The pictorial guide to the mountains of Snowdonia. 2 The western peaks - John Gillham

The Pictorial Guide to the Mountains of Snowdonia Vol 2 - the Western Peaks is part of a four book series that provides the most comprehensive coverage to date of the mountains of the Snowdonia National Park. Volume 2 encompasses the Snowdon, Eifionydd and Rhinogydd ranges. Mountains, famous and not-so-famous, large and not-so-large, are brought to life by the author's panoramic 3-D sketch maps.



Snowdon, the highest peak in Wales, has perfect mountain form, with glacial lake-filled corries and knife-edged artes. Although thousands of visitors come to the summit caf on the little steam railway, or on wide, well-used paths, Snowdon also has its quiet corners such as Cwm Glas, where faint tracks lead to shadowy corries. Here the climber mixes with the walker, while the scrambler is in his or her utopia, clambering over rocks by the sides of waterfalls beneath huge precipices.



Snowdon looks westwards to the Eifionydd, a range as shapely as any in Snowdonia. Here we have the Nantlle and Moel Hebog ridges separated by Cwm Pennant, a pastoral valley, untouched by the 21st century. The Nantlle Ridge, with its dusky north-facing corries, is perhaps one of Snowdonia's most splendid outings, a mix of rocky arte and free-striding grass.



The Rhinogydd mountains across Tremadog Bay are gnarled, heather-clad, and traversed by craggy canyons with more than a hint of Arizona. Here you can pioneer your own routes on narrow paths or goat tracks and scramble over the rocks without resorting to rope.


In short, the most popular mountain range in Wales is combined with two lesser-known ones that will never cease to surprise and delight you.