GLAN FAENOL

NT WORKING HOLIDAY

I was a little nervous going on this holiday as it was my first as an assistant leader and it was an active holiday so not quite sure what to expect but there was nothing to be worried about, under the wing of a very experienced Leader the holiday went really well and even the Welsh weather held out with only a couple of small showers on the last day! Below I have done a little write up with a few of the 194 photo's I took over the week!!

As it was an active holiday the first day was with a great guy from the John Muir Trust who coincidently had been the manager of the activity centre I went to when I was about 13 which we went to on the Wednesday which brought back a few memories for me..specially as I fell ill with chicken pox whilst I was there as a kid!!

                      

        Getting ready to climb to the top of Tryfan and taking a break at the top!

                              

           Contemplating Adam and eve!      The drop behind our lunch spot!!

Our first day was spent taking a fairly easy walk up the side of Tryfan, easier for some than others however we all made it to the top to be rewarded with some spectacular views as the clouds lifted as we ate lunch, some wished they hadn't when they saw the drop behind where we was sitting!!

Day two involved going to the worksite on the Glan Faenol estate on the banks on the Menai Straight, in the morning we had a tour around some of the estate as we were waiting for a Larch tree which we would be working on was felled (it took longer than expected but the less said about that the better, well for the warden felling it anyway!!) In the afternoon we started work splitting the tree to make steps and wooden pegs to hold them in place. All the work we did was with only the use of hand tools (except the chainsaw to fell the tree and a drill later in the task) It was satisfying to build from scratch using everything from nature whilst helping thin the canopy to allow new light and growth to the ground below, although splitting the larch was a little frustraiting at times!!

  

     Spliting Larch, making oak pegs and the wardens showing us how it's done!!

  
                    

                                
From top left...finished lower steps, training in a new career, taking a break 1, taking a break 2!!

The usual day off on a wednesday involed a day out open kyaking in Conwy bay as it was an active holiday which was harder work for some of us, but we all made it to the lunch site on a sand bank eventually but as I didn't take my camera I don't have any photo's! The afternoon involved a relaxing break in a tea shop in Conwy..with an unsual public toilet! Then a walk around the town walls and an impromptu visit to a NT merchants house in Conwy before heading back to get ready for our evening meal...thankfully also hot showers availible at the base camp..(don't ask!!)

After a very nice evening meal out we went back to the work site on Thursday and we finished off the two sets of steps and rails we had been buliding. As the higher flight of steps were finished on Thursday, Friday we split and one half went Rhody bashing as the other group including myself finished off the lower steps, joining the rest in the afternoon. A very good week had by all (I hope!) and I for one was left feeling I had learnt quite a bit and had created something to be apreciated and I enjoyed the varied tasks we did throughout the week, thanks to some very knowlagable wardens..thanks!!

Below are a few more photo's of the fantastic views we were lucky to see and some photo's of my trip home after saying fairwell to the rest of the group.

     

The men and BBQ stone circle with Tryfan behind, looking after their tomatoes

 (photo's taken with kind permisson of the men, allowing me near the stones..on the understanding I didn't put my feet on them ;-))

Bryn Poeth, basecamp and Ogwen Mountain resuce base, Sea King on training practice. Thanks to the OVMRO for a guided tour of there section of the base and all the good work they do!!

         

Some of the stunning skys we had throughout the week in the morning and evening!!

                

                       Caernarfon Castle which I visited on my way home

 

Finally I stopped to take a photo of Snowdon and was joined by a very friendly chatty bird...sorry don't know what it is, i'm sure someone will tell me!