The Giant's Chair

Most of my journeys/transhumances between home and work over the past ten years have taken me past the foot of Cadair Idris, on the southern edge of Eryri/Snowdonia. This was the second time I broke the journey to climb the mountain, this time accompanied by son Huw. 

Idris, whose seat (chair, cadair, cader, cathedra) this is, was either a mythic giant or a seventh-century prince. The distinctive top of the mountain can be mistaken for volcanic, but is actually a glacial formation. It's a steep climb but a rewarding one - first through forest, following a vigorous stream, and then the open mountain. Huw noticed that the stone path seemed very new, and sure enough we rounded a bend and found two stone-layers at work (in extra). We only went as far as the glacial lake Llyn Cau, because the peak stayed determinedly in cloud.