
Whether it be due to its links to the legend of King Arthur and his round table (according to folklore Sir Bedivere resting place is on Tryfan), that it is the only mountain in Wales that you can only get to the top of by using your hands, or that there is much debate about how you pronounce it.
Or is it that, quite frankly, its rugged looks and wild features just make it look cool?
Whatever it is I am not alone in the masses that love this mountain. At 3,012ft (918m) it holds its own in the busy mountainous landscape, sticking out with its shark tooth appearance like it belongs to some far flung mountain range. When the sunshine’s on it, it looks challenging yet pleasing, when it is dark and stormy, it looks horrifically scary, and if you attempt it at night, it’s like you’re in Lord Of the Rings (minus the orks... .or maybe not).





On this occasion, I passed on the tradition as in Snowdon sunshine brings more than flower bloom, and the queue to get to Adam & Eve was like something like a Next sale. To say the summit was bustling is an understatement.
Once I got away from the crowded summit I continued over toward the Far South peak c.2 788ft (850m) and down to Bwch Tryfan, a fairly steep scree path which leads down to Llyn Bochlwyd. Passing a group of Duke of Edinburgh Award children who were about to start up Tryfan, then asked me whether there was a Starbucks at the top as their teacher had told them there was. I had to be the bearer of bad news and replied that no, there’s no Startbucks.....there’s a Costa.

From the lake I followed the path to Ogwen cottage which was choka so I grabbed a coffee from the vendor and went over to sit by Llyn Ogwen to see if I could see the Lady in the Lake to which Excalibur was given back and laid to rest. After a while, and no sign of the Lady, I continued back up the A5 road to the campsite where I sat in peaceful surroundings and watched the buzzards soar over the crags. Once again Tryfan had offered something a bit different from the surrounding 3000 foot-ers of Snowdonia and as I sat and looked over to the mountain, I could have sworn I saw two people stood motionless for a very long time thinking.....maybe I should call mountain rescue?