Rhinogs Run

Another quick photo blog following on from Sand Dunes and Sillyness. These were taken on a short run out from the cottage in Wales at Easter...up past Foel Ddu, and to the site of a plane wreck (of which I have no details, yet - on my list to research).

It was glorious to be running in a t-shirt and the ground was quite dry so the usual boggy parts on the run were delightfully dry.

Easter in Wales

Our Easter break was spent with family in the Rhinogs, Wales. We headed down Friday and returned on Tuesday so had four full days to relax and enjoy the peace and quiet at the family cottage. The company was great and the food plentiful (thanks Sue and Gilly). I spent a lot of time just sitting, listening to the birds, watching the wind blow the trees, hearing the lambs in the surrounding fields bleating. I also took a large quantity of photographs, mostly of lovely little things for my collection - more of those later, but here's a select few to enjoy for now.

Saturday morning recce of the Ras Y Moelwyn race start/finish with Tim

Tim's race report can be found over on his blog, TestedToDestruction. 

That lovely little bird, perched in the centre of the white stone chimney, is a barn owl. He or she is living in the old chimney at the family's cottage and comes out to go hunting most evenings....we were really lucky to spend over half an hour watching him perched, looking around.  Sorry it's a poor quality photo; it was taken on my phone, through a window and the bit with the owl in shot is actually a mirror tilted on the wall..

Looking back to the cottage from the nearby fields

Buzzard, saw three at the same time one day and could hear them calling 

Peacock butterfly

Lovely flowers with lots of bumble bees buzzing around

Sheep and lambs in fields around the cottage

Spot the chaffinch

Robin

Me running with Foel Fras in the background

Long view from the cottage down to the sand dunes and sea

Last morning....early start to have the beach (almost) to ourselves

Along with the barn owl we saw buzzards, a bunny rabbit (on Easter Sunday), wrens (who are the noisiest bird of all), sheep and lambs, cows and calves, red starts, blue tits, great tits, numerous moths and butterfly's, loads of other birds and I heard the local cuckoo off in the distance.

Rhinogs Running

The Rhinogs are mountains in north west Wales, more or less south Snowdonia. Though much quieter than the popular areas, the beauty of the hills, lakes and wildlife is better for there being less people. I've visited the area quite a few times now, and this last weekend was another memorable trip - this time with 15 of us from Glossopdale Harriers descending upon the cottage that nestles in the hillside above Llanbedr.

Me and Caity drove down Friday morning - the advance party - to arrive in daylight so the fire could be lit and welcoming for the rest. This also meant we had a few hours of daylight to pull on our fell shoes and head up the hill for a short, easy run. Having both recently been on navigation courses we took the opportunity of the unfamiliar area to do some micro-nav, I taught a little about pacing and we spent some time discussing tactics for navigation in orienteering fell races - we're both doing the Dark & White Mini Mountain Marathon on 24th March. The weather was on our side for fell running, but not great for navigation practice since the cloud base was way high and visibility good. Not to worry, we had imaginary blinkers on and got on with it.

Wall junction + sheepfold located

Caity on top of the cairn on Foel Ddu - superb navigation to this spot height

Looking back towards the cottage and the sea in the sunshine

The ground was really wet under foot, more so than I've ever seen in the area. I met up with a neighbouring farmer the following day and he told me the winter had been really wet, on top of the wet summer last year. Not surprising then that marshy areas are turning into mini lakes and paths into rivers. The afternoon turned to evening and the rest of the Glossopdalers trickled in. The log fire was stoked, lots of chat about routes for the Saturday run and a few beverages sampled. 

From left: Sikobe, Zoe, Caity, Julien, Tim and Alasdair....route choices being pondered

With the forecast predicting rain, possibly heavy, from 3pm onwards we jollied everyone along and managed to set off running just before 9am. Not bad for a group of 15, some of whom really wanted a lay in. We'd arranged to set off together, sharing the first part of the runs together. I'd planned to run round Moelfre on a route I've done previously - there's no steep or rocky ascent and it would give others who didn't want that sort of terrain the option of a decent run on fairly easy ground. At the split point the 4 in the fast had already whizzed off up Moelfre, into the cloud and above the snow line. 

A quick discussion left me on a solo run...everyone else opting to go for the summit. I plodded on down the road before turning south and onto a path which traverses around the hill, joining a decent track up to Llyn Bodlyn. The plan was for me to meet up with the 10 in the B group somewhere over that side. I pulled on my windstopper beanie soon after leaving the road - the drizzle had turned to sleet then driving snow. The snow was slippy underfoot and I was beginning to wish I'd worn my mudclaws and risked a blister (which happened last time I wore them).

The track steadily rises to the lake and I knew if I found the right pace I should be able to keep running. Trouble was, it was so beautiful I just kept stopping to look around, enjoying the views and searching the hillside to see if the others were heading down yet.

I got to within sight of the lake and could see 4 runners dropping off Moelfre....then they started running away from me. I was confused, not realising until later it was the fast party and I'd beaten them to the far side of the hill. What I didn't know is that conditions on the top were far from quick running terrain with knee deep snow to slow them down. But at that point I thought they were B group and heading off their intended route. Hmmm. Should I chase after them? No, I chose to stick to my plan so Tim would know where I was. I'd left a decent set of x-talon footprints in the track so Tim would know I'd headed up to the lake. 

footprints in the snow, looking back towards Moefre (summit in the snow cloud) from the track up to Llyn Bodlyn

I started to climb through a small boulder field, opting not to lose height before going up to the saddle in between Moelfre and Moelyblithcwm. After a few minutes I could see more runners coming off Moelfre...and Tim in a yellow jacket...the plan to meet up had worked.

Me with Llyn Bodlyn in the background

The B group plus me, Moelfre still in cloud behind us

bye....I wave as I head off and the group turns east towards Moelyblighcym then onto Y Llethr

A few photos snapped and a quick chat....the rest of the B group were running strong and still wanted to keep on with their plan so I found myself again, solitary on the hill heading down to Nantcol. It's just so peaceful, just me, a few sheep and tweeting birds...several buzzards sighted and maybe red kites. The path down to Nantcol was interesting. In the snow the normally damp path was a river, and with the moss and hidden stones it was a slippy river. My choice was to bound down the tufty grass in the snow which turned out to be easy than tufty grass running in the Peak. My x-talon grips aren't that sharp anymore so there were a few interesting slides and no-one to hear my whoop-whoooops! Reaching the road I was feeling tired. I'd been drinking and eating but now about 2 hours into the run my legs were feeling it. 

The next bit is steep uphill through some old mine levels. I knew what was coming so a steady plod and walk ensued. I promised myself fizzy sweets at the top. Incentive to get up there as quick as possible. I wasn't quick. Firstly I spotted some wild goats with a baby billy goat scurrying through the land below me, then a buzzard being chased by a crow. Then I looked towards where the B group would be and kept trying to spot them. I didn't see them, but the sun was shining brilliantly on Y Llethr and Rhinog Fach so I had to take a few snaps - poor quality as they're taken on my phone.

at last, the cloud on Moelfre lifts...I've just run around that hill

The sky out to sea was quickly turning to rain and heading my way so I made a massive effort to keep running. It was so tempting on tired legs to walk. But so close to the cottage I didn't want to get soaked. I turned northwards and was faced with a snow covered Foel Ddu - the hill me and Caity had run up yesterday - no snow then.

Foel Ddu with a snow covering

I ran into the snowline again then turned west and thankfully downhill back to the cottage. My tired body took some coaxing but I got myself sorted, showered, ate lunch, got the fire going and drank a pot of tea. By which time a few of the others were returning and over the next hour or so everyone came back with lots to tell about their runs+snow+scrambles+summits.

The evening was lovely, food eaten, beer and wine drunk, over home made beverages, cakes and chocolate sampled. A massive thanks to all the contributors and everyone who came along. It was a great weekend. Even the power cut on Saturday night was fun - eating and drinking by candle light was so cosy, the log fires keeping us warm.

Sunday morning came and went in a flash with everyone chipping in to help tidy and clean. Cars departed with various groups setting off for home....via somewhere for another run. Me and Tim were both on a rest day so gathered our belongings, locked up and headed home. I finally managed to stop at a shop I've been meaning to stop at for a while...Glassblobbery near Corwen. The chap was making a dragon while we were there, very talented and there were loads of lovely sculptures. Next stop, the farm shop for a few supplies then back home. A fantastic weekend in the Rhinogs. Snow on the hills, good running and excellent company.

Rhinog Run #1

Tuesday 1st May and our first morning in the Welsh Rhinogs. The plan is to run from our cottage above Llanbedr up to the top of Rhinog Fach at 712m and circle back via some yet to be determined route. Dawning bright and dry the weather looked promising, if a little windy. With suitable clothes for cold and rain (which was forecast), plus food and fluid packed for about 20km, we set off and headed mostly uphill for the first three kilometres. The route passes though fields and some old mines under Foel Wen (414m), habitated by sheep and wild mountain goats, the latter too fast to capture on camera!

Running along the track through the old mines, many buildings still evident

After the mines we headed down to Nantcol and then up the valley towards the col at the top of Bwlch Drws Ardudwy (pretty sure that's what it's called!). The plan then was to head up Rhinog Fach, but our approach was timing just right (or wrongly!) for the high winds sweeping in from the north east and inevitable rain the cold front was bringing. In fact, the summit of the mountain was being enveloped in cloud as we gained height.

With my lack of experience on rough terrain and absolutely no way we'd get a view from the top we changed plans. We munched a bit of food behind the shelter of a wall then retreated back down Nantcol after a brief look over the northern edge of the col. It was definitely the right decision, the wind really was howling from the northern side (we could see heather high above us being buffeted by the wind) which had not been totally evident as we approached in the relatively sheltered southern side.

Returning the same path meant another trip across one particularly marshy section - calf deep cold water and strangely teeming with tadpoles. Images of returning with fell shoes full of the little critters kept me amused, and maybe a little grossed-out!!  We returned to our cottage skirting under Foel Ddu at 477m - over 250m above the valley floor and gained in less than 2km - that's some climb. So much so that I dug into my sack for an energy gel - the first I've ever needed to use! Our reward for our efforts though was nearly 3km undulating soft grassy paths and downhill tracks back to a log fire and delicious dinner.

Rhinog Fach to the right....our intended target still visible before it got engulfed in cloud on our ascent

The whole run I was trying to keep my foot strikes light, using (or attempting to use) a bit of forefoot (or at least midfoot) strike with some forward lean to make my running more efficient. That's the idea anyway. I think it worked, after a total distance of 15.75km with 662m of ascent I knew I'd been out for a decent run, but wasn't absolutely trashed (maybe the energy gel helped!).

I do though keep getting frustrated that I can't run further, faster or better....but when I get those thoughts out of my head I had a great run. Being able to share the emptiness of the Rhinogs with Tim and not see more than two other people for the whole duration was wonderful. The running is much rockier and in some ways more severe than the likes of Bleaklow where I'm used to running. Running in a new area pushed me out of my comfort zone - if I can even vaguely claim to have of those one running in the wilderness of Bleaklow and Kinder. Welsh paths and trods are much different to the likes of the springy peat of Derbyshire....but it's good to try different things and push yourself. You learn each time you're out, about yourself, your technique, your gear and your mental attitude. There's still heaps for me to work on.


ps. not many photos on this run...it was raining a fair bit after our descent down to Nantcol and a soggy camera wasn't part of the plan!