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The Glyders

Wales

30 October 2007 17:27

The drive down the A5 in the Ogwen Valley is an enlightening experience: it’s almost like one of those theme park rides where you sit back and listen to the taped commentary as you are carried back to ‘the time of dinosaurs’ or ‘when the west was won’. For wheel-bound folk it’s an opportunity to see at first hand ‘the world of rock and water’ in all its glory; and although there are plenty of roads in the UK which pass through mountains, there are few that give such a complete view. This ride is real, though: you don’t have to confine yourself to your seat, and once you step off the road you have a multiple choice – the possibilities for your day are endless.
The eye-catching thing about the Glyders is the amount of rock. The north-facing crags and arêtes of the main ridge and Tryfan show predominantly rock, and straight away the subconscious scrambler or climber within you will be jostling to the front of your brain. Resist this line of thought for a bit though, particularly if it’s your first visit to the area as this complex little mountain range is best appreciated by being explored fully, first rather than just climbed in blinkered fashion.