I started my new job this week, meaning that Thursday and Friday last week were my final days of flexi-time freedom. Keen to make the most of it, I sacked work off and went walking and riding instead.

On Thursday I went snow-hunting, hoping to catch something easy in condition before everything disappeared. I was out of luck (below), so went up Senior’s Ridge and down Y Gribin. A mini Glyderau loop which didn’t hit any summits; how naughty. It did, however, add another route to the Scrambles in Snowdonia Challenge. Worryingly, the notoriety of the challenge seems to have spread outside the confines of this blog so it’s all getting a bit serious.

Senior’s Ridge was dull. It got a bit exciting at one point over to the right, but I think that was more heading out above Idwal slabs than just sticking to the crest of the ridge. Either way, it looked like it required either a rope or a willingness to accept the possibility of falling all the way down the slabs. Anyway, I’ll go back and try the fun way at some point, I’m sure.

The plateau was boring due to the lack of view, but I was pleased to find that I could navigate it without a map (it’s not clever, kids). I zipped down Y Gribin and back to the car. Not the most exciting day, but it’s the first time I’ve been out this winter and not got something snowy done, so I can’t complain.

Friday dawned dull and drizzly, but I was excited because I was going riding again! I borrowed Gareth’s bike once again – not only is he a total hero for letting me steal it once again, he’s also a hero (along with Dave) for taking an old Volvo around Europe to raise money for good causes in Moldova. Check out the Snowdodgers Rally page [edit: now defunct] for more details, and sponser them with whatever you can spare. They’ll probably need it to bribe their way out of Russia or something.

I spent the very wet morning riding around the red trail at Coed Llandegla. The centre is on privately-owned forestry land (i.e. a private forestry firm, not Forestry Commission) and seems to be run very well. There are numerous trails, with jumps and downhill sections graded right up to black. The trails are well signed and maintained, and there are loads of new sections bedding in to create even more fun! It’s quite rocky so a full-susser would be noticeably more comfy than a hardtail by the end of the day I reckon. The visitor centre seems very well equipped, parking is a reasonable £2.50 for three hours or £4 all day. There’s a functioning bike wash (Sherwood Pines take note), and allegedly the “Best Bacon Bap in Britain”. Quite a serious claim, but one I didn’t have time to investigate.

I was having too much fun to take any photos, sorry. You can check out the Coed Llandegla gallery here though. I’ll try harder next time, I promise.