Click on the image to view a larger version, then click your browser's 'BACK' button to return to this page.
New Year's Day 2020 dawned bright, crisp and cold as a ridge of high pressure settled over North Wales.
Perfect conditions then for my wife Liz and I to enjoy a yomp around the Snowdonia National Park.
Our chosen destiniation on this glorious day was the Ogwen Valley, the dividing line between the Glyderau and Carneddau mountain ranges.
Normally when we hike here we follow the crowds up from the Ogwen Valley visitors' centre up to LLyn Idwal and beyond, but on this occasion we decided to try something new.
The 'something new' was the much less popular route up to the hidden Ffynnon Llugwy reservoir, nestled beneath the highest mountain in the Carneddau range, Carnedd Llewelyn.
The route up to the reservoir couldn't have been easier, as there is a tarmaced Dwr Cymru access road all the way to the water's edge, although it was a bit of a thigh strainer in places.
So after quite a climb we finally arrived at the reservoir itself, and we were certainly glad we'd made the effort as the view out over the still water, with the high peaks of the Carneddau mountains reflecting almost perfectly in its mirror-like surface, was just entrancing.
So while Liz relaxed in the sun I set to exploring the shoreline and taking dozens of photos.
This panoramic collage takes in the whole of Ffynnon Llugwy and the surrounding peaks, dramatically lit by the lowering winter sun.
Filename - snowdonia ffynnon llugwy reservoir panorama 01
Lens - 24-105mm Zoom @ 24mm
Exposure - 1/30 sec @ f8, ISO400
Filters - Polarising filter used to enhance colours. 2 stop neutral density graduated filter used to reduce the brightness of the sky relative to the land.
Location - Ffynnon Llugwy Reservoir, Snowdonia, North Wales
Image enhancements - Adobe Lightroom
Comments - Panoramic collage created by stitching multiple overlapping frames together in Adobe Lightroom.
All content copyright © Howard Litherland 2009-2024 unless otherwise stated.