Llangollen

Continuing the snowy theme, a walk around Llangollen in icy weather. The ice makes the mud solid which is welcome, but makes compacted snow extremely slippery on the slopes, which isn't so welcome.

Llangollen elevation

Llangollen route

The snow made the early morning (almost) deserted Castel Dinas Bran more picturesque than usual.

Sunrise through the arch on Castel Dinas Bran

Snowy Clwydian Hills

Castel Dinas Bran in a bit of snow

Sheep safely grazing at the base of the hill (after we'd made our slippery way down)

We took a back route by a stream up to the "Chicken House". It was so cold icicles had been forming over the stream.

Icicles over the stream

Llangollen

Llangollen and Velvet Hill but taking a bit of a diversion up the side of Eglwyseg.

Llangollen elevation

Llangollen route

View from near Bryn Goleu

Beefy bottoms

View from Castell Dinas Bran

Bales going by the lunch spot

Llangollen

Llangollen, with another slight extension to keep it interesting, investigating the stony hillside by Eglwyseg (no, I don't know how to pronounce it).

Llangollen elevation

Llangollen route

First lambs of the year starting to appear.

Lamb and ewe by Valle Crucis Abbey

Lamb

View from Clwydian Way near Eglwyseg 

Lots of scree

Even more scree

Puffy clouds over the Creigiau Eglwyseg

Most importantly of all, 80000 miles and still going strong (the car, not me)...

Plenty of life in the old girl yet

Llangollen

Back to Llangollen as there's less mud to wade through than most places. Nice early morning light that faded away before we got anywhere high up. Saw some Goosanders on the canal.

Llangollen elevation

Llangollen route

Velvet Hill

Velvet Hill

Sheep snacking (there's always at least one stuck inside)

Sunbeams over Llangollen

Llangollen

Llangollen on a Wednesday, certainly a lot quieter than the weekend but a blowing a gale up on the hills.

Llangollen elevation

Llangollen route

Quite grey and cloudy so not many photos.

Moss and Lichen on cracked Birch bark

Llantysilio Mountains from Velvet Hill

Brown Bracken on Velvet Hill

Distracted Gill on Velvet Hill

Llangollen

Llangollen again, but backwards. Blowing a gale up the top again, it's as if someone or something is determined to blow my hat off everywhere I go.

Llangollen elevation

Llangollen route

Very sunny and windy again.

Castell in silhouette

Orchid

Castell Dinas Bran

Field of barley

Beer barrel floating down the canal

Llangollen

Doing the short version of Llangollen, but this time in reverse for a change (get the steep bit over at the beginning).

Llangollen route

Llangollen elevation

Grey, overcast and even the sheep weren't cooperating.

Sheep by the Castel

Misty valley

Another uncooperative sheep at the Castel

So much quieter than the afternoon crowd

Ready for the steep bit down

Llangollen

Llangollen (and Velvet Hill) on a Bank Holiday Monday. Yes, the camp sites were jam packed.

Llangollen elevation

Llangollen route

Very bright sun and quite hot all day. Luckily there were some puffy, white clouds to make the skies more interesting.

Sheep grazing in the sunshine

Perfect blue skies over the bracken on Velvet Hill

Castell Dinas Bran in the distance

Panorama from Velvet Hill

Big skies over the valleys and Llantysillio mountains

Panorama of the valleys and Llantysillio mountains

Hot, tired feet