COSFORD & MANCHESTER

AT CHIPMUNK AT COSFORD MUSEUM

GRANDAD MIGHT HAVE WORKED ON THIS TIGER MOTH

RUBI FLANKED BY NOAMI & SCOTT

EXTINCTION REBELLION PROTESTING IN MANCHESTER

'DRUM MACHINE'

THE CROWD WERE INVITED TO JOIN IN

Saturday 31st August, and it rained heavily in the morning. We left our Capel Curig bunkhouse at around 10.30pm to make our way back to the RAF Museum at Cosford, arriving 2 hours later. We had visited the museum on the first day of our holiday, but it was so large and there were so many aircraft that more time was needed to see it all. We had just about covered it all by closing time at 5.00pm.

Next, we drove to nearby Roden, just east of Shrewsbury, where Hil and Steve had their permanent abode, a charming old cottage that had been tastefully renovated whilst retaining the charm of some of the original features. Hil cooked a lovely meal and we all chatted until late. It was a pleasure staying with them.

Next morning we said our farewells and navigated a route to Manchester to see Rubi's daughter Naomi and her boyfriend Scott. Arriving shortly after midday, we took the train into the city to enjoy dim sum at an excellent restaurant in Manchester's Chinatown. We had intended to visit the Science and Technology Museum afterwards, but time was short so we visited the markets and the shops instead. We could hear loud drumming as we approached the city centre and learned the Extinction Rebellion were holding an organised demonstration. The drumming was from a group called 'Drum Machine' and they gathered a significant audience, some of whom were invited to participate in the drumming. Like African drumming, the rhythm was compelling and many people were inspired to dance.

A cancelled train meant that we had a wait a while at Manchester Picadilly station before we could get back to Naomi and Scott's rented cottage. When we did get there, we ended up watching episodes of Gavin & Stacey on Netflix until we were tired. We had brought with us sleeping bags, blankets and pillows, so were able to enjoy a reasonably comfortable night on the lounge carpet.

Scott was away to work early on Monday morning and Naomi not much later. After packing our bags into the car we closed the door and commenced our long, but otherwise uneventful, car journey home. It had been a hectic couple of weeks and we were both looking forward to a quiet, relaxing evening and lie-in in the morning.

SUMMER IN SNOWDONIA

LEADING HF GUESTS THROUGH ENTRANCE TO NANNAU ESTATE

NATASHA AND HELEN SUMMIT CADER IDRIS

JELLYFISH ON BEACH NEAR HARLECH

HARLECH CENTRE

RUBI WITH SNOWDON IN BACKGROUND

OUR BUNKHOUSE AT BRYN TYRCH

COMFORTABLE INSIDE

HIMPSHIRE HIKERS MEMBER OUTSIDE CAFE SIABOD

RESTING ON CLIMB OF MOEL SIABOD

BY ADAM & EVE ON TRYFAN

ON THE CANTELEVER BY GLYDER FACH

The HF programme of walks continued with me leading a trek up to Rhobell Fawr on Wednesday, which Rubi joined. Thursday's weather was very wet and windy, and probably close to the limit of safety for taking guests on my allocated walk, which was to the summit of Cader Idris via the Minfordd path, and back down via the Pony track. Another leader was expected to continue further across the wind and rain-swept mountain, but opted to curtail his walk and join me for the quicker route down. Conditions were much improved at the lower altitude. Not far from our coach pick-up point, a couple of casually dressed ladies pushing children in push chairs enquired how long it would take them to get to the summit. We explained the realities to them. Some folk have no idea.

Rubi was undoubtedly pleased that she had opted for a lower level walk that day, but she made up for it the next day by by ascending Rhinog Fawr whilst I led a low level but picturesque walk from Llanbedr to Harlech.

Although the weather had been poor at times, we enjoyed our week and said farewell to the guests on Saturday morning with a degree of sadness.

Car loaded, we next headed for Capel Curig in northern Snowdonia, from where we would spend a further week leading walks, this time for members of the Hampshire Hikers meetup group. I had entitled the week SUMMER IN SNOWDONIA, and the improving weather certainly looked like it would justify the description for the eleven walkers who would be joining us.

We had booked a bunkhouse on Bryn Tyrch Farm in Capel Curig for the week, but before we got there we checked the parking situation for walks to Snowdon and Tryfan, two of our target summits for the week.

Actually getting into our bunkhouse turned out to be problematic as the farmer wasn't at home, but after some phone calls from Rubi, we ended up in room 5, which was probably the best room on the site. Whilst all the rooms were a bit basic, grubby and cobwebby, we did get a double bed, a sink, 13A sockets and electric lights. At £98 for the week we weren't complaining.

Richard, Lesley Ann, Vic, Dana, Oliya, Sean, Linda, Bob and Graham arrived on the same day, so we took them on a local walk and explained plans for the following day's walk, which would be to Moel Siabod.

Sunday's weather was glorious as we started our climb to the summit of Siabod. The heat of the sun was probably a little too much, since a couple of hours later Vic started to flag as we commenced a particulaly steep section of the walk. He had not brought sufficient water and was dehydrated. Concluding that it was better to continue to the top for the easy descent rather than turn back, Sean gallantly ran up the slope to refill Vic's water bottles from streams. By the time Vic got to the top he had largely recovered and the rest of the day went smoothly.

Supper was enjoyed in the Cafe Siabod close to our bunkhouse. Their excellently priced goulash with large chunks of bread was both tasty and abundant.

Tuesday's walk took us up to Tryfan and the Glyders. Lesley Ann looked after our rucksacks as the rest of us made our way to the summit of Tryfan. The scramble was easier than anticipated, and soon we were taking photographs by 'Adam and Eve', the two distinctive rocks on the top.

Many more photographs were taken when, a while later, we arrived at 'the cantilever' atop Glyder Fach. Posing on the, apparently, precariously balanced slab of rock looked extremely daring, but it was easy enough for everyone to have a go. Afterwards, we had a long and tough walk back to Capel Curig along the eastern ridge. We were out for 9 hours altogether, and had covered ten miles in that time.

Chris and Martin joined us in the evening in readiness for Tuesday's walk. In fact there were three walks available on that day. Richard and Lesley Ann offered a low level walk in the shadow of Crimpiau which was joined by Vic, Bob and Graham. Sean took Oliya, Dana, Rubi and Linda up to the summit of Snowdon from Pen y Pass. Finally, I took Chris and Martin to Snowdon summit via the Watkin path.

Everyone expressed satisfaction with their day as we met for supper at the Tyn y Coed hotel just along the road from Capel Curig.

Wednesday was a 'free' day for everyone. Rubi and I took to the road, initially towards Bangor, but then turning right along the coast road to Conwy. There, we spent the afternoon viewing Plas Mawr (a restored Tudor house) and Conwy Castle. We ate at the Stable Bar in Betws y  Coed on the way back to the bunkhouse.

Thursday and Friday's weather was drizzly compared to our first three days of walking. On Thursday we enjoyed a river walk from Capel Curig to Betws y Coed via Swallow Falls, returning along the other side of the river. Friday involved a very windy six mile circuit up to Llyn Cowlyd and back, joined by Vic, Bob and Rubi, everyone else having gone home by now.

Our SUMMER IN SNOWDONIA TRIP had been a success and, after a final meal with Vic in the Cafe Siabod, we readied ourselves to leave the bunkhouse in the morning.

COSFORD, BARMOUTH & DOLGELLAU

AERO ENGINES AT RAF COSFORD

NICE PAINT JOB ON
JAGUAR AT RAF COSFORD

LIGHTNING & JAVELIN (IN BACKGROUND) AT COSFORD MUSEUM

RUBI WITH FRIENDS STEVE & HIL

HF DOLSERAU HOUSE

OUR EXCELLENT SUITE IN DOLSERAU HOUSE

SCULPTURE OF FALCON SEEN ON WALK

VIEW FROM ARENIG FAWR

LUNCH ON ARENIG FAWR SUMMIT

Thursday 15th August and we were on our way to Snowdonia where I (Steve) would be walk-leading for HF Holidays from their house in Dolgellau, named Dolserau Hall. On the way, however, we visited the RAF Museum at Cosford, arriving at the around midday. As well as looking around the aircraft on display, Rubi had arranged for me to visit RAF Cosford air base itself where they train aircraft technicians using retired Jaguar and Tornado aircraft to practise on.

The museum closed at 5.00pm, although we could easily have spent longer there. Continuing our drive into Wales, we headed to Barmouth where we would stay with friends Hil and Steve in their static caravan for two nights before starting at HF Dolgellau. Having not seen them for two years, we had lots of catching up to do. High winds and heavy rain kept us indoors for most of the following day, but we enjoyed a round of Scrabble (won by Hil's Steve). In the evening we ate at 'The Captain's Table' restaurant in Barmouth.

Saturday morning we drove to HF Dolgellau in time for the usual 12.30pm pre-holiday meeting. The guests started to arrive mid-afternoon and the walk programme commenced the following day. The weather was dry and I took ten guests on a level walk around the Mawddach Estuary whilst Rubi took to the hills overlooking the estuary with another leader (also called Steve). Dinner at the house was of the usual high standard and third leader, Roger, organised a music quiz.

On Monday the weather was drizzly in the morning but improved as the day progressed. I led three guests, including Rubi, up Arenig Fawr where we enjoyed lunch and spectacular views out of the wind in the stone shelter at the top. Our evening dinner back at the house was an excellent 7-course taster menu comprising local dishes.

Tuesday was a rest day from HF leading. Hil and Steve visited us at Dolserau Hall and, after showing them around the house, we all took a walk to Dolgellau town where we had a picnic lunch.

We were back at the house by 4.00pm so that I could prepare for the following day's walks. We arranged to see Hil and Steve again before we headed home.