Eryri: Cwm Tryfan and Llyn Bochlwyd

The Ogwen Valley is always a delight, even when the weather isn’t. With its summits shrouded in cloud and high winds looming in the forecast, I opted for a sheltered route for the day’s adventure, following Cwm Tryfan, the rugged valley that skirts the base of the UK’s favourite peak.

As I climbed, ribbons of photogenic fog drifted across the valley head, adding just the right amount of drama to the landscape. I made my way up and over the boulder-strewn Bwlch Tryfan before descending into Cwm Bochlwyd and its llyn (which, for the non-Welsh speakers among us, is a lake).

After a bit of a battle with some annoyingly boggy shoreline I found a quiet pitch along the western edge of the llyn, tucked away just enough to dodge the worst of the wind, although it was gusty enough to prevent much in the way of useful drone footage, which was a shame.

Over the course of the night, the wind howling through the summits above was, without exaggeration, the most terrifying sound I’ve ever heard while camping, the kind of noise that makes you very, very grateful to be sleeping at a lower altitude.

By morning, the rain had done an excellent job of turning the already steep descent towards Llyn Idwal into a slippery test of both balance and patience. Suffice it to say, there is no morning footage in the video; I was far too preoccupied with staying upright to press record!