Cnicht with Mike

I thought I would be spending quite some of the bank holiday weekend with Neil, but he had other plans. Fortunately, some miraculous succour came falling out of the sky: Mike, from Cornwall. He was one of the guys who was always on the most interesting underground trips in the southwest, when I lived there (like this one). He comes up quite regularly. Generally, he is with his friend Darryll, another mine explorer, but this time he was alone.

On Saturday night we had dinner together, in my garden. We had plenty to catch up on! I see him about once a year. And I suggested a particular walk. He agreed with that. So he showed up again the next morning and we got into my little car.  

My plan has been to park up in Blaen Nantmor. The road there is so tiny it seems the best idea to go there by little Corsa. From there we could walk in the general direction of Cnicht, and over the summit, if we felt like it. And then back via Llyn yr Adar and Llyn Llagi. 

I started out in trousers and with several layers on above the waist. The forecast has been a bit cold. Reality was different! In no time I changed into shorts and a vest. It was a glorious day, and there was nobody else. And the landscape is gorgeous. I also like the little lake that doesn’t have a name on the OS map there, so we had coffee and cake there. 

How it started

Coffee break lake in the distance 

Cnicht coming into view

We did go for Cnicht. That meant meeting other people, but that is OK. We had lunch at the summit. More people were that way inclined. But as soon as we came down on the other side, all other people vanished again. The warmth temporarily did too, so the multiple layers came back. 

Summit selfie

It was lovely and quiet by the lakes. And sunny and warm again by the second lake. We happily trundled back to the car. Almost all of the route had been new to Mike! He had been coming to Wales since he was a child. Finally he has done Cnicht and some of its hinterland. And it was great to see him again. I hope he keeps visiting for years to come! 

Llyn yr Adar

Almost back