We drove through the Snowdonia National Park en-route to North Wales. Incomprehensible Welsh language road signs contained English translations beneath. Sheep and goats grazed along the roadside of rolling lavender covered hills, and pines stood tall upon distant misty mountains.
North Wales, the Lakes and the Highlands are walking country – the long summer days and beauty draw a person out of winter hibernation. From our accommodation we walked in the evening by a wide, rocky stream in gentle drizzle reminiscent of Ireland.
Limited for time, we decided to take the train up Snowden, the highest peak in Britain outside the Highlands of Scotland. We booked the train trip months in advance as it books up fast. Unfortunately, our view for most of the journey was obscured by fog, thickening as we climbed the summit, our hair and clothing dripping when we alighted.
Deprived of a mountain view, walkers who had left at dawn stopped as we passed and waved. As we climbed higher the density of walkers increased to Tongariro Crossing levels (a remote yet busy walk in New Zealand). Carol, our lovely host at the bread and breakfast said it was possible to walk in mist for the whole ascent and then the skies could clear for minutes when you reached the summit, dramatically unfolding the beauty of the surrounding landscape. She had experienced this and felt it was worth the chance. The walkers at the summit when we reached it weren’t so fortunate.
Following the train trip, we walked around a lake at the base of the mountains, spectacular in the swirling mist. We saw only a tiny section of Wales and realise we could come back here for weeks.