Cloud Inversions and Sunset from Yr Elen

cloud inversion sunset yr elen

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Some hiking days just feel harder than others. Llech Ddu Spur (Crib Lem Spur) was one of those days for me. It was an unseasonably hot September day in 2023 and a change in my plans meant I couldn’t start hiking until early afternoon. It was close to 30 degrees by then. There’s a beautiful valley you hike into the start of the Spur through. I’ve never really seen a valley that impressive in the UK outside of Scotland before and it was so memorable for the scenery. But equally, it was very exposed to the sun and I felt really tired, hot and bothered by the time I made the ridge.

It was such a fun scramble though. Once I reached the plateau between the Carneddau mountains at the top, I bagged the summit of Carnedd Dafydd and then Carnedd Llewelyn. My third and final of the Welsh 3000s that day was to be Yr Elen.

I already felt that the two summits had provided me with such incredible views that the hard hike in was worth it. But as I approached the summit of Yr Elen, I noticed expansive cloud inversions as the sky changed colour preparing for the sunset.

Just look at these views:

@staceyhikes I never get tired of looking back over the video footage from possibly the best sunset I ever had on a mountain hike in Snowdonia. It was a ludicrously hot day in September 2023 and I had planned to solo hike Llech ddu Spur (Crib Lem Spur). I wasn’t able to set out until early afternoon because I had things to do in the morning, so by the time I started hiking it was close to 30 degrees C. The plan was to hike Crib Lem Spur and then Three Welsh 3000 Summits in the Carneddau. By the time I reached the plateau at the top of Crib Lem Spur I was already feeling like it was a particularly difficult slog of a hike that day. The views from Carnedd Dafydd made it worth it though. And the views from neighbouring Carnedd Llewelyn were superb too. But it was as I approached my third and final summit of the day that things got really incredible. As I made a short hike from Carnedd Llewelyn to Yr Elen cloud inversion started forming and the colour of the sky began changing as we approached sunset time. I had planned only a quick stop on Yr Elen and then a fairly leisurely hike back to the car. But when I saw the sky, my plans changed and I spent ages just sitting up here in awe. In the UK, you can’t hike mountains just for the views because the weather simply doesn’t play ball as often as we’d like it to. But days like these are some of the most memorable hiking days we get to experience and it definitely makes a hard, hot, hiking slog worth it. Unreal cloud inversions with the Snowdonia mountains peeping over the top and an epic sunset. I think about this hike a lot!! #sunset #sunsetlover #snowdonianationalpark #hiketok #solohiker #solohiking #walkitoff #hikinguk ♬ Tea, Milk & Honey – Angie McMahon

It was incredible.

Approaching Yr Elen

My plan had been to summit Yr Elen, stay just for a moment and then begin my descent back into Bethesda and back to the car before dark. While I always go prepared for darkness, when solo hiking I would much prefer to finish my walks in daylight.

But I changed my plans.

I sat up there for ages, first taking photos and videos. And then just sitting and looking.

Sunset from Yr Elen 2

I was absolutely blown away by the layers in the scenery created by neighbouring Snowdonia mountains popping their peaks over the cloud inversions. And the closer to sunset it got, the more beautiful the sky became.

So I stayed a while and then had to make fast headway down into Bethesda, just making it back to my car in time for sunset.

But even on descent, and below the cloud inversions the views were amazing still.

The sky was on fire and scenery is so beautiful. It was such a memorable hike. 

I had gone there most excited about scrambling Crib Lem Spur. And without doubt, it was one of the best scrambles I’ve done. But the outstanding memory of that particular hike for me was a summit to myself and impeccable cloud inversion and sunset show put on for me by nature on Yr Elen.

When we hike in the UK, we can’t hike just for the views. The weather simply doesn’t play ball enough. But when we get them, it makes it all the more spectacular.

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