Tracing the Roots of “Wales” and “Cymru”

Discover the linguistic tapestry of “Wales” and “Cymru” as we delve into their etymological origins. Uncover the historical and cultural significance behind these terms, tracing their roots from ancient languages to modern-day identities. Gain valuable insights into Welsh heritage and identity through this exploration of language and history. Join us on a journey of discovery as we unravel the mysteries of “Wales” and “Cymru” and unlock the key to understanding their rich cultural heritage.

Feeding The Soul Through Wild Camping

The practice of wild camping lies a sacred covenant with nature – a commitment to preserve and protect the sanctity of the wild places that nourish our spirits. Let us embrace the ethos of Leave No Trace, ensuring that our passage through the landscape leaves it as pristine and unspoiled as we found it.

Hiking Through History: The Tale of The Watkin Path

The Watkin Path stands as a prominent trail in the Snowdonia region of Wales, specifically designed to provide access to the summit of Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales. Its origins are rooted in the late 19th century when Edward Watkin, a prominent British railway entrepreneur and politician, embarked on an ambitious venture to promote

A Guide to Hiking Yr Wyddfa: Exploring All the Main Paths

Imagine stepping onto the ancient pathways of Yr Wyddfa, where each stone holds echoes of a legendary past. The English named it Snowdon for its enduring snowy cap, but to the Welsh, it is Yr Wyddfa—a place where myths and reality collide in a tale that has stood the test of time.

Going deep at the Cwmorthin Slate Mine

As part of a CPD weekend with Yr Hafod, we were kindly treated to a couple of great days. The first was a day wandering around Cwm Idwal with Mike Raine looking at some of the common and very rare flora that is present there. One of the big takeaways from the day with Mike

Grade 3 Scrambling in Eryri

Following the COVID lockdown, I decided it was time to have another go at scrambling in Snowdonia, not the standard Grade 1s (Crib Goch, Bristly Ridge, etc) but the more adrenaline-inducing Grade 3s. I don’t have the skills to be able to lead at this level of a scramble so I decided to look at

GLSW Explorer weekend in Eryri

The weather in Eryri for the five days prior to the Saturday on the hills with an Explorer Scout group was awful. The way the wind and the rain combined in Dolwyddelan reminded me of the film Forrest Gump where he described the rain going upwards. Saturday came and the weather was fantastic, no rain

Running a typical Explorer Scout weekend in the Eryri mountains

One of the many reasons I joined scouts, as an eleven-year-old, was for the camping in the summer and the bunkhouses in the winter. I grew up in Durham and a lot of what we did was local, usually a farmers field next to a stream with the kind permission of the farmer. We had

What to expect on a Scouting T2 Hillwalking Permit assessment in Eryri

Taking young people into the mountains as part of the scouting movement can be dangerous. There are several (Snowdon Horseshoe 1999, Great Orme 2018, etc) high profile cases where the life of a young person has been lost whilst on a Scouting activity and the official reports from most of them show a defecit in