Comments on: The Glyders ??? And a Descent into Hell

By: McEff

McEff — Wed, 01 Jul 2015 16:35:52 +0000

Hi Steve. Thanks very much for that information. Twll Du is a much finer name, and from now on I will use it. I think the OS can be blamed for many things. Once a hill or a valley has been officially labeelled, then that’s it. The name sticks.
Cheers, Alen

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 16:14:10 +0000

The Welsh name for Devil’s Kitchen is a sight more to the point: Twll Du, Black Hole in English. There’s any amount of politics behind the English (eg the leisured and the landed) blotting out the local language because they can’t be bothered with learning how to pronounce a language which is 99% phonetic. The OS doesn’t always help. Just look at Nameless Cwm not much more than 800 yards away to the SE: it does have a name in Welsh – Cwm Cneifion – cneifion is about shearing sheep.

By: McEff

McEff — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 15:22:21 +0000

Hi James. I don’t know Wales much at all, but after that walk I’ve really caught the bug. I’d like to do it again as well, but on a day when there are better views.
Cheers, Alen

By: smackedpentax

smackedpentax — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 14:04:55 +0000

Superb post and the photos are exceptional. I did this many many years ago and it is on my list to do again one day.

By: Hanna

Hanna — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 21:09:49 +0000

Reblogged this on HANNASWALK and commented:
Take a look at this awesome hike among devils in a decent to hell :-)

By: McEff

McEff — Sun, 20 Oct 2013 15:34:17 +0000

Hi Jo. Yes, it certainly is a sheep with attitude. I thought I’d made a friend for life because it hung around for ages.
It’s a great area and one I intend to return to the first chance I get. You were lucky to have lived among that beautiful scenery for so long.
Cheers, Alen

By: Jo Woolf

Jo Woolf — Sat, 19 Oct 2013 07:38:20 +0000

Stunning pictures, Alen, and great descriptions as always! I almost laughed out loud at the first pic of the sheep, though it was undoubtedly even more surprising in real life! Nice to see some familiar places again, though I never made it to the summit of the Glyders (Colin climbed Tryfan). I can imagine what a hard slog it was – it never looked easy, even from the road! Beautiful scenery. I remember Betws and the Swallow Falls well.

By: McEff

McEff — Sat, 19 Oct 2013 00:22:06 +0000

Hi James. You had a perfect day for ascending the Devil’s Kitchen and with spectacular views, which just goes to show what I was missing on my walk. Interesting what you were saying about your memories and impressions of places changing since your first visit when you were 15. I find that happens to me a lot. I return to a place I haven’t visited for decades and the reality is sometimes totally different to the mental image I think I have retained in pristine condition. Strange how the details distort and the memories alter over the years.
I shall return to the area next year, and if I get a day like that to walk in the hills I’ll be more than satisfied.
Cheers, Alen

By: James Lomax

James Lomax — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 21:18:05 +0000

It is indeed a moody and (in my experience) mist laden place. But a wonderful primeval place which should be high on a Wales mountain list.

By: McEff

McEff — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 20:49:53 +0000

Blimey. The North Face of Tryfan ??? I am hugely impressed. I looked at that route in my guidebook, laughed nervously into my pint, and turned the page over. I don’t think you’d get me up there with a cattle prod.
Cheers, Alen

By: Tracey

Tracey — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 20:08:49 +0000

I love your write up. Me n himself were planning to do that walk a year or so ago, we ended up going up the North Face of Tryfan instead. (Peter’s famous last words …..”How hard can it be?”), so we never got round to do the Glyders. But they are on my list of things to do, and you’ve just made me even more keen.

By: McEff

McEff — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 12:34:40 +0000

Ha ha. I’m glad it’s not just me. Perhaps there’s a conspiracy and one day soon they are going to rise up and take over the world. Or the lumpy bits anyway.
Cheers, Alen