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Wales Online
05-06-2025
- Wales Online
This jaw-dropping mountain trail gives Yr Wyddfa a run for its money
This jaw-dropping mountain trail gives Yr Wyddfa a run for its money Tired legs, hiking newbies wielding selfie sticks, and yet another queue snaking up Yr Wyddfa? Maybe it's time to find another route in the National Park... Cwm Idwal is a starkly beautiful glacial corrie surrounded by high crags that are a national nature reserve, with a surprising connection to Darwin (Image: Dwalad / Wikimedia Commons ) Tired legs, hiking newbies wielding selfie sticks, and yet another queue snaking up Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon)? Maybe it's time to find other routes in the National Park and try another equally epic trail that's less of a slog. As the saying (probably) goes, "When a chap is tired of exploring Eryri, he is tired of life," so get out there and venture beyond tourist-rammed Yr Wyddfa. And where better to start than the dramatic, glacier-carved bowl of Cwm Idwal, where the views are just as jaw-dropping, but the trek won't have you gasping for air and queuing for a summit snap. Here's why you should head to Cwm Idwal for a scenic hike in the beautiful Eryri region. How to hike Cwm Idwal National Trust trail at Cwm Idwal (Image: Wales Online ) Cwm Idwal is a starkly beautiful glacial corrie surrounded by high crags that are a national nature reserve, with a surprising connection to Darwin. Article continues below The National Park Authority explains that renowned English naturalist Charles Darwin visited Cwm Idwal in 1831, where he observed marine fossils in the rocks, leading him to realise that the valley was once underwater. Darwin later returned and noted that the landscape was shaped by glaciers, further solidifying his understanding of geological processes. Today, the National Trust, the Eryri National Park Authority and Natural Resources Wales work together to manage Cwm Idwal (a Site of Special Scientific Interest), and it has become an increasingly popular hiking hotspot. Here, you'll see firsthand evidence of how this landscape was created at Cwm Idwal, as the folds and faults are the direct result of the tumultuous forces that pushed up these mountains 450 million years ago. Cwm Cneifion high above Cwm Idwal, near the West Face of Y Gribin and the eastern flank of Senior's Ridge (Image: Daily Post Wales ) The much more recent Ice Age sculpted and gouged their cliffs and ridges, as well as the great amphitheatre of Cwm Idwal, creating the most incredible mountainous landscape that easily rivals the big peaks of Eryri. Expect scree slopes, massive, polished boulders, a glacial lake, and jagged rock formations on the summit plateau of the Glyderau. For keen hikers and geology lovers, Cwm Idwal is a brilliant alternative to busy Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) if you want a more straightforward, family-friendly day walk in the National Park. Here, you'll find jagged, mountainous scenery at the ice-carved Cwm Idwal, which has a bowl-shaped hollow filled with the deep, clear waters of Llyn Idwal. This bowl-shaped lake in the Ogwen Valley is of international importance for its upland plants. It's one of the few places where you'll spot rare arctic alpine plants, including the moss campion, Snowdon lily, alpine lady's mantle and purple saxifrage. The route The Cwm Idwal walk is a brilliant alternative to Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) if you want a more straightforward, family-friendly day walk in the National Park. (Image: Portia Jones ) The best way to explore this glacially carved landscape is to stomp along a roughly 3-mile-long circular trail, with an option for a more challenging section for experienced walkers. This mildly taxing route offers some of the most dramatic mountainous scenery in the UK at the oldest National Nature Reserve in Wales. It's suitable for novice walkers who want to start exploring Eryri without overexerting themselves. Around 10 miles southwest of Bangor, Cwm Idwal is a hanging valley situated in the Ogwen Valley at the northern end of Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park. While it's not as busy as Yr Wyddfa, there are still plenty of walkers who want to traverse this scenic stretch, so you'll need to arrive early to secure a parking spot. Parking within the valley is extremely limited, so the most convenient way to reach the Ogwen Valley is often to use public transport. The number 10 bus service, which runs frequently between Bangor and Corwen, is your best bet. You'll kick things off at Ogwen Cottage and the Ranger Base, an outdoor hub where many of the area's best walking trails begin. It's also home to the local Ranger crew, who help keep this stunning spot looking lush. From here, you can follow a map or use the Handy All Trails app, which has a guided Llyn Idwal Circular route. Their straightforward route will guide you through the path across the Afon Idwal, over the moorland to Llyn Idwal. Shoreline 'beach' by Llyn Idwal (Image: Google ) At Llyn Idwal (lake), you can choose a clockwise or anti-clockwise route around the nature reserve. With its serene waters, you might be forgiven for thinking Llyn Idwal is an ideal spot for a wild swim, but you would be mistaken. These bracing waters are, according to the National Trust," nutrient poor", known as oligotrophic, which allows a sensitive ecosystem specially adapted to these conditions to thrive. To help protect Llyn Idwal's ecosystem, the National Trust does not permit swimming in this area. Please respect the environment and find an alternative location for a cold water plunge in Eryri. Before setting off along the lake shore, look above the footpath and try to spot a collection of large, fractured rocks known as the 'Darwin Idwal Boulders'. Devil's appendix (Image: Mick Knapton at the English language Wikipedia ) Most of this route is fairly easygoing, but when you reach the southern side of the lake, the path steepens and involves some rocky scrambling as you head up the slope. You'll have the opportunity to extend the route slightly by continuing the ascent up to Twll Du (Devil's Kitchen), a dark crack in the cliffs between Y Garn and Glyder Fawr, with a waterfall flowing through it. When plumes of steam are seen above the crack, it means the dark lord is cooking something in his kitchen, and he's probably not going to share it. It's a challenging trek, so it's probably best left to more experienced hikers. As you'll see on a map or in your hiking app, Cwm Idwal does offer a route that avoids the ascent to Twll Du (Devil's Kitchen). This shorter, less challenging path, is suitable for novice walkers. You'll also have a spectacular viewpoint of Llyn Idwal from here before returning along the eastern side of Llyn Idwal, visiting the water's edge again, and following the path back to the car park. After a lovely hike, why not book a stay at nearby accommodation, The Rocks at Plas Curig Hostel, is an excellent budget-friendly walking base. This family-run, five-star, dog-friendly mountain hostel has serious flashpacker vibes and is a lovely place to rest after a busy day of hiking. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What's On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here Article continues below
Wales Online
22-05-2025
- Climate
- Wales Online
Marine heatwave in Wales could see beachgoers facing new threats
Marine heatwave in Wales could see beachgoers facing new threats The UK and Ireland are currently in the middle of a marine heatwave with some waters now 4C warmer than usual for the time of year Beachgoers will need to look out for these potentially deadly creatures (Image: Dwalad/Wiki ) Exotic sea creatures may start appearing on Welsh shores as water temperatures rise, according to scientists. The UK and Ireland are currently experiencing a marine heatwave, with some waters now 4C warmer than the normal for the spring months. The increase in both sea and land temperatures has already led to more people heading to the beaches, with the warmer waters reducing the cooling effect of sea breezes. However, for most swimmers and those dipping their toes, Britain's waters remain rather nippy. The heatwave is most severe in the Celtic Sea and off the west coast of Ireland, where current sea surface temperatures are up to 4C warmer, according to the Met Office. Along the UK coastline, the sea is 1.5C-2.5C warmer, with hotspots in Cardigan Bay and along the North Wales coast. These temperatures are "what we would usually expect around mid-June," stated the national forecaster. Labelling the event as "extreme", the Met Office reported that surface temperatures (SSTs) reached levels for April and May that were the highest since 1982 when satellite monitoring first began. Temperature anomaly map showing seas off the UK and Ireland much warmer than usual (Image: Met Office/Ostia ) The heatwave is not only significant due to its intensity but also its duration, which has taken observers by surprise. So far, it's lasted more than two months: typically, marine heatwaves in UK waters dissipate after two to four weeks, reports North Wales Live. Article continues below Sea temperatures are expected to start dropping in the next few days as cooler weather settles over the country. Dr Ségolène Berthou, the Met Office's scientific manager for regional coupled modelling, has attributed the heatwave to a combination of factors. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here She said: "The heatwave is the result of several overlapping factors. Prolonged high-pressure systems brought a dry, sunny spring and weak winds and waves, creating ideal conditions for warming. "This means the sea started to warm mid-February, one month earlier than usual. Additionally, the waters around the UK were already warmer than usual coming out of winter, a trend that has been building over the past 40 years, with an average increase of 0.3C per decade." Global climate change is leading to higher ocean temperatures worldwide, increasing the frequency of marine heatwaves. On May 19, the average UK sea surface temperature was recorded at 12.69C – significantly higher than the May marine heatwave threshold of 11.3C in the UK. The rise in sea temperatures may lead to more jellyfish visiting UK coasts annually. There have already been sightings of large barrel jellyfish stranded on beaches in Gwynedd and Ceredigion. Frankie Hobro, director of Anglesey Sea Zoo in Brynsiencyn, has issued a warning that this could result in more exotic and potentially dangerous sea creatures reaching Welsh beaches. She emphasises the importance of increased knowledge in marine medicine to safeguard beachgoers. Some may be newcomers, while others are grown versions of the young sea creatures already seen in UK waters. While the arrival of species like bluefin tuna, sunfish, and basking sharks is welcomed, not all are as desirable, she mentioned. Potential unwelcome visitors include pufferfish and Box jellyfish, one of Earth's most venomous creatures. Existing residents on British coasts, such as the weever fish, might become more troublesome. This small creature conceals itself in the sand and can inflict a painful sting. Box jellyfish have cube-shaped bell and numerous tentacles. Their stings can paralyse and they can be fatal (Image: Peter Southwood/Wiki ) The Portuguese man o' war, known for its potent sting, could also start appearing more frequently and in greater sizes, Frankie noted. Algal blooms are likely to occur more often due to calmer and warmer seas, leading to expanses of green algae that pose risks to other marine life. On a brighter note, bioluminescent displays near beaches may grow more frequent and spectacular. Yet, rising temperatures could push some marine species away from Britain's coastlines. "There is no escape from the heat for sea creatures within it," Frankie explained. "They can't turn on air conditioners under water, or escape it." Although the warmer waters might be noticeable to some swimmers, they remain quite chilly for the average beachgoer. Dr Berthou has observed that the North Sea has reached its temperature peak, while west Ireland and the Celtic Sea are currently at their warmest. During marine heatwave events, a warm water layer forms at the surface. She further explained: "This layer acts like a lid, trapping heat near the surface and preventing it from mixing into deeper, cooler waters. "It can be likened to a layer of olive oil floating on water; this thin surface layer allows heat from solar radiation to accumulate near the surface. When this layer forms, surface temperatures can rise rapidly: the last nine days have seen a sudden additional 1C warming." Dr Jonathan Tinker, a marine climate scientist at the Met Office, stated that prolonged warming can intensify land heatwaves by diminishing the cooling effect of sea breezes and altering rainfall patterns. Article continues below He added: "With projections suggesting UK summer sea temperatures could rise by up to 2.5C by 2050, such events are likely to become more frequent, intense and longer-lasting. Marine heatwaves offer a glimpse into how changing ocean conditions could shape future weather conditions."
