Craig Wen and Yr Aran, Beddgelert, Gwynedd, Wales

Craig Wen and Yr Aran, Beddgelert, Gwynedd, Wales

Beddgelert gets its name from being the grave (bedd) of Celert, a Christian holy man and not some unfortunate faithful hound. The National Trust still look after that supposed memorial, and it was from the path out to it that I spied sights like the above. The village also sits on the confluence of Afon Glaslyn and Afon Colwyn after which Afon Glaslyn flows on towards the Irish Sea, which it enters near Porthmadog.

In contrast, what you see above is the view towards the valley through which the younger Afon Glaslyn flows. With Craig Wen and Yr Aran to one side, it looks rocky and steep-sided from here but, further along, there is space for lakes like Llyn Dinas and Llyn Gwynant. In fact, I was tempted by the idea of following public footpaths from Pen-y-pass to Beddgelert on the day when I actually chose to mount the top of Snowdon instead. Still, the thoughts of stitching together rights of way to pass through rocky countryside retains its appeal and there's YHA youth hostel on the shores of Llyn Gwynant too. What a location that must be.

See more photos from this album (Hills of Snowdonia)