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Capel Curig, N. Wales - Maxi-METHS + AGM 2021

34th Annual Reunion - Wednesday 15th to Sunday 19th September 2021

Venue: Tyn y Coed

Participants: Nigel and Jenny Horrocks (leaders/organisers), Gillian and Tony Adams, Kay Black, Miriam Horrocks, Judy and Mick Ireson, Neil Lawford, Mike Macklin, Dave McMullan, Elsbeth Robson, Rupert and Sally Roschnik, Eric and Valerie Scott, Antonia and Peter Tolhurst, George and Val Wallace, Janet and Lloyd Woods; and Guests: John and Lindsey MacDonald, Charlotte Walford

Wed 15 Sept

Sunny weather greeted the 25 participants, including 22 members and 3 guests, at the 2021 METHS Meet at the Tyn y Coed Hotel in Capel Curig Snowdonia. With Nigel and Jenny Horrocks acting as ‘Meet’ hosts, we gathered on Wednesday evening to experience our first taste of the Tyn y Coed’s superb hospitality, with an evening meal which set the tone for four days of dining indulgence.

The catering was very efficient despite staff shortages caused by Covid. Jenny ably stepped up to take command - making sure we ordered our breakfast on time in the morning and that we received our correct choices in the evening. Thank you Jenny!

In between dining and socialising we also set about taking advantage of the glorious weather currently being enjoyed in Capel Curig (normally one of the wettest places in Wales).

Thurs16th Sept

Crimpiau - a modest 475 metres hill and a 12km walk.
Billed as an ‘acclimatisation day’ the main group (20) set off on a 12km circular walk from the Tyn y Coed; progressing alongside the Afon Llugwy towards Plas y Brenin, (The National Outdoor Centre), then via Joe Brown’s and the Nant y Geuallt valley to the modest 475m summit of Crimpiau. Regrettably a muscle injury sustained by Eric resulted in him and Val, escorted by Elsbeth, turning back part way up Crimpiau. The views: Siabod, Snowdon, Tryfan, The Glyders, Carneddau and Creigiau Gleision were unrivalled in their scale and clarity due to a wonderful clear and sunny day. A gradual descent, with a rest on Clogwyn Mawr, followed by a traverse across the lowlands, then a descent through pristine woodland brought us back to the Tyn y Coed ready for a well-deserved rest before dinner.
Participants: Nigel, Miriam, Val and Eric Scott, Elsbeth, Charlotte, Peter and Antonia, George, Neil, Janet and Lloyd, Mike Macklin, Mick and Jude, Tony and Gill, Kay Black, Dave McMullan, Rupert

An account from Neil Lawford:

An expedition to conquer Crimpiau - After an impressive breakfast and under blue skies the whole group and two dogs set off from the hotel to start the expedition by walking along the river bank towards Plas y Brenin and Capel Curig. In places the bracken was a bit high but it was a pleasant stroll through oak woodlands. Having paused for relief at the Capel loos the main party (all except three) set off up the hill on the north side of Capel. Nothing vertiginous’ but nevertheless a steady pull needing a pause for coffee before the long grind up to the bwlch and a stop for lunch before the final ascent to the summit of Crimpiau. Only 25 minutes but steep at times but leading to a magnificent view from the summit. The climb proved to be a step too far for Eric when a muscle protested and it was felt better to descend with the help of a couple of porters.

From the summit the route continued along the ridge descending slowly past a small llyn to a viewpoint on Clogwyn-Mawr where we sat in the sunshine overlooking Capel Curig below. There followed a steep descent down a grassy slope through bracken until finally reaching a path we had used earlier. Nigel then led us along the hillside before picking up a small path he had found through the woodland that would bring us back directly to the hotel. Opinions of the distance varied but I reckon it was 13km and 450m of climb.

Others

At the same time Jenny, Sally, and Val Wallace enjoyed a meander along the Llugwy Valley to Plas y Brenin and its environs.

Friday 17th

Cnicht - 689m starting from Nantmor near Beddgelert, 18km circular walk.

Setting off in glorious sunshine Rupert, George, Nigel, Mick and Jude, Miriam and Dave McM enjoyed a wonderful day ascending the Welsh ‘Matterhorn’, so called because of its resemblance when approached from the south west. Magnificent views from the summit were followed by a leisurely lunch in warm sunshine before ‘bog hopping’ down to the return track. By now the sun had disappeared and we were treated to a thorough Welsh soaking whilst tramping through saturated fields and pristine woodland; this dubious pleasure was however aggravated by some unnecessary meandering due to a lack of concentration by our leader (Nigel). It was a really good day’s walk and there were some tired legs and souls by the time we got back to Nantmor.

Cwm Bychan – 10km – almost topping out Sygun at 288m

Twelve of us journeyed to Beddgelert and parked at the front of the Royal Goat Hotel (£4). Down the road and around to the right a footpath was joined on the east side of Afon Glaslyn which was followed through wooded countryside, scrambling over boulders in some places, to the car park at Nantmor. A loo stop for some and chat stop for others who coincidentally met a pleasant gentleman from Zimbabwe who lectured in fibre optics in Milton Keynes. There were grumbles that an opportunity had been missed to take coffee at a supposed café! The path turned northwards and emerged onto rocky moorland where it rose to the top of Cwm Bychan. The route passed the remains of an aerial ropeway and two old mines, evident by excavated rubble. Descending from the head of the valley Llyn Dinas came into view and as we got closer one very hardy soul was seen to be swimming across it. Our route turned westwards here, following an easy path which joined a lane at Sygun Copper mine museum to return to Beddgelert. This was a delightful walk, especially in sunny weather but the boulders could be slippery in rain. We should have visited the Sygun museum but the leader was afraid of being late for the AGM! Tony

Led by Tony, including John and Lindsey Macdonald, Gill, Sally, Charlotte, Peter and Antonia, Lloyd and Janet, Val Scott, and Kay

Others

Elsbeth (walking in Snowdonia), Neil (cycling), Jenny and Val touring the coast all did their own thing today.

Sat 18th

The plan was to do either Siabod or Tryfan but a dire weather forecast coupled with a paucity of willing leaders, led to an alternative low level programme.

Cwm Idwal:

Jenny led a group comprising: Mick, Jude, Nigel, Peter, Antonia, Eric and Val, Dave, George and Val, Lloyd and Janet, Sally, Tony and Gill. After a murky start we enjoyed glorious sunshine on our meander around Cwm Idwal, one of nature’s magnificent geological creations. It was a very leisurely day providing lots of opportunity for ‘chatter’ and finished off with the challenge of the king size scones at the Siabod Cafe in Capel Curig.

Gwydyr Forest – 7.5Km with 280m ascent

With the weather forecast not wonderful, a walk in the sheltered forest looked a possible option. Charlotte, Kay and Neil (leader) were the only takers. We drove down the valley from the hotel and turned left up the very narrow, challenging single track road next to the Ugly House and parked at Llyn y Sarnau. Gwydir Forest is a mixture of deciduous and coniferous forest but including many smallholdings with grassy fields. We set off heading into the forest, climbing along the top edge of one of the fields getting good views of the mountains emerging from mist. We made our way down through the forest on tracks to Llyn y Parc, where there is a welcoming bench with views along the length of the llyn, just right for morning coffee. After a leisurely break we took to a small woodland path that follows the east side of the llyn. It was very calm in the forested valley and the reflections across the llyn to the opposite shore were photographed regularly.

At the north end we followed forest tracks down an escarpment before following the track underneath the crags to the old mine at Hafna, where we climbed to the top of the works and had lunch. Hafna was once the most important lead mine in the UK and the remains give a reasonable idea of how it was laid out. The views from our lunch break over the valley in front of us were beautiful. Refreshed we continued up the slope and then along the footpath at the top of the crags that run along the valley side. One of the viewpoints gave impressive views towards Llanrwst and the Conway Valley. This footpath took us back to Llyn y Sarnau. Neil

Dolwyddelan and Gwydyr Forest crossover

Elsbeth (leader), John, Lindsey, Miriam, Rupert

The tone was set when after only 200 metres Elsbeth stopped us to explain the architecture and history of the house on the left. Further on, after the turn-off to Pont-Cyfyng (bridge over the Afon Llugwy which we had crossed further up on the first day), there were a few more interesting houses as well as small , uncommon ferns and mosses on the dry-stone walls lining the road. I soon realised that this would not be a challenging race against time but a more leisurely zen-like hike, appreciating the scenery and flora. Later, Elsbeth explained the ownership and use of Capel Tan-y-garth. Originally a chapel, it is now owned by the Gwydyr Mountain Club and has an adjacent cottage that can be rented for use as a base for excursions.

Then there were no more buildings and we were faced with a steep climb up a very stony forest track. Going up was fine but , to anticipate a little, going down on the way back was a challenge for knees and ankles! Later, the slope eased off and we continued over bracken, gorse and heather-covered uplands on a small track. My main memories are of beautiful views to the south-east towards higher hills in the distance, of large puddles that had to be negotiated up on the grassy and heathery verges beside the road, and of a dead sheep next to a gate and cattle-grid (half decomposed, so that it could be smelled way before it was seen). Then we entered a patch of the Gwydyr Forest itself, negotiated several turn-offs and emerged a couple of miles further on onto open fields above Dolwyddelan village from where we could see the day's final destination, Dolwyddelan Castle, still a good mile away. This strategic castle was initially built to control the nearby Crimea Pass and to impress the local population of the power of the owners. In the middle of many old walls, only a central keep remains intact which is managed by Cadw, the Welsh government’s care of historic places organisation, - but was closed to visitors on the day we were there. Information boards informed us that the Castle was used by Lord Willoughby de Eresby in the 19th century to entertain his friends. We had our picnic there, in sunshine and the company of sheep, but with menacing clouds all around.

We returned to the main road after passing sheep-shearing taking place on a farm near a pretty waterfall and were soon in the village proper. The ancient St. Gwyddelan's church was unfortunately closed but the outside and the surrounding cemetery provided plenty of interest. Elsbeth led us on to the railway bridge and the small station on the line between Betwys-y-Coed and Blanaeu Festiniog. On the way back we passed the Remembrance Garden, which contains a war memorial from 1922 commemorating 15 local men who had died in the First World War. We opted not to have drinks in the local inn but to be happy with snacks from the local Spar mini-supermarket.

The way back was uneventful, with more enjoyable views of the flanks of Moel Siabod. We passed along tracks that were wet from very recent showers, although we were lucky to avoid the rain ourselves. Altogether an enjoyable day, out for about seven hours covering some 16km in all and about 490 metres vertical distance up/downhill. Thanks to Elsbeth! Rupert

All in all we experienced an exceptionally sociable and harmonious AGM meet with benign weather, enjoyable walks and wonderful hospitality; a big ‘thank you’ to George and the staff at the Tyn y Coed; a big thank you too to Jenny and Nigel for organising the meet.

Contributions:

*Poem from Miriam – Tyn y Coed Meths Meet 3 verses are split between the walks they describe

Reports from Nigel, Neil, Tony and Rupert

Pictures from Rupert and Sally, Miriam, Gillian, Janet