This Annual trip to the snow clad mountains of North Wales (hopefully) will allow any RoCs member to experience some easy winter mountaineering challenges without having to travel up to Scotland. We will be camping at Capel Curig in the 1* site next to the Bryn Tyrch Hotel on the A5, just before reaching the shops at Capel Curig. Camping conditions can be a bit windy and exposed sometimes, but not as bad as in the Ogwyn Valley. If you have a reasonable tent and a winter sleeping bag you will be fine. There are alternative options for accommodation on site in one of the small bunk rooms where light and a bed is supplied with mattress only. (Assuming it is open, if not we will use the alternative campsite down the road at Dolgam Farm, near the river, which has been known to be a bit wet in the past!). There are also bunk rooms available in the Rocks Hostel adjacent to the campsite or a room in the Bryn Tyrch Hotel (phone 01690 720223 to make your booking), for the less hardy climber. Hannah is considering booking the Bryn Brethynau Barn hut which we used this year. Please state if you are camping, using the hut or making your own arrangements in one of the other options.
As it is a winter trip, bring with you suitable winter warm and waterproof clothing, a decent pair of mountaineering boots, crampons and a walking axe as a minimum set of gear. Quite often the snow does not settle (or even arrive) so then it can be a bit wet and wild. Be prepared to bring waterproof trousers and jacket and a set of dry clothes for the pub in the evening.
We do not need to book places for the campsite, but if the weather is forecast to be really high wind or heavy rain for the weekend, we may well cancel at the last moment, so be aware of this if booking rooms or paying a deposit for a room in the hotel or bunk house off site to the camping area.
Patrick and I will probably go up Thursday morning and return Sunday afternoon. Travel plans will be confirmed nearer the time depending on who is attending. Post if you are interested in joining the Winter crew on this mad adventure full of fun, possibly some winter mountaineering and more than likely a good time in the pub.
Organiser: Pete /Hannah
Members Camping (Unless it is monsoon season)
- Pete (organising Camping) :- Thursday – Sunday
- Patrick :- Thursday – Sunday
- Ro :- ?? TBD
- Rachel :- ?? TBD
- …
Members in a Hut
- Hannah (organising Hut) :- Thursday – Sunday
- Jim :-Thursday – Sunday
- Matt:- Thursday – Sunday
- Steve:- Thursday – Sunday
- Jonathan:- Thursday – Sunday
- …
16 Responses
I’ve booked and paid a deposit of £80 (refundable in case of COVID related nonsense) to stay here…
http://www.nlmc.co.uk/huts/guest-barn/
It sleeps 30 in three dorms, so we should have plenty of space. The cost is £7 per person, per night. There is a woodburner, and people who stay will need to bring a bag of wood each, so we can get a good blaze going.
There is a kitchen, and if people are interested I’ll do a communal meal one night.
Thanks Hannah. Will it be ok if I (plus any other wild campers??) make the decision to use the barn or camp when we get there so I can judge the conditions etc. I see you are asking for fire wood per person I am sure we can supply some anyway regardless of if we are sleeping there or not, as I certainly would like to use the barn for evening etc and would be happy to pay towards the use of it regardless of where I am sleeping. Is that ok?? The chances are that if it is really wet and wild, (as opposed to cold and snowy – pretty unlikely!!) that I would opt for sleeping at the Barn anyway. Pete
If anybody is interested in some actual comfort, the Rocks Hostel is open, but only Friday and Saturday nights, which is why I booked the hut. When I spoke to them a couple of weeks ago, they had plenty of space.
Well happy “wild” campers!! there is good news and not so good news.
Good news:- I have contacted the 1* campsite in Capel we all love to use next to the Bryn Tyrch pub, and they are open for foolhardy campers with the usual luxury facilities of a windy pitch with chilly showers and a heartfelt welcome from the farmer. No booking required!!
Not so good news, the Bryn Tyrch pub may not be open for drinks or food until the 7th Feb, but they are going to make a final decision very soon, so suggested that I Email them and they will let me know as confirmation to me. They said they will be posting on their Facebook page. I will E mail them for confirmation.
I think the Tyn-y-Coed is open. I can’t find the opening dates on their website but they are taking bookings over the weekend when we will be up there. Best to book early if we want to eat there though, especially given the potential number folks on the trip.
Thanks Patrick. Not exactly sure how we stand (or even sit) with the restrictions of numbers eating/gathering in a pub, As I understand from looking on Gov. Wales website we may be restricted to 6 people together so if all the above turn up, we will have to make two separate table bookings. I guess maybe some/all may prefer to eat in the barn anyway so it may not be a problem. No word yet from the Bryn Tyrch but I will check with them nearer the time. I will make a decision also if I am camping or not (Depends on the weather, may decide on the day when we get there??) I see form Hannahs previous post the Barn users are requested to bring some fire wood each so that may be worth getting in before hand. I can’t see Cotswolds in Betys selling any!!
Thanks Hannah. Will it be ok if I (plus any other wild campers??) make the decision to use the barn or camp when we get there so I can judge the conditions etc. I see you are asking for fire wood per person I am sure we can supply some anyway regardless of if we are sleeping there or not, as I certainly would like to use the barn for evening etc and would be happy to pay towards the use of it regardless of where I am sleeping. Is that ok?? The chances are that if it is really wet and wild, (as opposed to cold and snowy – pretty unlikely!!) that I would opt for sleeping at the Barn anyway. It is also possible that pub eating in the evening may be tricky looking at the Wales Gov. rules at the moment with numbers in a group down to 6?? And not sure which if any pubs will be open for groups for food. Only time will tell, we may have to book in advance as per last year. Pete
The Welsh rules are clear that no more than six can be in a public place. But they also say that up to thirty people can be at an indoor gathering. So if we decide the barn isn’t a public place (which it clearly isn’t, because I’ve booked it for sole use of our group) then we can sleep everybody there, and have campers visiting in the evenings.
Pete and co, you are absolutely fine to decide on the day if you want a roof over your heads. But yes, please bring firewood!
And in terms of eating, the hut is nearer to the Tyn y Coed, so if that’s the only pub open it makes hut life easier. Although I prefer eating in, and am happy to do a communal meal in at least one night.
Thanks Hannah all ok with that. We just need some nice weather (cold & dry-ish as opposed to monsoon type weather!) Sadly looks as if all the snow has gone. I assume people will start to sort out who is travelling with who and when. I believe Patrick and I will be arriving Thursday mid day.
Jim, Matt and I are heading up there early Thursday as well. Steve Edwards might be interested in a lift if Patrick has room.
At the moment only Pete and myself are in my truck (assuming that it’s my truck and not Pete’s somewhat smaller vehicle) so there is room for at least two more. Where are you based Steve?
If it is just two of us then happy to use my car. If more then maybe Patricks truck will be better. Is Matt requiring a lift as usual or has he deserted us to go with Jim and Hannah?? What about Ro & Rachel? Have they made a final decision about travel plans or will they be using their car.
I think that if Ro and Rachel are able to join us then it will be a last minute decision and they will use their own transport.
Matt is coming with me and Jim. And is going to stay in the hut, I think.
Both Kirsty and Caron are not going now due to work stuff.