Snowdon

View from the top 

So we managed to get tickets for the Snowdon train, something we waited over a decade to do. Having a dog/s can limit your activities, so this had to be done while we could - and just as well, as it turned out to be a five hour round trip.
On Tuesday having realised the hot weather would hopefully mean a clear view from the top, we booked the only remaining tickets available this week: 10/7 5pm. Sadly it was the diesel, not the steam engine, but beggers can't be choosers and all that.
Although very hot on Wednesday the tops were in the cloud, then during the early evening sea fog rolled in, so we could only hope for the best...

It's suggested you get to the station 45 mins before your train departs. Trains depart every half hour, so the small station was busy with everyone desperate to sit/stand in the shade while waiting. The single carriage is split into eight compartments, each seating eight people and to say the 60minute journey was hot is an understatement, with the sun beating through the glass I began to feel a little nauseous.
The temperature at the summit was a welcome 15° and visibility clear as could be. With only 30 minutes before the train departs down again there seemed to be a stampede through the cafe (yes, there is a large cafe up there) to the cairn at the very top, which I decided to steer clear of.
Thankfully I'd taken my walking poles as I felt quite giddy and had a touch of vertigo, luckily after a few minutes I was able to walk up two of the three flights of steps, declining to climb the final one to the cairn where groups of fit young climbers were celebrating their effort and generally having a good time scrambling about like mountain goats or sitting on steps and ledges without a care in the world! :D
Having spent what seemed like a few minutes admiring the views and getting our bearings, it was time to board again - the driver had warned he'd leave folk behind and the last train down was full.

A long, hot sticky day, pleased to have done, but not to be repeated.