What it lacks in height, it makes up in outline - the 2263’ “Welsh Matterhorn” - May 2000
Walks with a Camera © Geoff’s Pages 2011
The walk starts in the village of Croesor, above Porthmadog, and
climbs via a long ridge to the rocky summit of Cnicht. The final
stretch (though hardly a Matterhorn, or even a Crib Goch)
requires care, and the use of hands as well as feet. From the
shapely summit, there are extensive views of the Snowdonian
mountains and the Traeth mawr estuary, plus fine prospect of
Moelwyn Mawr. Some (precious few!) climbs are so interesting,
you don't notice the effort - this is one!
We lunched at the summit, in the company of a (more cautious
than most) seagull, who seemed anxious to share our lunch. "Must
be a Sandwich Tern", Tim commented.
From the peak, we traversed the head of
Cwm Croesor to the derelict but photogenic
slate working at Rhosydd, at the top of
Cwm Orthin. We spent a little time here,
but the clouds were gathering, so we took
the path over to Croesor mine. Just time
here for a quick snap of the old winding house at the head of the
incline, looking back across to Cnicht, before the rain began...
...so we marched quickly back down the mine road to Croesor
village and the car. It was about this point I realised that, despite
the many photographs I had taken, not one was of Cnicht itself!
"We'll have to come again", said Tim. Perhaps we might - it had
been an excellent walk, despite the final shower.
