Clogwynygarreg

SNOWDONIA, NORTH WALES TRAIL PHOTOGRAPHER TOM BAILEY EXPLAINS HOW TO PUT YOURSELF IN THE CENTRE OF RICHARD WILSON’S FAMOUS SNOWDONIAN PAINTING.

WALK IT

Clogwynygarreg is very close to the B4418. The smaller hill of Bryn Gwyn is a great landmark and, if in a car, park as close to it as possible. If on the bus you could walk up the ‘B’ road from Rhyd-Dhu quite easily. A strip of open access land connects it to the road, which can be used as the approach. It takes 10 minutes to get to the foot of Clogwynygarreg from the road, but don’t let that lull you into a false sense of security. Steep rock defends the peak. This must be avoided and the weak points in its defences found, which take the form of rakes. Getting to the top involves being on steep, pathless, rocky ground; so make sure you have experience of route-finding on this kind of terrain. You can be up and down it within an hour and that’s even allowing time for a chill out at the summit. The views to the west (see above), and over to the east with Snowdon dominating all, will make you happy you’ve made the effort to seek this place out. The other thing you won’t fail to notice is the triangular form of Y Garn. As ever getting off this rocky lump is the most challenging part of the exercise. So go carefully, but go and be in a painting...