There is the distinct possibility that 2015 will be the first year for quite some time that we won’t be spending a day on Cadair Idris. The southern Snowdonia giant is my favourite UK mountain and the first one I climbed alone.
We usually start on the south side from the Dôl Idris car park and follow the Mynfordd path up through the ancient oak woods to the entrance of Cwm Cau. Here the decision to make is whether to continue into Cwm Cau or to cross the stream and toil up the slopes of Mynydd Moel. (Cader Idris is steep whichever way you go so it’s really a matter of when you take it on rather than if!).
If taking the Mynydd Moel route we cross the stream, head up to the style and follow the fence up until reaching the point where it flattens out a bit near a second style. Crossing back over the fence we have done most of the work and can contour back towards the summit with gentle ascents to the ridge.
Otherwise we follow the path round into Cwm Cau past the erratic boulders left by the glacier that carved out the cwm and usually stop to rest on the rock outcrop overlooking Lyn Cau whilst deciding our next move. The choice is to go off to the left steeply up on to the ridge and up and over Craig Cau, or instead go to the right round the Lyn and scramble up a stone chute to Bwlch Cau. Basically do we want to see the views to the south from the ridge or do we want the fun of the stone chute!
Either way from Bwlch Cau there is one last climb to the summit with its stone shelter and large cairn. We’ve found a nice spot a little away from the summit for lunch, sitting on a small outcrop looking north to the rest of Snowdonia just out of the wind.
Then it’s just a matter of deciding which way to go down!