The Welsh 3000s
Last weekend I headed up to Snowdonia from London for some serious trail running adventures. I'd been watching the weather reports all week and with a high pressure system firmly in charge over the UK it was set fair for the weekend. With promised blue sky, little wind and warm spring temperatures, this was an opportunity to have a crack at the Welsh 3000s that I wasn't going to missed .
Having arrived at the ever busy Pen-y-pass car park on the Friday evening I sorted out my kit for the run the next day, prepared some food on the Trangia and arranged some bedding for a semi comfortable night sleep in the back of the car.
I was up at 5am making some porridge and coffee and watched as the car park slowly filled up with cars and vans. By the time I set off at 6:20 the car park was pretty much full.
“The first section up Crib Goch on a morning like this is just amazing with not a cloud in the sky and the sun rising behind you in the East.”
The first section up Crib Goch on a morning like this is just amazing. Not a cloud in the sky, the sun just starting to peak over the horizon in the east sends a wonderful orange glow over the whole Snowdonia range. Its such a privilege to be out on these mountains on a day like this.
Welsh 3000s part 1
I was at the top of Snowdon by about 8am then off back down to the Gorasf Clogwyn station where I then took a right down the faint, steep path to follow the Afon Cwm Glas Bach stream down to the road side.
The slog up Elidir Fawr was brutal in the heat of the morning with no breeze at all. It was at this point I wish I had chosen to wear shorts as opposed to black running leggings.
Apart from the sharp slog up to Glyder Fawr from Llyn y Cwn this section, all the way round to Glyder Fach is just steady away. Most of it is fairly technical running due to the boulders and lose stones.
“All that was in my mind at this point was the bottle of coke I had stashed the previous evening at the Afon Denau river crossing just down stream from the eastern edge of the lake. ”
Welsh 3000s part 2
The decent down to Bwlch Tryfan is really steep and very technical running with very lose scree all the way down. Coming off Tryfan I stupidly followed a few guys down thinking they were heading to the Heather Terrace and cursed loudly when i realised they were heading for the valley. After a bit of unnecessary ascent I was back on track and heading down this technical trail. All that was in my mind at this point was the bottle of coke I had stashed the previous evening at the Afon Denau river crossing just down stream from the eastern edge of the lake.
Welsh 3000s part 3
There it was! still there, thank god! It tasted so refreshing in the heat of the day. Refuelled with coke and peanut butter bagels I was off up Pen yr Ole Wen. I think it was about 2pm at this point. The ascent was a real slog as my legs were now really feeling it. Once up onto the Carnedds it was pretty straightforward, if not long, long slog North ticking off Drafydd, Llywelyn, Foel Grach Gwenllian and Foel fras. The running up here on the Carnedds is definitely a lot easier than on the Glyders with fairly straightforward paths to follow.
Welsh 3000s part 4 - the end of a long day...
The final stretch back to civilisation was along to Drum, then Ddelw where I headed North once again down a fence line to Bwlch y Ddeufaen. Once at the small car park I followed the single track road down to the beautiful village of Rowen and the local pub. That first pint was sensational. I arranged for a cab to come and pick me up and, 45mins later I was back at Pen y pass, shattered, encrusted with sweat and ready for a kip.
I didn't break any records, and was certainly not fast but just what an amazing day. If you are looking for a good days trail running adventure in Snowdonia then I would thoroughly recommend this route, perfect for either a great day out or part of any training plan.
There are some pictures below of various points along the way, plus a couple of good ones of the Snowdonia range at first light, and also there is a map if you are keen to see the whole route.
