HILL, DALES AND MOUNTAIN HIKING

1st January 2009: Beddgelert-Above Pont Aberglaslyn-Beddgelert    Web page by Bryan Benn

Start and Finish in Beddgelert 41m

Highest Point: Above P't Aberglaslyn c100m

Distance: circa 6 kms

Weather: V cold, sunny and icy.

Vertical altitude gain: circa 150m

Time: circa 3 hrs

Aberglaslyn Pass The New Years Eve celebrations at Beddgelert have, on occasion, received UK National Coverage. So I had a really great time in and around the Bistro until 04.30 in the morning of January 1st! But that meant my New Years Day walk started late and was planned to be quite short. Just a very slow and gentle stroll down the Aberglaslyn Pass and back.

Aberglaslyn Pass continued
1st January: Aberglaslyn Pass Beddgelert

The superb weather continued. Very cold and clear blue skies. With more ice forming on the fast flowing river through Beddgelert than had been seen for 20 - 30 years. Depending on which villager you spoke to!

Aberglaslyn Pass continued
1st January: Aberglaslyn Pass Moel Hebog from Beddgelert

Blue sky and clear air gave me the opportunity to get a nice crisp photo of Moel Hebog as I slowly walked down to the start of Aberglaslyn Pass.

Aberglaslyn Pass continued
1st January: Aberglaslyn Pass Nantlle Ridge from Beddgelert

And I didn't miss the opportunity of taking a photo of the Nantille Ridge either.

Aberglaslyn Pass continued
1st January: Aberglaslyn Pass Aberglaslyn Pass

Near the entrance to Aberglalsyn Pass, and out of the sun, the extent of the cold weather was obvious.

Aberglaslyn Pass continued
1st January: Aberglaslyn Pass Aberglaslyn Pass

My walk was down the East side of the pass. Away from the road and right next to the icy cold and fast flowing river.

Aberglaslyn Pass continued
1st January: Aberglaslyn Pass Aberglaslyn Pass

Out of the sun the frost was still thick on any vegetation.

Aberglaslyn Pass continued
1st January: Aberglaslyn Pass Aberglaslyn Pass

The icy water raced over the freezing rocks. And despite the fast flow, ice had formed on some of the rocks.

Aberglaslyn Pass continued.
1st January: Aberglaslyn Pass Ice in river in Aberglaslyn Pass

A close up look at fast flowing water and iced up rocks. Not often you can see that!

Aberglaslyn Pass continued.
1st January: Aberglaslyn Pass Ice in river in Aberglaslyn Pass

Icy water racing through Aberglaslyn Pass

Aberglaslyn Pass continued
1st January: Aberglaslyn Pass Aberglaslyn Pass

I carried on walking slowly down the Pass. Enjoying every minute of my slow stroll.

Aberglaslyn Pass continued.
1st January: Aberglaslyn Pass Aberglaslyn Pass

The flowing water must have been very cold indeed, but I didn't dip a toe in the water to test it!

Aberglaslyn Pass continued.
1st January: Aberglaslyn Pass

Mind you, after the celebrations of the night before a dousing with icy cold water would probably have really woken me up!

Aberglaslyn Pass continued.
1st January: Aberglaslyn Pass Aberglaslyn Pass

Ice had formed on rocks virtually all the way down the Pass.

Aberglaslyn Pass continued.
1st January: Aberglaslyn Pass Aberglaslyn Pass

Some sun was shining into the Pass as it heads towards South for much of it's fairly short length.

Aberglaslyn Pass continued.
1st January: Aberglaslyn Pass Aberglaslyn Pass

More ice on the rocks in Aberglaslyn Pass.

Aberglaslyn Pass continued.
1st January: Aberglaslyn Pass

I walked the length of the Pass, then climbed some way above it at it's Southern end. Before dropping back down to the Pass and strolling back at a still very gentle pace.

Aberglaslyn Pass continued.
1st January: Aberglaslyn Pass Aberglaslyn Pass

Quite large icicles for such a fast flowing river.

Aberglaslyn Pass continued.
1st January: Aberglaslyn Pass Aberglaslyn Pass

The walk was short and gentle. But in lovely surroundings and a great way to move on from the "Night Before" and to prepare myself for some more decent Snodonian hill and mountain walking.

December 2008 - January 2009 Trip Index     Back to Main Index