AAC Walk, Llyn Ogwen & OVMR visit

The final day of the AAC autumn gathering, and the weather had changed once again overnight...  the wind was now rattling the windows of Plas y Brenin and there were some vicious squalls crossing the lake outside sometimes just rain and others sleet.
We had booked on a walk that ended at the Mountain rescue base in the Ogwen valley - just east of the lake, and opposite what I used to know as "little Willies" campsite. This would be our first group walk of the gathering, and we gathered with everyone else on the walk in the bar. Sue and I had spoken with Jim (the walk leader) last night and determined that if they were to follow their original concept walk (up to Ffynon Lloer - the lake in a combe above the rescue centre) we would opt for a simpler option and meet up at the rescue base. However due to the weather (and the desire of several participants to leave early due to long journey times) plan changed and soon adopted our alternative option of a walk around Llyn Ogwen. This would involve parking below the North ridge of Tryfan on the roadside parking just past "Little Willies", and before Milestone buttress, then taking the slate trail around the north side of the lake to Ogwen cottage. Returning along the road.
Next we divided up everyone to fill vehicles and we had two others with us. We were not the first to leave nor were we the last, but it was not the simple start we had been used to this week.

Once parked up and dressed for the weather (coat, over trousers, sac cover, etc.) we all left to walk up the road to the driveway to Glan Dena. Through the parking to the mountaineering club hut to the farm beyond.

The track goes around the uphill side of the farm and was an introduction to the state of path we would find all along this side of the lake - the path was sodden, with generous amount of free standing water, interspersed with rocks and grass/ reeds.

All along the path we had great views into Devil's kitchen, and the bowl containing Llyn Idwal, and several waterfalls, as well as Y Garn.
The wind was gusting and occasional squalls of rain/ sleet but nothing serious.

Every so often we had a respite from the waterlogged path with some stone pavement.
Around the last shoulder and Idwal cottage came into view at the same time as we passed the Bunker - remains of some war time practice shooting.

After the bunker the path improved in one way (with less stones and flatter - next to the lake edge) however it also became rockier in other parts and a small scramble.
Jim even found some dendritic rocks to talk about.

The final rocky scrambles (and a submerged passage that got everyone's feet wetter than they already were) led to the end of the track at the bridge for the A5.

Under this bridge is the old pack horse bridge from the days before the major road.

A short stop in the bus shelter below Ogwen cottage, then we traipsed back along the road to our parked vehicles ... amid more squalls and hail.
It was nice to get back to the vehicles, without being completely soaked (apart from wet feet).

We then drove the 200 m or so back to the MR base - saved a short walk in both directions. There we had a grateful cup of tea, and a chance to eat our lunch whilst talking about the rescue team and their operations. once completed we had a tour of the base and an overview of the equipment and how it all worked out (including some demonstrations).
Eventually we ran out of steam and time to return to Plas y Brenin for tea and final goodbyes.