As with so many trip reports, I start this one by saying that the weather forecast did not look fantastic. Regardless, it was with great enthusiasm that we set off towards Snowdonia with ‘Christmas Is All Around’ ringing in our ears. In fact, a lucky 9 trip-goers got to leave Bath a few hours before everyone else and could watch Love Actually when we arrived at the hut!
Friday evening was reasonably subdued, I suspect thanks to everyone slowly decompressing after a busy semester, and most people not arriving until almost midnight. People very quickly disappeared to bed in preparation for a thrilling Saturday of mountaineeringy stuff.
It is at this point that I must, humbly, give myself and Matt a shout-out for bringing our housemate’s outrageously large speaker. This will feature repeatedly throughout this report, but was firstly used to great effect in rousing everyone from sleep on Saturday morning to the pipes of 'Scotland the Brave'.
A quick breakfast was had before the entire trip headed out to conquer Moel Eilio, a medium sized mountain south of Llanberis. This goal has particular poignance thanks to our attempt during Christmas Trip 2022 being abandoned after encountering full winter conditions. I am reliably informed that despite the “exciting’ conditions everyone had a marvellous time, with the strong winds providing a suitable level of intrigue. The intrepid mountaineers led by Matt and Anna succeeded in making it around the full horseshoe where we can inform you, thanks to Matt’s wind-meter, that a peak speed of ’49.something’ was recorded.
The other group made the decision to get high enough for some fantastic views and a feel of the wind before deciding they would much rather be in a pub in Llanberis.
While this was going on, Luc and myself had kindly volunteered to stay nice and warm and dry in the hut to cook Christmas dinner. We did head out on a run, with Luc somehow losing a shoe and ending up knee-deep in a bog.
With all the groups back at the hut, the festivities could commence, with summery attire being worn by many of our members. Considering the BUMC track record of making Christmas Dinners (see the 2021 report) we did a remarkable job to serve only 45 minutes later than advertised. The only slight issues were significantly overcatering on the parsnips and crumble topping.
With dinner eaten, and the washing up done, we all gathered in the lounge to sing some Christmas carols, kindly prepared and led by Matt. This went surprisingly well, with Joel and Theo’s opening verse to ‘Once in Royal David’s City’ being a particular highlight. It also continues to amaze me how well coordinated the massed BUMC Choir was, quickly splitting into 12 groups for the ‘12 days of Christmas’. More impressive was the following rendition of Silent Night, with each of the aforementioned groups singing alternate words. Our post-carolling fun included most of the trip watching ‘Nativity!’ and Ed leading efforts to turn the remaining crumble topping into shortbread.
On Sunday morning, sleepy folk were again woken with some rousing bagpipe music played exceptionally loudly through the dorms. The morning was busy, with most of us bustling around to organise activities for the day, cook breakfast, wash up and clear the hut.
Unfortunately the weather was even worse than Saturday.
Some braver folk headed out with Tom and Luc to see Marchlyn Mawr Reservoir. An attempt on Mynydd Perfedd was abandoned thanks to the wind and rain.
The rest of us made for the Dinorwig Slate Quarry. A group led by Anna walked straight for Llanberis, stopping off on the way to look around an old miners village, while the rest of us entered the quarry to wander around the old workings. After discovering that we could not, in fact, all fit in an old hut or pull the mountain over we reconvened at the vans to join the other walkers.
All of the groups eventually ended up in the same Llanberis café (must be the most business in the space of an hour this café has ever done!) to warm-up and dry off before heading home.
Thanks again to everyone for making this trip so merry!
Adam
BUMC Chair 2025/26