Climb Snow don without running out of puff
SNOWDONIA isn’t only for serious walkers. Yes, Theresa and Philip May stride out here and were holidaying in Wales over Easter.
But putting your feet up is also encouraged, and we do just that on the Snowdon Mountain Railway.
Our rather laidback challenge is to reach Yr Wyddfa, the summit of Snowdon, the highest peak in Wales at 3,560ft, without slogging up a single footpath.
The Snowdon Mountain Railway opened in 1896 and, except during both world wars, has since run uninterrupted, transporting around 12 million passengers from Llanberis to Yr Wyddfa.
For the two-and-a-half-hour round trip, we’re on the comfortable, 34-seater Snowdon Lily. There’s a traditional diesel service, too, but you feel superior on the ‘Heritage Steam Experience’. We settle on slatted wooden seats (bring a cushion) in front of driver Barry, who’s shunting us up in Enid, the green steam locomotive number 2, which has been operating since 1896.
The guard, Glyn, is on sheep watch in the front. Thelma and Monty, our fellow passengers, are celebrating 66 years of marriage.
The scenery is cause for celebration. We pass waterfalls and cosily dressed climbers braving the weather.
We coast past Hebron station, stopping at Halfway station to refill Enid’s water tank. She rocks on noisily, churning black steam through Rocky Valley and past Clogwyn station at 2,556ft.
Windows steam up as it gets chillier. A sheep and I consider each other through the window.
At Hafod Eryri, Snowdon Summit Visitor Centre, we scurry past satisfied summiteers.
Out in the fierce weather, I hang onto my husband, Ron, and we head up stone steps to the trig pillar at the very top.
Apparently, you can admire Wales, England, Scotland and Ireland from here. But shivering in mist and 41 mph gusts, we see nothing.
But we’re not disappointed. We head for a bath at Castle Cottage in Harlech. Then it’s on to canapés in the bar and a rewarding dinner.
The next day, from neighbouring Harlech Castle, it’s still too misty to see that familiar, pyramid-shaped peak, where we stood and smiled on the top of Wales.