The mountains of North Wales can
be split into three main areas - Snowdon Range, the Glyders
and the Carneddau.
The Snowdon range of course includes
the highest mountain of England and Wales, Snowdon at 1053m.
Although the summit can be crowded on a sunny day, there are
enough lesser known paths to the summit that aren't as crowded.
Its surrounding mountains are no less beautiful, with the
cliffs of Lliwedd to one side, where mountaineers such as
Mallory once practiced before his daring feats on Everest,
and to the other the red ridge of Crib Goch. Views from all
can stretch down to Cader Idris in the South and to beyond
Anglesey in the North.
The Glyders are normally climbed
from Ogwen Valley. Here the walker can weave their way up
through the many cliffs that surround them and on to the moon-like
plateau. Up here, views down the glaciated valley of the Nant
Ffrancon stretch towards the sea. A giant perched rock called
the cantilever lies on top, down to one side is the steep
murky walls of the Devils Kitchen and to the other the magnificent
rocky mass of Tryfan is seen.
As a mountain range the Carneddau
are the highest, though not as rocky. They are far more rounded
than the previous two and more extensive extending all the
way towards the sea. Here solitude can certainly be found
and eerily much history. It is an area that over the years
has had more than its fair share of plane crashes, the debris
of which can still be seen, if you know where to look.
Beyond these main three areas
there are still more beautiful peaks to summit such as Moel
Siabod, Cnicht in the Moelwyns or the Nantle Ridge. All are
just as challenging yet will feel new and fresh for those
that have visited Snowdonia many times before.
