PalenQ

I've taken zillions of nice walks in Europe - thru cities and nature and to me they are some of my fondest moments in decades of European travels. The ones that are most memorable to me may not be the most scenic or whatever but stand out in my mind because of various things - weird incidents that happened on them and especially ones that turned scary! Like my hike down Mt Snowdon in Wales which turned into a real nightmare.

Being a train nut I took the old tiny steam train up to the summit of Mt Snowdon along with a zillion other folk and was awed by the vista that unfolded up top. I could have easily walked up that slowly ascending wide path but it seemed rather boring as there were a line of walkers on it and I had more ambitious plans for my walk.

I would normally have walked up the steep but wide and very safe path along the course of the railway but I was saving myself for a long hike down the other side of Snowdon to where I could catch a bus back to Betws-y-Coed (love that name!) where I would catch a train back to Llandudno and my cheap B&B.

I have gone to Snowdon via train to Bangor and bus to Caernarfon to visit that sweet seaside town with famous castle and then took a bus to the start of the Snowdon Railway.

So once done with the summit I looked at walking trails down Snowdon's east side to Pan y Gwend Hotel where I could easily catch a bus to Betws-y-Coed, according to my info.

OK the walk started fine - a wide path that soon diverged with the wider part going straight and the one I wanted for the Hotel diverged rather steeply downhill. It was fine for a while before it turned rather wild- I must have missed a sign or something because the path kept getting more difficult and perilous to my nervous system - I was soon hopping from huge boulder to huge boulder and a slight wobble or misstep could have sent one of my legs down in between the rocks - I gingerly stepped from one to the next, always whilst steeply descending in my beat-up and nearly worn out old running shoes.

I knew then that I had lost the trail and other hikers but I could see the lake I was due to end up far down the cascade of tumboling boulders - I just hoped I would make - especially since it was rather late in the afternoon (August) and I was not sure of bus schedules from the Hotel to Betws-y-Coed.

I could not stop and rest but had to plug on - well with the comfort of an end in sight - I could see nice flat tracks leading from the lake in the direction of the Hotel. So I inched down - literally at some points from boulder to boulder on my rear - ah finally I was nearing the end and those wide fairly flat trails were at hand.

I dashed half running to the Hotel and found I was just in time for the last bus ending the most harrowing 'walk' of my life- trekking in Nepal was no match for this nerve-racking descent.

But as usual these type of experiences are later the ones you cherish the most. I got the bus and the train from Betws-y-Coed to Llandudno Junction only to find the last bus had left for Llandudno, just a few miles away.

So back on a hike - this one following footpath signs that led me thru farmers' fields and rural scenes as the sun was fading away - again would I find my way out of this morass before nightfall. Ah soon a regular road appeared that went along the coast all the way to Llandudno and my comfy B&B.

For details on Snowdon walks check: http://www.visitsnowdonia.info/snowd...routes-95.aspx

As noted in the link there are 6 routes up and down - the one I took was one of the Pyg Routes and I obviously at some point missed the trail - or did I?

It's been several years since I took this walk but believe me it will never ever fade from my mind!

NEXT - NORTH WALES HIKE UP THE GREAT ORME!

Has anyone done the Snowdon hike(s) - if so I'd love to hear about it.

PalenQ

http://www.visitllandudno.org.uk/thi...-walks-p291761

The trek up the famous Great Orme in Llandudno is a piece of cake compared to the trail I took (or missed) coming down Mt Snowdon.

Being a tram/train nut I did not take the tram but walked along its course to the top -not the most scenic way but once up top I hit the trails that go around the summit.

I came down to Llandudno on a proper footpath - coming right into Llandudno by its pier.

The view from up top is of course sweeping - on a good day you can even see and almost hear Blackpool far across the water.

So for an easy but still strenuous up hill hike try the Great Orme - you could of course take the old tram up too and more easily walk down.

https://www.google.com/search?q=grea...HfE0Af8QsAQIGw

Up top also are what is billed as Europe's only early Bronze Age mines that can be visited:

http://www.earlyminesresearchgroup.org.uk/page46.html

Note you can also drive up and around the edge of the summit if not into hiking or tramming it.

hetismij2

I've done Crib Goch up and Pyg down, and the Watkin Path both ways. I was a mere teenager and a lot fitter and a lot more fearless when I did them. Helped having an official Snowdon Mountain Rescue guy with me for Crib Goch.

Snowdon should not be treated lightly. People die and are seriously injured on it every year, and people like my guide risk their lives to rescue those lost, injured, stupid or all three on the Mountain.

I wouldn't go up it now,even if I were fit enough. It is another victim of it's own success and a crowded mess at the summit nowadays.

PalenQ

I've done Crib Goch up and Pyg down, and the Watkin Path both ways.>

So on the Pyg Path I should not have been jumping from boulder to boulder at some point - having missed the path - or not?

thursdaysd

Thanks for the Llandudno link. Will be in Conwy later this year and plan to revisit Llandudno - haven't been there in years. Will not revisit Snowdon, however.

PalenQ

Llandudno has not changed much probably in years though even when I was there several years ago - a declining seaside resort but with signs of life - not much there but the seafront and lots of shopping. I used it as a base because B&Bs were so so cheap compared to places like Conwy - a neat walled town but pricey on its hotels.

Let me know what Llandudno looks like now - someof the more viable seaside resorts are being rehabbed into old folks retirement places and also nightlife for younger folk on weekends.

Cheers!

Weird to Americans but Llandudno - the lls are pronounced with a clicking k sound - kind of like klandudno!

thursdaysd

I grew up in England and visited Llandudno with family in the fifties and early sixties.... Think I went through in the early nineties but only briefly. Am staying in a B&B in Conwy.

PalenQ

Wow - Llandudno must have been hopping in the 50s and 60s - did you ever go to Blackpool, my favorite seaside resort in the UK.

thursdaysd

"did you ever go to Blackpool, my favorite seaside resort in the UK."

I think we may have done the illuminations one time, but it was a LONG time ago and I really don't remember. My elder sister lived on the Wirral peninsula for a time, so we were in the area when we visited her.

stevelyon

Great pics - reminded me how beautiful the walk is. Only done it the one time - I was very lucky with the weather.