Due to a combination of work and a poor forecast, I didn't make it to the Lakeland Falls last week. Instead, I walked locally over Winter Hill, intent on catching what was supposed to be a nice sunset, but due to thick clouds, it never materialised. With Rod attending his wife's birthday bash this weekend, David suggested an extended tour of the High Street fells from Hartsop which I jumped at, but work stepped in when one of my colleagues fell ill, and I had to let David down. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement, but watch this space as we have set aside that walk for another day.

Despite a dry forecast, high winds were affecting the Lakeland fells so much that I looked elsewhere to walk. I wanted to get my nails into something high, and that's when Snowdonia called. As you are probably aware, the mountains around Marchlyn Mawr reservoir are home to some of my favourite Welsh peaks, Namley Elidir Fawr and Foal-Goch, from which I decided to tag Y Garn as an out and back. It's been five years since I last summited Y Garn, a summit thats just over a mile away from Foal-goch and a stretch of ridge that has views to die for.

It was an incredibly mild start with temperatures at 8:00am at 16°C which is barmy for the time of year. That said, here at valley level, the wind was much stronger than the forecasted 15–25 mph, where at times you could easily add 10mph on top, causing concerns for the strength of the wind at summit level. There were already half a dozen cars parked up, but I still managed to park in the exact same space as on my previous visits.

Once through the gate, I began the mile-long walk to the Marchlyn Bach Reservoir as the wind howled around my ears, while at the same time feeling slightly disappointed that it was in fact cloudy and not as clear as forecast. The reservoir road rose steadily, and instead of kicking down a gear, I kept pace, eager to place foot on the hillside. With the reservoir reached, I turned right, passing the outflow before joining the foot of Elidir Fach.

No false summits here the summit shoulder is soon reached owing to the steep gradient made easier by the zigzagged path with just one final push onto the summit shoulder.

During my last visit I crossed the summit spur and found clusters of huge boulders that I had to negotiate often having to descend to get around them, todays lesson learned I keep left and followed a grassy/rock path all the way towards the summit shelter.

I was passed for the second time by the fell runner, this time during his descent of Y Garn, who went on to retrace my route over Bwlch y Cywion before I arrived at the summit shelter, where I found a chap finishing off his lunch. We struck up a conversation soon, learning that the guy was from Chester and was a HGV driver.

This guy, unlike the chap on Elidir Fawr, wouldn't let me get a word in edgeways as he explained his route and other routes he'd taken, including how far I should follow the wall, where to turn left, and the name of the stream I should cross. I nodded politely and felt exhausted once the chap had stopped talking. A nice guy who, I think, was heading over to the Glyders next!

I followed the young lad and his dog towards Carnedd Filiast, where just before the summit outcrop is reached, a wall has to be scaled via a ladder sty. I watched the lad pick his dog up and then disappear; he didn't visit the summit nor descend back to the reservoir road, causing me to wonder which way he had descended. Four more walkers and their dog were passed, and for a moment it looked like I'd get the summit to myself before I spotted a young girl at the summit shelter. If I'm quick, I'll get a couple of minutes of summit time.

The girl soon arrived, who was local and incredibly moved by the views, going on to explain that this view was her favourite; the passion in her voice confirmed this. I let the girl have the summit to herself and began my descent, where I was passed by two more walkers and a guy walking solo. Sheltered from the wind, the hot afternoon air could have been mistaken for a typical summers day, but it was October and unseasonably warm now. Continuing my descent, I pass two girls and their dog, but no one else until I reach the reservoir road. Marchlyn Mawr sparkled in the afternoon sunshine as I began the mile walk back, taking off my windproof and adding a pair of sunglasses. The wind was warm and refreshing as my views extended beyond the Menai Straight and two huge tankers ankered off Caernarfon Bay.