Experiencing the dramatic Welsh landscape of Snowdonia has been an extraordinary highlight of my second year in Manchester. The trip, part of my year 2 Glaciers module, allowed us to see for ourselves the landscapes and landforms we had been learning about over the last 6 weeks. The combination of experiencing one of my favourite geographical topics in person crossed with the personal adventure and excitement of exploring Snowdonia was one I will never forget.

The day began with a 2-hour coach journey, setting off from university to the idyllic Cwm Idwal, set in the Welsh mountains, with our high-vis vests and clipboards. As we crossed the border into North Wales, I set my sights on the blissful peaks that soared toward the sky into the clouds. The crisp November air welcomed me as I stepped off the coach, and we began our journey onto the trail.

Our first stop on the trail was to admire the lake, which was surrounded by the towering glacial scenery, while Prof. Phil Hughes and Dr. Chris Darvill described the formation of the landscape before us. As I stood facing the picturesque views, my mind filled with excitement at the thought of the adventure still yet to come.

We continued our climb, stopping occasionally to learn about the various methods of dating glacial boulders and reconstructing glacial environments. Soon after, it was time for lunch. Having prepared both a sandwich and packed a flask of soup to fuel my adventure, I enjoyed my food while looking out across the peaceful lake. Easily one of the best views for lunch I’ve had!

The hardest part of my day commenced as we began the steep hike towards the peak of the mountains. Despite the dry conditions, the stones remained slightly wet and slippery, and with no defined pathway up, I knew this was going to be a challenge.  The adrenaline poured through my body as I tried not to look down, knowing we were getting closer to the clouds. However, the view once we stopped was glorious, turning my previous fear into complete awe. The class sat and we took in the picturesque views, sketching the landscape and identifying various glacial landforms, while also resting from the climb.

The descent was even scarier than the way up, and once again the adrenaline took over my body. Concentrating on my foot placements, I managed to stop once or twice to take in the view again (it was hard not to!). Once we managed to reach a sensible stopping point, we identified evidence of glacial erosion on the rocks and even touched the water in the lake – which I must say was quite cold.

To put an end to this breath-taking day, I bought a millionaire shortbread from the small café at the base of the trail and headed back onto the coach. A perfect reward for a perfect adventure!

I highly recommend a visit to Snowdonia if you get the chance, particularly if you are a big fan of glacial landscapes like me. Even if you’re not, the variety of field trips that are available on the Geography course here at Manchester give you endless opportunities to visit incredible places, just like this one.

Written by Serena, a current BSc Geography student.

Related