I know it's not a walk, but ......... good views of where we walk

Mountain Magic

The Bethesda Zip Wire was great, but for mountain views on a fine summer’s evening, a microlight flight from Caernarfon Airport takes some beating. Kath’s birthday in April was the opportunity for a surprise present of a voucher for a half hour flight (she was even more surprised that despite a history of travel sickness, I was flying as well!).

Keith, who runs the New Heights Microlight School, and his colleague Eric, were friendly, helpful and, with many years of flying, good pilots. We had chosen the route then waited four months for the right weather, and now, after donning flying suits and helmets with head phones and visors, we were on the way.

With an open cockpit and a view straight down it seems scary, but any apprehension vanished as we flew over Y Fron and saw the mountains ahead. Soon we were following the Nantlle Ridge, which from 4,500 ft high looked brilliant – no wonder it makes such a good walk. Kath and Eric in their red microlight were sometimes in sight, at other times the sky seemed empty. Then we had Yr Aran below us, followed by great views of the Snowdon Horseshoe, with the summit nearly deserted, it now being around 8pm. Llyn Cwellyn seemed a long way below us as we headed over Mynydd Mawr before dropping back down to the coast, with the final lap low over the sea before a nice easy landing back at the airport.

So if you are looking for something different, an arial view of the mountains we walk could fit the bill.