On a warm and sunny Sunday morning twenty one walkers turned up at Croesor to join leader John Carson for a walk taking in Cnicht, Moelwyn Mawr and Moelwyn Bach. This was the week when summer arrived, and it was good to see people in short sleeves and shorts rather than windproofs and over trousers.
The sometimes steep and rocky ridge leading to Cnicht certainly stretched the party out, no problem on such a clear day, and much better than being in a file of more than twenty people. Though John H and I, back marking today, were worried about missing the coffee stop.
While we had some young people with us (it's all relative), we also had Mary from the Merioneth Group, who came in at a sprightly 84!
Eventually we all came together on the summit of Cnicht, to enjoy a panorama of mountains in nearly every direction, only the sea and sunlit sands around Morfa Harlech proving a contrast. The game of name that mountain or hill was in full swing when John C led us off again, taking the looping route which eventually leads to the Rhosydd Quarries.
On the right day a very evocative location, in today's sunshine the gradually crumbling barracks and sheds seemed quite benign, with little echo of the lives that had been spent up there. John H led three of the group off on the direct route back to Croesor while John C took us up the incline and then the slopes leading to Moelwyn Mawr. More good views, including Blaenau Ffestiniog twinkling in the sunlight, not something you can say too often in any one year.
Then the steep and rocky descent before the climb (who said 'were not going up there, are we?') to Moelwyn Bach. Some tired legs and dodgy knees on the descent to Croesor, by the time I arrived there with another John, this time from Ynys Mon, nearly everyone had gone and the cafe had closed!
But despite that, a great day out in the hills, far from the crowds on Snowdon. Thanks John.
Dave Woods
CAD Ramblers website 
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Subject: A Mountain Day - 9 June 2013 
Wed Jun 12, 2013 12:37 pm