Get Fit at Ashbourne Leisure Centre

If it rains during your visit to the Peak District, why not get wet on your own terms and get in a bit of exercise at the same time. The Ashbourne Leisure Centre is the perfect way to get out of the cold and wet weather and undertake a fitness improving activity such as swimming in the modern leisure pool or joining in with one of the fitness classes. If you or your companions have energy to burn off and the weather isn’t letting you do it out on the Peak then this is a great option for a rainy day in the area. There are also squash courts available for hire at this leisure centre.

Peak Rail

If you came to see the sights but the weather is keeping you out of the national park then the Peak Rail service will let you take in the spectacular scenery without getting drenched. The railway runs from Rowsley to Matlock and takes in some of the best scenery the rural countryside of the area has to offer. If you have a passing interest in steam trains or just want a way to get out of the poor weather, then the dog-friendly Peak Rail service should be right up your street.

Tissington Hall

While exploring a 17^th century stately home isn’t the most strenuous of activities you can partake in, it does present an opportunity to straighten your legs while taking a trip back in time. Tissington Hall is only open to the public for 28 days a year so do check to see whether these dates coincide with your visit to the Peak District. If you do find that the hall is closed to the general public, the Old Coach Tearooms can provide a welcome respite from the elements where homemade light snacks and refreshments can be found, as well as a fully licensed bar. The Tearooms are open seven days a week from March 1^st to November 1^st.

Kids Play Centres

If the kids are champing at the bit to do something active and the weather just won’t allow any outdoor adventures, why not stop in at one of the excellent indoor kids play centres in the area. There are a few to choose from and each one has enough activities and fun stuff to do to keep most kids busy for the day.

• The Play Mill has free parking and is open daily. Food is available onsite and children under 4’9” are welcome to play. They also hold weekly activities for the little ones which include yoga, singing and craft sessions.
• Little Monkeys has a large indoor play area that is perfect for a rainy day in the Peak District. Open seven days a week from 10am to 6pm, you can just turn up and play.
• Little Rascals accommodates children from zero right up to 10 years of age in its fun and exciting indoor kids play area. There are three zoned soft play areas for kids of different ages and there is free WIFI for keeping up-to-date with the weather reports. Just don’t forget your socks!

There you have it, our top pick of rainy day activities in the Peak District, hopefully there is something on this list that will help you bide the time during your visit, until you can get back outside again and on the trails.

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If you finish your walk here, then there’s two great options for refreshments. The Ty Mawr B&B and Tea Room is well worth a visit. If like me you always think of Withnail And I when the words Tea Room are uttered and generally keep clear, you’d be making a big mistake as walkers genuinely are welcome.

If you want a pint, then the Cwellyn Arms in the village centre serves a peerless real ale. They have a range from local breweries (Cwrw Mel from Conwy is one of the finest!) and further afield, including Leffe on tap. With a selection like this, you could easily forget the hills. Definitely not recommended that you stop here for a swift pint before a wild camp. This pub used to have a reputation for being pricey. It’s still not cheap, but compares favourably to other pubs selling quality ale.

Nantlle Ridge Traverse – With so many options, we’ve gone for the Cwm Dwyfor Return route as the most satisfying route of doing all the traditional peaks. It does miss out the final  peak of Mynydd Graig Goch, but makes up for it simply by being a circuit. Of course, yo can add that mountain as well, and return via Cwm Cipwrth and Cwm Pennant for an even more challenging walk. It is also possible to descend Cwm Braich y Dinas, though this is a rough, unclear descent.

Nantlle Ridge Short Route – this takes in the main scramble on Mynydd Drws y Coed before descending a short while later to bring you a taste of the ridge in a matter of hours. This is a favourite after work walk.

South Ridge from Rhyd Ddu 

Despite being arguably the best walking route up Yr Wyddfa, the South Ridge path draws blank expressions from most walkers. Those in the know however, realise that this is an absolute gem of a route that provides awesome views of the summit and an airy walk over Bwlch Main to cap it all off.

Rhyd Ddu Path

Another quieter route up Snowdon, but often gets busier late morning as the stragglers arrive and are unable to park at Pen y Pass. There’s not much going for this route, until you reach the cliffs above Cwm Clowgwyn and the walk across Bwlch Main, which is shared with the South Ridge ascent.

Aran from Rhyd Ddu

Yr Aran is a fine peak of a mountain, but overshadowed by Yr Wyddfa. It’s still worth a short walk, or even better to bag it before walking up the South Ridge.

Mynydd Mawr From Rhyd Ddu 

Despite being close to Snowdon, this is a nice, quiet walk with a bit of interest. Mynydd Mawr is a solitary summit, perfect for a quick morning or afternoon bimble, with a walk up a pleasant grassy ridge and an alternative return via Llyn y Dywarchen and Clogwynygarreg adding interest to the end of the walk.

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For that reason, it is always a good idea to have some rainy day activities up your sleeve should the weather become too inhospitable. While the activities covered here on this list are perfect for bad weather days, they can also serve as a list of things for your companions to do when you are off trekking through the glens and peaks of the area.

See the Sights from a Steam Train

While this might not be a very active way to spend a day, it will keep you out of the wet and windy conditions on a day when your hiking plans have been called off. As well as keeping you dry and warm, you will still get to see some of the stunning views on offer in this part of the country.

Setting off from near Ben Nevis, The Jacobite steam train runs an 84 mile roundtrip from near the highest mountain in Britain, past Loch Morar through to Loch Nevis while taking in some breath-taking sights along the way.  Although The Jacobite is only in operation during the summer months, the West Highland Line, which it travels on, can be explored by regular service trains which run all year round.

Fans of steam railways and Harry Potter (in which this train and line starred) will love this activity, while others can’t help but being impressed by the amazing scenery on show.

Indoor Ice and Rock Climbing

The Ice Factor centre offers both indoor ice climbing and rock climbing near Fort William, both of which are a great way to spend a rained off day. The indoor climbing walls and boulders on offer here have been designed to suit climbers of all abilities, from beginners to advanced, so all the family should be able to have a go. Instructors are on hand to get you started and equipment is available onsite.

If you’ve ever wanted to give indoor climbing a try, on real ice and snow, then a visit to the Ice Factor might be your only chance to do so.

Skipinnish Ceilidh House

Located on Middle Street in Fort William, this Ceilidh House offers respite from the rain and the chance to dance off some unexpended energy. While reviews of this place are mixed, with claims of it being little more than a tourist trap, competing with reviews from visitors who loved it, it still remains a chance to experience a traditional Ceilidh band and show in a town that gets more than its fair share of outsiders made up of hill walkers and steam railway enthusiasts. For more information and show times visit the website.

Fort William Mountain Festival

If you happen to be in town in February and can’t get out into the great outdoors, the Fort William Mountain Festival could provide you with a few rainy day activities to remember. Highlights of the festival include films that celebrate mountain culture, a night in with biking legends and a chance to meet some of the key figures in the climbing scene.

West Highland Museum

When it starts to rain, ducking into the West Highland Museum, located just off Fort William High Street is a great way to acquaint yourself with the history of the local area. Highlights in this eight roomed fount of knowledge include treasure from the Spanish Armada, famous bagpipes from 1314, unfortunately no longer in active service, and historical items documenting the military heritage of the area including the tools of warfare and assorted weaponry.

Fort William Leisure Centres

While the area is best known for its outdoor activities such as trekking around Ben Nevis, the     Lochaber Leisure Centre in Fort William has plenty of indoor activities to let you blow off some steam on a rainy day. Activities on offer include the fitness room, classes in the exercise studio, two squash courts and the six lane, 25 metre swimming pool.

The Nevis Centre is home to a Superbowl bowling alley which is open from midday to 10pm. As bowling is technically a sport, a day at the Superbowl is a great way to experience an active day in Fort William despite the rain.

There is also a sports hall at the Nevis Centre which can be pre-booked by the hour for indoor sports such as badminton, table tennis and other activities.  A nursery for children from three months to five years can also be found at the centre for those who perhaps overestimated their toddler’s abilities at tackling the walks and paths of the area.  For those that don’t want to drop their kids off the Spectrum soft play centre might be more suited to them and also welcomes children from birth to five years of age.

As you can see, while most of the activities on offer in Fort William are dependent on good weather, there are a few great ways to spend rainy days while in the area, ranging from the cultural, historical, educational and action packed.

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You do need to fold it on itself a couple of times, folding one side a few times in order to improve rigidity. You can play with this to see what works best, and with a bit of ingenuity you may even be able to fold it partially under the stove in order to keep it in place.

Make sure your kitchen is tidy before starting… on the other hand…

Folding over the edge like this adds strength.

You’ll need to check the height against the stove you intend to use.

You can also make a lid – quite easily.

You can use a couple of pegs to keep the shield in place in the field.

Even without any apparent skill, the incompetent can create something functional. This is covering a meths stove, but never ever cover a canister stove completely in this way as it is then liable to explode!

This works best for low lying stoves, such as remote canister stoves. It does work for canister top stoves, however the taller they are, the harder it is to keep the shield rigid, though not impossible. Using a 100g canister seems to be a good compromise. If you do use a canister stove then ensure you keep plenty of space around the canister, and never cover it in completely as you’ll overheat the canister and it may well explode.

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Carrying eggs is just a matter of care, and all you need is a small plastic container (a tough one!), some eggs and kitchen towel. You could use bubble wrap if you wanted, but the kitchen towel doubles up as, er, kitchen towel.

With care you can protect the eggs from each other. The size of the plastic container is crucial, and should allow you to pad the eggs out with a couple of sheets of paper without being too tight.

The moment of truth as you unwrap on the hill, and prepare the eggs as explained – here.

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Indoor Climbing at Keswick Climbing Wall

Even it if it is raining outdoors, you can still get in a spot of outwards bound-style fun without getting wet. The Keswick Climbing Wall centre has a new indoor wall which is over eight meters tall with over 40 top rope climbs. If you’ve never climbed before you can take a one hour lesson which covers everything you need to know in order to get started on the wall and with prices starting from £15 a lesson it is something well worth investing in.

You can also try your hand at a spot of indoor archery at the Keswick Climbing Wall if the rain lasts all day, and with the centre open from 9am, seven day a week, it is a great option for rainy days in the Lake District.

To find out more, visit the website at http://www.keswickclimbingwall.co.uk/

The Lakeland Climbing Centre is also worthy of a visit.

Head Underground at White Scar Cave, Ingleton

Just outside the Lake District National Park, near the village of Ingleton, lies the White Scar Cave, Britain’s longest show cave. While this isn’t extreme caving or potholing, it is one way to get in a bit of exercise and keep the troops entertained while it’s raining above ground.

Most of the route is fairly easy going but there are a couple of sections where it is necessary to bend low at the waist while walking in order to pass through two low-roof passages. Overall the route though White Scar Cave takes about 80 minutes and covers one mile.

For more details visit the White Scar Cave website.

Try your Hand at Open Water Swimming

If you’re already wet, why not get totally soaked and try some open water swimming? While it’s not recommended to try this rainy day activity during bad weather, if the morning rain has cancelled your days walking plans, you could try this Lake District adventure activity in the afternoon. If you are new to open water swimming, you could try joining up with a local club for some tips and guidance on where best to try this challenging pursuit.

When it comes to equipment, you will need more than just your regular swimming gear as unsurprisingly the cold water can affect the swimming alibies of even the most intrepid explorers. A regular wetsuit can be a good place to start but if you want to seriously get involved with open water swimming in the Lake District, then a swimming or triathlon wetsuit might yield better results.

To find out more, visit the open water swimming webpage.

Other indoor, but less active things to do in and around the Lake District include:

• Indoor karting at West Coat Karting
• The leisure pool at the Park Leisure Centre
• Indoor (and outdoor) kid’s activities at the Rheged Centre
• See the aquatic wildlife at the Lakes Aquarium
• Rufty Tuftys indoor kids play area

Hopefully these Lake District rainy day activities should keep you occupied while waiting for the rain to stop during your visit.

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While they feel like you’re running on soft studs on hard surfaces, once you get on trail and fell you appreciate that grip. I’ve currently managed to get around 100 km use out of these in the last month, both running and walking, and the only downside I’ve found is that they’re not particularly waterproof. Full review to follow, but enjoy these pics of the shoes in all their dayglo glory for now!

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Underground Adventure Trips, Betws y Coed

What better way to get out of the rain than to head underground. Go Below operates underground adventure trips in the abandoned mines of Snowdonia. But these aren’t just any old mine tours, they are packed with exciting activities such as zip lines, abseiling and climbing to keep your pulse raising and give you a full workout, while those above ground are either sitting indoors or getting waterlogged out on the trails. The two tours available that explore these former slate mines take between 4.5 to 6 hours to complete, so it makes for a great day out for adults and kids alike, located just a few miles south of Betws y Coed.

Indoor Climbing at Plas y Brenin, Capel Curig

When the rain falls head inside to this indoor climbing wall at The National Mountain Sports Council in Capel Curig.  If you’ve prepared yourself for a day of exertion and physical activity, only to find your plans scuppered by the rain, indoor climbing is a great way to burn off that pent up energy while also keeping the kids and family entertained. Visit the Plas y Brenin website to find out more about their indoor climbing activities.

Shorter courses and taster sessions open to adults and kids are available at the Beacon Climbing Centre, located between Caernarfon and Llanberis.

Plas Glyn y Weddw, Llanbedrog

This five-star rated attraction according to TripAdvisor.com is the perfect cultural day out when walking is out of the question.  If it is raining and you have no choice but to stay indoors, why not do it in a Victorian Gothic mansion such as this. Plas Glyn-y-Weddw was built in 1856 and it really is an impressive structure that has to been to be appreciated. Once inside, there are art galleries to view and the interior of the house to explore and marvel at. You can cover plenty of ground here so even if your walk is called off, you can still get some exercise in, despite the rain.

Should the weather pick up, then there are woodland walks to be enjoyed around the grounds with amazing views of the sea. The beach can also be accessed by some steep steps once the ground has dried. All in all Plas Glyn y Weddw in Llanbedrog is a great way to spend a rainy day in North Snowdonia.

Snowdon Mountain Railway, Llanberis to Snowdon Summit

This tourist railway is the perfect way to idle a day away and take in the spectacular scenery that this area is famous for, even when it is raining. The route is 4.7 miles / 7.6 km long and as this railway is renowned for operating in the harshest weather around, unless the rain is particularly aggressive, at least part of this route is likely to be running, although do check first. Starting in Llanberis, the Snowdon Mountain Railway includes five stations in total, ending with the Summit station which is actually 68 feet / 21 metres below the summit. This is pretty impressive when you consider that is the highest peak in England and Wales.

For more information on this rainy day attraction visit the Snowdon Mountain Railway website

If one railway isn’t enough, the Llanberis Lake Railway should keep you occupied until you can get back out on the paths.

Hopefully these suggestions of active activities to do in North Snowdonia when it’s raining will keep you busy and allow you to salvage something form your visit, even if it isn’t the walk or trek you had planned.

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All you need in the way of raw materials is an empty drinks can. This is usually a 330ml can, but you can go for a can of Red Bull and create a really tiny stove.

Alas, we lack the skill to make anything at Mud and Routes, so for those of you who want to give this a go, then you can try this, this or this link for a step by step guide.. We’re thinkers and dreamers, while they’re the finishers.

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how on earth am I going to get this jacket in there?

This handy little tip secures your jacket, and takes up no space in your bag.

1 – thread the waist pack buckles through the sleeves of your jacket.

2 – fasten around your waist and you’re done!

You can fasten it onto the waistpack with the bungees on there if you’ve goe

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What are Mountain Marathons?

These events usually take place over two days, with the competitors’ skills in fell running, orienteering and surviving overnight in the wild being tested to the limit. The majority of the entrants compete in teams of two and they are expected to already have a good level of ability in the skills needed in the races. The locations and routes are often kept secret until as close to the start as possible in order to ensure the runners orienteering skills are sufficiently tested.

While the entrants have to carry their gear with them, including the tents for the overnight camp, thankfully a range of products have sprung up around these races which include lightweight tents and other specialist lightweight equipment.

The Best Mountain Marathons

Like all types of racing, there are some highlights in the mountain marathon calendar that are not to be missed.  Here is a quick overview of the most popular races of this type:

Original Mountain Marathon (OMM)

This race was previously known as the Karrimor International Mountain Marathon (KIMM) and has been running since 1968. The location changes with each year but takes place on a hill or mountain in the UK, although the course is not made known to the entrants until the start of race. This makes the OMM a great test of the competitors orienteering skills as well as their physical fitness and team working abilities.

As the OMM is a two day race, each team must carry all their gear with them for the overnight camp. There are seven classes of competition, so no matter what your abilities are, there should be something for you to aim for, ranging from the Elite 80km class in 12 hours to the more leisurely D class 40 km in 8 hours.

Wherever this mountain race takes place this year, you can be sure it will be a challenging event and a great way to test you mountaineering abilities.

Saunders Lakeland Mountain Marathon (SLMM)

This two day race has been going since 1978, only pausing in 2001 due to the foot and mouth crisis of that year. The SLMM is usually held in or around the Lake District making for some spectacular surroundings while running your socks off.

Due to the race being held in July, the weather is often more forgiving than some of the other mountain marathons that take place, making it a good choice for those looking for a more enjoyable challenge rather than all-out battle against the elements.

There are a number of courses on offer, of which nearly all apart from one are team events. There is also now a junior course too that is open to pairs including one junior and their guardian.

Mourne Mountain Marathon

Held each year in the Mourne Mountains of County Down, Northern Ireland, this two day race takes places during September, with this year being the 34^th iteration of the competition. Teams of two take part in the race and receive the information for the day’s course at the start of each day. The teams can choose their own routes over the course but must visit each of the control markers in the set order.

All gear required for the overnight camp must be carried by the racers making it a test of your packing abilities as well as strength, endurance and map reading skills. There are four classes to enter of varying difficulty, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t give the Morune Mountain Marathon a go!

Lowe Alpine Mountain Marathon (LAMM)

The LAMM is a classic fell running race for teams of two that takes place in the Scottish Highlands in June most years. While the race has only been going since 1994 it has gained a good reputation as a high quality competition leading to growing numbers taking part in each event.

Like all good mountain marathons, the course is shrouded in secrecy before the start with the location not revealed until 48 hours before the race day. To add to the intrigue, the locations of the checkpoints are not disclosed until stepping over the start line at the beginning of the race. This makes the LAMM a serious test of your on the go navigation skills.

Hopefully you are now sold on the idea of mountain marathons and are ready to consider entering one of these tough challenges.

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Don’t let this put you off though, as the remainder of the route is most pleasant. You could also ascend via the South ridge or Lliwedd, or perhaps perversely just ascend Lliwedd via a quiet route and down the Watkin, avoiding the busy summit as well as the scree path

Beddgelert is a picturesque chocolate box village, dominated by Moel Hebog as well as the tourists. There’s a good selection of pubs here as well as eateries to please all after a tough walk, of which there are plenty to choose from. Things to do – laugh at coach drivers who don’t think the signs apply to them trying to manoeuvre the corne past the bridge.

The Watkin Path  Opened in 1892 the Watkin Path was never truly finished. It has more ascent than any other direct route, but the Llanberis Path starts off only 50m higher and involves a little more distance. One of the most scenic of all the routes up as it starts off through some ancient woodland before passing a waterfall before ascending to Bwlch Ciliau and Yr Wyddfa. A pleasure to walk for most of it’s distance, the final eroded scree chute up to the summit rather detracts from the path’s overall appeal. However, no other path can boast a Prime Minister, commandos and a Carry on Film among it’s myriad claims to fame.

Snowdon Allt Maendryn (South) Ridge from Nant Gwynant - This is a much quieter and superior option to walking the Watkin path. Having sections that are off path, you start to forget that you’re on the busiest hills in the country. Descend by Lliwedd for one of the lesser known classic horseshoe walks.

Moel Hebog and Satellite peaks from Beddgelert.

The peak of Moel Hebog dominates the villlage of Beddgelert. This is the classic route up that hill, returning over the summits of Moel yr Ogof where Owain Glyndwr is said to have hidden from the English, and Moel Lefn and a final woodland walk to the start.

Llyn yr Adar and Cnicht. A decent length circular walk that is essentially an ascent of Cnicht from Beddgelert, via the Aberglaslyn Gorge and returning past Llyn yr Adar, Llyn Llagi and Llyn Dinas for plenty of variety.

Continue over  Ysgafell Wen and on to Dolwyddelan for a longer route, or if you want to get a wild camp in.

 Around Llyn Dinas. This is a very easy and picturesque walk around this gem of a lake. The path is not suitable for pushchairs, but is nevertheless easy terrain. You can start at Beddgelert and perhaps extend the walk to visit Llyn Gwynant if you want a longer walk. Alternatively, try the Cwm Bleiddiaid walk. There’s also a wonderful cafe in Nant Gwynant that’s well worth the detour as it’s only just off the walk.

Moel y Dyniewyd from Beddgelert -

Nestling between the popular peaks of Yr Wyddfa, Moel Hebog and Cnicht is an area of rough, lower ground that other than a few choice paths, is rarely visited. Directly below Cnicht there’s Yr Arddu, a wild rocky terrain with the twin rocky lakes of Llynnoedd Cerrig y Myllt and Llyn yr Arddu being among some of the more beautiful in the park. To the north is Moel y Dyniewyd, a marilyn at 382 m, but even if it is half the height of all the surrounding mountains, it’s easily as tough to get to the top!

Moel Meirch and Llyn Edno from Nant Gwynant. A walk up the Nant Gwynant valley before taking on the wild and boggy hills between Siabod and Cnicht

This is a circuit of contrasts. You walk through wooded lowlands and rugged high ground that’s some of the roughest in the area.  You may not see another soul once you are on the upland portion, and there’s a café at the start / end so you can look forward to some proper food. The walk can easily be extended to Cnicht if you wish.

You can take a rougher, shorter route by following the route up Moel Meirch from Nant Gwynant.

Cnicht and Allt Fawr from Gelli Iago. A pleasant and unusual ascent of Cnicht, plus a trip out to these quieter outlying hills. This is the unfashionable side of Cnicht, whose profile is unrecognisable from the classic pyramid seen from the south. This is the real face of Cnicht, the one it wears in bed with curlers and no make up. The walk is partly off path, and you’ll need some navigational skills to follow the route, especially in mist.

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Te Araroa Trail: 150 Days – 3,000 km / 1,864 mi

Yep, you read that right; this trail covers a track that is 3,000 km in length! Thankfully the trail has been broken up into around 300 sections making completing the whole long distance path a more realistic prospect. Some of the section range from walks that last a couple of hours to those that can take nine days. Although the record for completing the whole trail is 53 days, set by British runner Jez Bragg at the start of 2013.

History of the Trail

The straight line distance between the two ends of the Te Araro Trail is about 1475 km but the path itself covers a distance of 3,000 km. The construction of the route involved the work of hundreds of volunteers before it was finally officially opened in 2011, with 10 years in the making. Although a lot of the work involved connecting up existing tracks and paths, a large portion of the project involved constructing new trails and link sections. A total of £2 million was allocated to the project by the New Zealand government.

Highlights of Te Araroa

As this epic trail spans the two islands of New Zealand it makes for some impressive scenery and contrasts in conditions, especially when you factor in how long it will take to walk and the different seasons you might encounter.

If like most through-walkers, you start at the north end of the trail, at Cape Reinga in Northland you will be subject to some amazing sights. Going this far north in New Zealand reveals secluded landscapes taking your across coastal sand, through woodlands trails, over hills and along dales. If you prefer secluded pathways in the wilderness with a bit of action such as river crossings and country hikes then this stretch of The Long Pathway might be your favourite.

The Waikato / King Country section of the trail follows the revered Waikato River for large swathes of the journey. Taking in the Hakarimata Range as well as Mt Pirongia and finally Mt Tongariro, with some deep forest walking along the way, this section of the Te Araroa will appeal to those who like being surrounded by the vastness of nature in all its glory.

The Nelson / Marlborough section is the first stretch of the trail on South Island and offers up scenic bays and relaxing walks before bringing you back to reality with some strenuous sections through the Richmond Range and the Nelson Lakes National Park. This is probably the toughest part of Te Araroa so for those of you who prefer your trails with a more physically challenging aspect then this might just be your favourite section.

Overall the Te Araroa is one of the most impressive long distance trails out there. It’s an ambitious trail that can be easily divided up into more manageable chunks for those who haven’t got 100+ days to spare traversing this trail through beautifully scenic countryside. If you feel like unleashing your inner hobbit, this trek through middle-earth is right up your street!

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When you’re navigating, and you want to point to a location on the map, be aware that your finger is somewhere in the region of 400m in width when you measure it relative to the map scale (1:25,000). That can lead to a huge discrepancy.

One easy way of pointing to a location on the map is to use the corner of the compass. This is ideal if you’re in control of the navigation and are carrying the kit.

On occasions when the numpty with the nav kit has the sense of direction of a five year old who’s just spent five minutes spinning wildly on the spot, you’ll need to point them in the right direction. Using a finger, or worse still a gloved one, won’t help accuracy much. What you need is either a blade of grass or a reed that you can use to point to the location on the map accurately.

We can’t, however, guarantee that said numpty will listen or get you anywhere near desired location.

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Your best bet is to park at one of the car parks at Nant Peris, Capel Curig or Nant Gwynant and then getting there by bus is easy. Pen y Pass is the central hub of the Snowdon Sherpa bus system but check that it actually is running a full service when you intend to use it!

Pen y Gwryd is within 15 minutes walking distance, though you’d be wiser to follow the footpath rather than risk life and limb walking idiotically on the main road, somewhat of a sport around these parts, with the more enthusiastic choosing to walk three abreast in blissful ignorance of any motor vehicles. Pen y Gwryd itself can easily be spotted on a good day by the masses of cars parked there. It has received somewhat of a facelift recently, so at least there are less cars parking on the verges and making it look untidy. Somewhere in this car park lies the Pen y Gwryd Hotel that’s well worth a visit. It has historical connections with the successful 1953 Everest Expedition and serves mulled wine on a winter’s day.

Routes from this hub of Snowdonia are given below. Other than the obvious Snowdon walks, there are routes into the Glyderau and onto Carnedd Moel Siabod and the Moelwynion from here. All the walking routes up Snowdon can be found on Walk up Snowdon.

Snowdon via PYG track. One of the popular routes up Snowdon from Pen y Pass probably as it is both the shortest way up Snowdon, and the one that involves the least amount of ascent. Even so, it’s not the easiest path up as it can be difficult in places but generally straightforward to follow.

Crib Goch and the Snowdon Horseshoe. The iconic, must do route! Need we say more!

Y Gribin – For those wanting a quieter scramble than follow the crowds that invariably spoil the Crib Goch experience on the best days. Y Gribin is a short, steep scramble from Glaslyn towards Bwlch y Saethau between Yr Wyddfa and Y Lliwedd and provides an equally good route for the ascent of either. However, this route isn’t recommended if you’re not confident in both your navigational and scrambling abilities.

Moel Siabod and Carnedd y Cribau from Pen y Gwryd. Some remote and quiet terrain, with unexpectedly good views to Snowdon. Best completed by walking along the Moelwynion as far as you possibly can!

Moel Siabod from Pen Y Gwryd. The best direction to do this as a day walk is in reverse, or better still by climbing up Daear Ddu. However, it provides a quieter walk that you’re unlikely to see many others walking.

Glyderau from Pen y Pass. A couple of the Iconic tops of Eryri. This is a quieter ascent than from Ogwen, with excellent views of Crib Goch. It’a a slightly unusual walk in many respects. One is that you’re in Pen y Pass and not gone up Snowdon. The other is that most people take the Glyderau on from the other side. I of course mean from Ogwen and not in any spiritual sense. This is an exploration of the less known side of the mountain, and hopefully too, less popular. Be warned though, that the path is very indistinct and is often difficult to follow when visibility is good. This route finishes at Pen y Gwryd, so can be reversed if needed.

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