I can honestly say that there is nowhere quite like The Glyderau. My adventures have taken me all over Snowdonia and so I feel well qualified in making such a bold statement. I am not saying it is my favourite area of the national park. It isn’t. That accolade currently belongs to the nearby wild and empty Carneddau Range for reasons I explore in this article. A visit to the Glyderau is still an incredible experience though, as you’re likely to be blown away by the unique landscape around you. Right enough of bolstering this area’s ego with generalizations. Let’s get more specific and give what I feel are the five best reasons to complete the Glyderau circular hike
1- The Rock Formations
If you are in any way interested in geology or physical geography, then you are going to absolutely adore The Glyderau circular hike. Even if you dropped the subject as soon as you could at school, I can still assure you that you’ll be in awe at what you see.
As I approached the summit of Glyder Fawr, the highest peak in the range at 1001 metres, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Boulders bigger than cars could be found in all sorts of orientation and at times there were small hills entirely made of them. How did they get there? What could create such a landscape? I found myself asking these questions at various points along the way. If you are wondering how they were moved, it was the power of glaciers during the last ice age. Water, ice and time sure can have some powerful results! The video clip below captures the moon-like landscape pretty well I think.
2- The Views
Once you reach one of the summits, it is great because a good part of the rest of the route follows a ridge of sorts. It only ever gently undulates as you make your way from one summit to the next. Virtually all of this ridge sits above nine hundred metres and so on a clear day the views are spectacular.
I was lucky enough to be blessed with near perfect blue skies during my Glyderau circular hike. Glancing north from Glydau Fawr, I could make out the Carneddau Range, including the highest peaks of Carnedd Dafydd and Llewelyn.
Because the ridge sits to the north of the national Park, it was possible to see much of Snowdonia spread out below me as I looked south. You’ll probably find it very hard not to keep stopping to enjoy this if hiking in clear conditions. A compass would certainly be worth carrying though, as I can imagine it could become difficult to navigate if the clouds come in. It’s happened to me before on this trip and it made things tricky indeed.
Sunset and sunrise can also be truly stunning from one of the mountain summits along the route. On one trip, where I camped by a small mountain lake below Y Garn, I was lucky enough to catch the birth of a new day. I don’t think I will ever forget those views. Details of that trip can be found here and the short video clip of the sunrise below.
3- The Lakes
No I am not talking about the jewel of Cumbria. I am of course exploring the many lakes that can be found in The Glyderau.
They come in all sorts of sizes from the large Llyn Idwal to the much smaller Llyn Clyd. The map below hopefully shows how many bodies of water there are in this relatively small area.
They of course vary in size and altitude, but what they have in common is that each can be found in a beautiful setting. Many are backed by the craggy mountains and offer clear water teeming with life. The higher lakes also offer solitude in spades and provide great spots to cool off on warmer day. The video below hopefully captures the beauty of Llyn Clyd and the other lakes, which can be found at the base of The Glyderau.
4- Tryfan
There is a strong chance you’re probably heard of this mountain. It’s pointy shape reminds me of Buachaille Etive Mor near Glencoe. They both look like the mountains you probably drew in your books when you were a child. This must surely be one of the reasons why they’re both so popular.
I must confess that my circular hike didn’t incorporate Tryfan, as I didn’t have the time on this occasion. Certainly a good reason to go back. Such is the popularity of this mountain that there are countless articles online about it as well as people’s experiences reaching its 918 metre summit.
Below is a blog article and video you may wish to read to discover more and maybe inspire you to visit if you haven’t already.
5- It’s Good For The Body and Soul
You could argue that this title could apply to any hike in a mountainous area. I suppose it does, but it is still a good reason to complete The Glyderau circular hike. I have included a map below showing the route I took.
Here are some statistics for the hike, which you may find useful:
Distance: 11.16 km
Altitude Gained: 1037 metres
Estimated Time To Complete: four and a half hours.
Terrain- Clear path almost all of the way, but loose under foot in places, especially on the ridge.
I think these stats show this particular walk to be a good physical test without being overly exerting. I completed it over two days with a wild camp in the middle, but it could just as easily be completed in a day.
However you decide to tackle it, I’m sure you’ll thoroughly enjoy it. Fresh mountain air and views will do wonders for you mental health too. There’s nothing like a strong wind a thousand metres up to clear your head!