Drosgl horseshoe

For the last two weeks I've been back in the UK and enjoying the cold damp feeling of a Welsh winter by wearing wooly socks on my runs, doing lots of admin indoors-by the radiator, and taking photos of the snow topped mountains.  I also have tried my hardest not to be too jealous of the new snowfall in the Alps recently.  Over 50cm of fresh snow is forecast to fall in Verbier ski resort during the next week.

The view towards Gyrn Wigau - the two rocky knolls either side of the path.

The other day I completed a new fell run around the NW Carneddau.  Leaving Bethesda I set out towards Drosgl.  Half way up Drosgl you reach Gyrn Wigau.  From here you get great views across the Caseg and Llafar valleys, and the taller mountains of the Carneddau.  As you pass through the rocky knolls either side marking the last ascent to Drosgl you feel more like you have stepped into the wilds of Scotland, than that you have gone less than 3km from Bethesda!  This area has some of the largest mountains and longest valleys in Snowdonia.  While the Glyders and Snowdon are busy, the Northern peaks in the Carneddau area are often quiet.

Looking across towards Bera Bach and Carnedd Uchaf.

Yr Elen with the main Carneddau mountains behind.

The wind was howling at around 40mph and so rather than continue with my original route to Carnedd Uchaf and back down the valley, I ran NW towards Gyrn and over Llefn and Moel Faban to Bethesda.  This made for a great 12km circular route with around 700m of ascent.

Looking back towards Llefn and Gyrn.

On the Welsh winter conditions front, nothing is in condition and it doesn't look like much will be for the next few days either, but there is still some snow on the tops and the wind and rain continue relentlessly.

Last view back towards the mountains on the side of Moel Faban