The Glyders

The Glyders at dawn from the summit of Pen-yr-Oleu-Wen

I have always been fascinated by the magnificent natural architecture of summit, ridge, buttress, cwm and llyn exhibited by this mountain range in central Snowdonia, but I never fully appreciated its sheer beauty and complexity of form until I visited Pen-yr-oleu-wen on the southern extremities of the Carneddau across the deep cleft of the Ogwen Valley.

In a view unquestionably enhanced by the abyss which falls directly below one’s feet, the northern aspect of the Glyder, from Gallt yr Ogof in the south-east to Carnedd y Filiast in the north-west, resembles something akin to an enormous and unobstructed three dimensional map. This print was finally obtained from images taken just before 6 am on a beautifully clear morning in early May. Although it is a two dimensional print, ‘The Glyders’ does full justice to a three dimensional view.