau (591 metres), one of the Moelwynion.
• Llyn Gwynant with Coederyr, the Eagle Forest.
• The Snowdon massif. On the left is Gallt y Wenallt (619 metres), and Y Lliwedd's East and West peaks, with their 300 metre cliff (considered by climbers to be the tallest single cliff in Wales - taller than anything in England). The peak in the middle is Crib Goch (923 metres) with Bwlch y Moch (609 metres) and The Horns (545 metres) just to the right of it. On the right is Moel Berfedd (482 metres), on the edge of the Glyderau. The cloud to the left of Crib Goch hides Yr Wyddfa (1085 metres) and Carnedd/Garnedd Ugain (1065 metres) - summit of the Crib y Ddysgl ridge, the two highest peaks in Wales. The pipeline taps Llyn Llydaw in the hanging valley, and uses it as a power source. The small waterfalls on the obviously white Afon Glaslyn are collectively known as Rhaeadr Cwm Dyli.

Bryn Castell

Ok, so strictly speaking, it is a hill between Afon Glaslyn and Nanmor, but given the size of the mountains on either side, it feels like part of the valley.

• Panorama of the hills, from the head of Llyn Dinas (with Cnicht in the distant background). The tallest point is Moel Y Dyniewyd at 382 metres, with Mynydd Sygyn (about 305 metres) being the obvious pointed peak on the right. Bryn Castell (about 252 metres) is the little hill on the ridge - with strangely angled trees - on the left side of the picture.
• A remote farm on the edge of the Moelwynion, along what has to be the worst well maintained road in existence; barely wider than a car, with stone walls, blind corners, and no passing spaces for 200 metres at a time. "Remote" has taken on a new meaning.
• Source of the Nanmor (a strange name for a river, meaning "Under the Sea").
• Bad weather on Yr Aran.
• Moel y Dyniewyd and Bryn Castell.
• This view reminded me of that scene from Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves. That scene was actually filmed at Hadrian's Wall, but whatever.
• The path to Bryn Castell.
• Bryn Castell.

Afon Nant Peris

• Llanberis Pass is famed for its view, with Snowdon's Crib Goch to the left, and the back of the Glyerau to the right. This is the view. I assume it looks better in good weather.

Nant Gwryd

• Shattered ice sheet on Llynau Mymbyr.
• Ice plates.
• Shattered ice.

Afon Ogwen

• The upper part of Rhaeadr Ogwen, as it exits Llyn Ogwen.
• The bridge of the A5 over Rhaeadr Ogwen. Under the bridge is a bizarre structure like the arch of a smaller bridge, precariously balanced over the river. It is amazing that this survives the amount of water that must come down here in flood.
• The main cascades and branches of Rhaeadr Ogwen.

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