The Glyderau (a Welsh plural form, also known in English as the Glyders) are a mountain group in Snowdonia, North Wales. The name derives from the highest peaks in the range, Glyder Fawr and Glyder Fach. According to Sir Ifor Williams, the word "Glyder" derives from the Welsh word "Cludair", meaning a heap of stones.
This was a significant hike for me, as it marked one of my first substantial outings after recovering from a recent leg/ankle break. The plan was to support a few friends in recceing the Welsh 1000s route while also getting in a Quality Mountain Day for myself. We based ourselves at YHA Idwal Cottage in Bethesda and divided the route into two loops over two days.There were four of us in total: Joey, who wanted to recce the Snowdon Sky Race route; Nikki and Adam, who were looking to get extra running miles in; and myself, focused on getting a long QMD. Joey, a competent mountain and fell runner, took on his route alone after I briefed him on the technical sections and set up my Inreach Mini 2 for him to use, just in case. This left me, Nikki, and Adam to tackle Pen yr Ole Wen together. The ascent involved some scrambling, during which I spotted both Nikki and Adam at different stages.After reaching the summit, Nikki and Adam jogged ahead, planning to meet up later in Ogwen Valley. I continued to hike the Carneddau solo at a more leisurely pace. It took me about four hours to reach Yr Aryg, where I paused for a snack and to take in the cloud-covered views. The descent into Ogwen Valley was slow due to leg fatigue, but I enjoyed the scenic surroundings. I eventually made it back to the YHA, where Nikki and Adam caught up with me just as I arrived. Joey had already finished his recce and was buzzing from his day.The weather began cold and cloudy but improved as the day progressed, making for a thoroughly enjoyable experience. This day was a mix of technical advice, leadership, and personal challenge, making it a valuable Quality Mountain Day.
