Wild Horizons Podcast: The Carneddau

Consultation on Wales’ proposed new National Park – member’s views needed.

Over 800 drinks containers were removed from Wales’ highest peak last weekend causing environmental campaigners to demand the urgent introduction of a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for bottles and cans.

The Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) Big Clean Up event marks an unprecedented effort to begin to rid the mountain of decades-old litter, including a misplaced Santa hat! Over two days, Friday 20th and Saturday 21st September, dedicated volunteers and specialists undertook a challenging mission to clean one of Wales’ most iconic natural landmarks. 

This Welsh 3,000s challenge is one of the best and most testing runs in Eryri (Snowdonia). It takes in all of the region's 3,000ft+ peaks, starting with Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) and ending on Foel Fras in the Carneddau. Technical and rocky in places, boggy in others; it's a tricky and technical undertaking requiring good navigation skills, and completing it successfully is not a foregone conclusion for even expert runners. Below, Welsh 3,000s veteran Sarah Stirling walks (or runs) us through the ups and downs of taking on this epic feat, with top tips and insight from a panel of folk who have also risen to the challenge.

Cold water enthusiast Sarah Stirling reveals some of the best short walks in North Wales that include a dipping spot en route. Strip off your human cares and discover the many mental and physical health benefits to be found in the chilly llyns of Eryri (Snowdonia)!

In the last three years Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park Authority have been very active in working on a number of lower level bridleways around Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) and more recently started work on the bridleway connecting Capel Curig to Crafnant. While some of these trails have given opportunities to link communities and provide access to lesser-abled users, the scale and nature of the works on some of the routes that pass through some wild and remote areas has also surprised many users.

Dinorwig slate quarries gained UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 2018

In this one we sit down with Steph Wetherell, co-founder of Every Body Outdoors, a group campaigning for better representation, clothing and gear for larger and plus-sized bodies in the UK outdoors. We talk about sizest attitudes, why seeing plus size people represented by brands and media is so important, and how clothes and kit can be more inclusive. And the unexpected joy of finding your ‘tribe’. We also chat with Head of Product at Berghaus.

Only 20% of Wales is considered open access land. The BMC has been campaigning for increased access to nature in Wales for many years and is now calling for new legislation – a Right to Roam Bill.

The Cwm Idwal Winter Monitoring system is now back live and with new equipment and software. Ready for you to head up the hills in the best wintery conditions.

Eifionydd is an area in North-West Wales stretching from the East of the Llŷn Peninsula all the way to Porthmadog (and maybe a smidge beyond, depends who you ask). The Afon Erch forms its Western border. Moel Hebog, Moel y Gest, Moel Lefn, and Moel yr Ogof, are just a few of the exceptional peaks that are well worth a visit here.

Anyone who has travelled to the western highlands of Scotland will know the joy of Glencoe. After the long and beautiful bogginess of Rannoch Moor, the A82 enters this wild cauldron of mountains, announced by the pointed majesty of Buachaille Etive Mòr.

In this instalment of Wild Horizons podcast, we travel to Northumberland in the company of John Dalrymple to visit his favourite local upland, the Simonside Hills. The Simonsides are an open expanse of upland just south of the town of Rothbury. Think heather-clad rolling hills, small sandstone outcrops and big skies and you won’t go far wrong.

The black cauldron of Cwm Idwal hangs high above the Ogwen Valley. A wild place of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) lilies and, some say, steam rising from the Devil’s kitchen. At its base sits a lake where, others say, no bird dare fly over. What is this place of heavy magic? Rachael Crewesmith takes Niall Grimes on a journey to Cwm Idwal in the first episode of Wild Horizons podcast.

The hundred miles of National Trail, from Winchester to Eastbourne, crosses many thousands of years of history, sometimes just a few inches below your feet. BMC Hillwalking Rep, Fabrizio Scaglione, looks down, looks sideways and looks far ahead as he takes us along on some of its most special sections

Moorland magic. Bog lover Chris Dean shares his love of the wild wide open above the Calderdale Valley. He turns his gaze upwards to the skies and down to under your feet. He looks back to prehistory and forward to our planetary future.

Skye's Cuillin mountains are a place of pilgrimage for any mountain lover and its famous ridge is a lifetime dream for many. Local guide Mike Lates (www.skyeguides.co.uk) takes us to these mountains and breathes in their majesty.

Come for a hike and an adventure around the Coniston Fells in the Lake District in the company of local guide, Vicki McCreadie. Vicki opens our eyes to the joy and majesty of these hills and takes us on a few of her favourite walks.

It’s the third highest peak in the Lake District, but it has a special appeal that makes it England’s most-loved mountain. But it is a place of big weather. Every day in the winter months, the Lake District National Park sends its fell top assessment team to the summit to compile weather data to improve the safety and enjoyment of park visitors. Niall Grimes sits down with one of this team, Zac Poulton, and asks him, What’s it like today?

The Kinder Plateau may sit on the doorstep of Manchester and Sheffield, but step onto it and you can find yourself experiencing a true wilderness in winter, a desert in summer and a soul-lifting day out at any time of the year. Peter Judd takes us there.

For many mountaineers and non-mountaineers alike, the lofty pyramid of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) exerts a strong romantic attraction. The highest peak in Wales and England. Every year many thousands of visitors make their way to the summit. For some it could be their first 3,000 foot mountain. Snowdonia based guide Kate Worthington gives us the benefit of her great experience and talks to host, Niall Grimes, about the many ways up the mountain, what to look out for and much more knowledge along the way. If you are thinking about a visit, this podcast is essential listening.

Based in the North York Moors, Rob Mitchell is a mountain leader for Outdoor Lads, a UK-wide community who run a range of sociable outdoor activities for gay, bi and trans guys. In this episode, Rob, a gay man, talks about discrimination linked to homophobia. He also talks about the importance of a supportive community to help individuals deal with stress and life challenges.

An outdoor youth and community worker based in Greater Manchester, Rehna discovered a passion for outdoor activities in her teens through the Lindley Educational Trust. She now helps other young people find their own passion for the ‘great outdoors’ as the leader of the Ashton Youth Club. 

Cherelle is the founder of Steppers UK, a community group based in the Midlands, focused on encouraging more people from under-represented backgrounds into outdoor activities including walking. She says that they’re all about #GoodViewsGoodVibes.

Stu Skinner is an experienced expedition leader, mental health first aid provider, and the founder of the charity Changing Horizons. He wants us to normalise conversations about mental health, and is passionate about the mental health benefits of outdoor activity.

Legendary adventure climber Leo Houlding and adaptive adventurer Ed Jackson – both Berghaus ambassadors – are unlikely mountaineering partners. They first met after Ed, a former professional rugby player who broke his neck diving into a swimming pool, said he wanted to climb Mont Blanc. We talk to them both about wild places and wild people, rebuilding your life after spinal cord injury and why new friends and big mountains are a recipe for growth

The BMC are urging people heading for Wales’ highest mountain in winter to be prepared.

Following a petition that received over 5000 signatures, the National Park in Eryri was spurred to take action to use the Welsh names of Eryri (Snowdonia) and Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) as the primary names in both English and Welsh context. 

The North Wales White guide is a free guide to inform and educate winter climbers in Snowdonia on how best to enjoy the area, while minimising damage to protected habitats and fragile environments.

In this episode of Wild Horizons, Rose Gare Simmons tells us all about Blencathra, one of the northernmost fells in the Lake District, majestically overlooking the A66.

Marie Uri and Yasmin Lazarus are climbers and two of the directors of United We Climb, an organization that champions underrepresented and underserved climbers by creating experiences and events that are accessible and inclusive, as well as working with businesses like climbing walls to help the industry identify and break down barriers and become more welcoming.

This thrilling Grade 1 scramble in Eryri (Snowdonia) is one of the country’s most popular ridges - so what does it take to tackle Crib Goch?

The most famous route up Tryfan is the North Ridge: a long and thrilling grade one scramble that makes a perfect introduction to the sport. We take a look at how to tackle it.