A change of plans at Llyn Mwyngil

The plan was to walk cadair idris. A classic, ambitious enough to feel earned, but familiar enough to be manageable. But plans in the mountains have a habit of unravelling, and this one started to slip before we had even left. A late night meant a late start, and by the time we reached the car park the weather had already made its decision for us.

Low clouds clung to the mountains and rain moved across the landscape, not to mention the wind!!! Not the kind of rain to demand panic, but enough that we decided the long ascent would not be worth the risk. We changed direction. Instead of pushing upwards we went to a nearby walk around a beautiful lake - one we had not done before - Llyn Mwyngil.

Muddy boots, photograph, Canon 2000D.

The rain softened everything, making the lake sit dark and rippled and the surrounding hills fade in and out of view. Without the pressure of the summit, the pace slowed naturally allowing me to take some photographs in between rain showers as I had forgotten my rain cover!!! At one point the rain eased off enough for a rainbow to appear across the valley. It felt cinematic and perfectly timed half-way round our walk.

A LLyn Mwygil Rainbow, Photograph, Canon 2000D.

After some encounters with inquisitive sheep and a lot of bog lower down, we heard the hum of a helicopter. Mountain Rescue were circling around Cadair, moving in and out of the rocky slopes. It was a reminder of how fast conditions can shift, and how exposed the mountain becomes in bad weather. watching is pass reinforced the sense that staying low had been the right choice. The landscape beautiful, but unforgiving.

Hey there, Photograph, Canon 2000D.

Bye Bye, Photograph, Canon 2000D.

Not long until the end of the walk, we were joined by an unusually confident sheep. cheeky sheep almost seemed as if it stuck its tongue out at us and then ran away... Sheep are always funny. They are usually the only animal present on walks but never fail to disappoint. Leaving us with a walk full of funny and beautiful moments and leaving us glad we did it even though the weather steered us from our original path.