Atlantic Slabs - Carnedd y Filiast

View from the top of Atlantic slabs

A northerly wind has cooled down the temperature a bit, but there is still plenty of sunshine about in lovely North Wales at the moment. We decided to hike up to the Atlantic Slab on Carnedd y Filiast this morning. The slabs face east, so are best climbed in the morning sun - and today, were also relatively sheltered from the cold wind. 

A hazy autumnal Nant Ffrancon

There is no time for a warm up on the hike up. From the car, you cross the road and then ascend straight up hill for about forty five minutes! I've climbed the classic 'Left Edge' and 'Red Slab' routes loads of times, but for some reason never ventured up to the higher 'Atlantic Slab' before. The main slab is pretty broken looking, but the right hand edge (imaginatively called 'The Ridge' is a great Grade 3 scramble).

Getting on to the ridge

Moving together up the slabs

We moved together, roped up, as we were a little short of time, but there were plenty of belay ledges and places to stop and enjoy the views. On the way, we saw loads of Quartz crystals and well as some fossils.

Fossils!

There's treasure everywhere!

There is also a slab called the 'Waved Slab' which looks like a great, clean, piece of strange geology, that I'm keen to go back for! Apparently there is very little protection en-route, but maybe that's just a rumour..?

The waved slab

If you do go up there - see if you can spot the heart shaped sheep fold!..

Old romantics, those Welsh drystone wallers