Dog tired

There is a saying in rugby circles that you never beat Wales, you just occasionally score more points than them. I don't even think the population of Snowdonia were even aware there was a game going on. I think they are just born miserable and their mood is never altered by events of the world. Hey ho!

So onto day two of camp Beddgelert, and another change of plan. We were due to do the Fisherman's Path, but the hotel proprietor indicated there had been a few people fall in the river lately and the mountain rescue team needed to get involved. The walk was fairly flat anyway, so we reverted to plan B.

This involves a gentle walk along the river to Bethania and a climb from there. We started off on the Watkin Path which would have taken us all the way up to Snowdon, but a more relaxed route allowed us to divert over Bylchau Terfyn and return to base that way.
It was a 1000ft climb on unmade paths so it certainly taxed our knees and thigh muscles.

It took a little over 4 hours and concluded with a visit to Gelert's grave, after which the village is named. Legend had it that Prince Llewellyn returned home one day to find his wife in distress and their baby missing. He then spotted his dog, Gelert  with bloodied jowls, assumed the worst and slayed him.

A while later he heard a baby 's cry and found his child alive next to a dead wolf. Gelert was the hero after all, Llewellyn was distraught and buried the dog by a tree in a field. Now I expected a huge mausoleum, but no, it's a lump of rock. Very disappointing.

There is another legend in these parts about the Red Dragon and its symbolism zzzz.

I must remember it's Valentine's night tonight, leeks instead of roses in these parts. Can't see them cheering up the locals mind.