Early Spring in a Glaciated Valley
25 people attending
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Have you ever wandered what you'll find if you continue along the back road beyond the Idwal Cottage Hostel? Well, it becomes a beautiful, "hidden" lane, emerging from the trees as it links the Ogwen and Nant Ffrancon Valleys. It's actually the location used in the stunning scenery for the "Mr Bates v the Post Office" on ITV recently, much of which was filmed in the valley.
After a short drive up the valley floor, you will reach Yr Hafod, a scout centre which will be our home for the weekend.
Yr Hafod is a well equipped hostel and, more importantly, is also incredibly well positioned to enable us to take advantage of numerous mountain walks in the area. We will be positioned at the base of the Glyderau, nestled between that range and the Carneddau to the north. We may tackle Glyder Fawr and Glyder Fach, or perhaps tackle Y Garn (which towers above the hostel), or cross the valley and give Pen Yr Ole Wen a go. We'll be smack bang in the middle North Wales' most inspiring mountaineering location, so the possibilities are endless for both walking and scrambling.
Friday evening will involve gathering in the hostel and getting to know our fellow attendees over dinner and drinks. On Saturday there will be one or more walks on offer, depending upon leader availability. Given our location, these will likely be on reasonably steep and high ground, but they will be within the capabilities of most hill walkers. We cannot guarantee an "easy walk" option, but of course you are always welcome to do your own thing if you wish. We will call upon volunteers to help with dinner on Saturday night, then on Sunday morning we will aim to offer a shorter local walk for those who do not need to rush off.
Dogs - this event is not suitable for dogs.
Photos: Photos provided by L Russell, M House, OutdoorLads and Yr Hafod. All used by OutdoorLads with full permission.
IMPORTANT! - Participation Statement
You MUST complete a Participation Statement, in addition to booking your event space before attending an OutdoorLads event. You only need to complete this Participation Statement once, not for each event you attend.
What to bring
Please see the standard mountain walking kit list below. The weather at this time of the year can be unpredictable, so you will need to ensure you keep an eye on the forecast.
Bedding is NOT provided, so you will need to bring a pillow and duvet/sleeping bach with you please, plus a towel.
Hand sanitiser and a face covering: whilst we are living with Covid-19, please bring your own to events to help keep everyone safe
Water: bring at least two litres in a water bottle, or better still, a hydration bladder
Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Day Rucksack: typically 20-30 litres, they are comfortable to wear and allow you to use your arms freely
Waterproof bags: keep spare clothing, electronics and anything else dry even when your rucksack leaks by using Ziploc type food bags or, better still, outdoor activity waterproof bags
Boots: waterproof and breathable hiking boots with good ankle support
Gaiters: recommended for wet weather or boggy conditions
Socks: proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and help prevent blisters, and carry a spare, dry pair
Walking Poles: always optional, love them or hate them, but give them a try and decide for yourself
Layered clothing: lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece)
Trousers: no jeans as they become heavy and cold in the rain, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry and on warm days shorts are OK
Waterproof jacket: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry.
Gloves: Windproof, or better still, waterproof gloves are the best choice, bring a spare pair if expecting rain.
Hat or cap: stay warm in winter and shaded in summer
Sunglasses: for any sunny day, even in winter
Sun cream: can be useful even on cloudy and winter days
Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of
Lunch: bring a packed lunch unless otherwise stated
Emergency equipment: the walk leader will bring any emergency equipment required for the group, but you are welcome to bring any that you have, such as additional high energy food, a survival bag, a whistle, a medical kit, a torch and something to make fire (either storm proof matches or a firelighter
Map and compass: the walk leader will have these, but if you like map reading or want to develop your skills, bring yours along
Mobile Phone: keep it in a waterproof bag for use in emergencies, and a spare battery/charger is a good idea
Food & drink
As with most of our weekend hostel events, the cost will include two breakfasts and one dinner, plus tea and coffee throughout the weekend.
On the first night we will have a buffet dinner, and everyone is asked to please bring a contribution.
You will need to bring packed lunch items for taking on a walk, plus any other drinks you'd like for the weekend.
When booking, please also take the opportunity to ensure that your dietary requirements are up to date on your profile, as we will use this information for begin planning meals and to do the shopping.