A November Dash to the Summit

On 3 November 2012, after enjoying a stretch of beautifully crisp, clear autumn weather down south, I noticed the forecast beginning to shift. Knowing that the season was rapidly drawing to a close, I realized this would be my absolute final chance of the year to catch a train up the highest peak in England and Wales. With that ticking clock in mind, I fired up the Clio and departed Southampton for an epic dash into North Wales

The hot hatch ate up the miles as we pushed west along the M4, crossing over the grand expanse of the Second Severn Crossing (now known as the Prince of Wales Bridge) into Welsh territory. From there, we left the fast multi-lane tarmac behind, joining the scenic A40 before transitioning onto the legendary A470, a driver's paradise that winds right through the spine of the country.

As the road guided us deep into the majestic Eryri National Park (Snowdonia), the scenery shifted dramatically. Glimpsing the glass-like surfaces of the stunning passing lakes through the windscreen, we arrived in the mountain village of Llanberis with barely a moment to spare, successfully securing tickets for the very last train of the afternoon.

As the Snowdon Mountain Railway tooth-and-rack engine began its steep, mechanical chug up the mountain slopes, the environment underwent a mesmerizing transformation. The vibrant greens of the lower valleys slowly vanished, replaced by a blanket of pristine white as the ground transitioned entirely into heavy snow. The air temperature plummeted sharply inside the carriage, but the freezing chill was easily forgotten against the backdrop of the jaw-dropping, panoramic winter vistas unfolding around us.

After absorbing the biting air and magnificent high-altitude views at the top, we took the train back down to the warmth of the station, hopped back into the Clio, and turned south toward home—marking the end of a phenomenally successful trip, and one that left me eager to return."