Sunlounger
Old Man of Hoy
Although it's a classic climb, it's the setting rather than the climbing that really makes this different. If you're planning to do the climb, take double 60m ropes and you can then abseil directly onto the base from the top of the second pitch. It's a great free abseil and avoids having to reverse the traverse.
You hear a lot about the smelly vomit the Fulmars spit at you when disturbed; it's all true. But there's plenty of other birds as well such as the puffins, and we drank our coffee at the top watching a couple of nesting razorbills.
Instead of rushing to get the last ferry back to the mainland after (hopefully) completing the climb, it's worth getting the minibus/taxi to take you to the southern end of the island and spending the night down there. We had accommodation in a pub (but I can't remember the name) where we were made very welcome. As we were running late we phoned them and they made sure we could eat when we arrived. You can then catch a ferry back the next day from Lyness.
Elidir Fawr
Elidir Fawr tends to be regarded as the orphan of Snowdonia. From Llanberis you can see half the mountain cut away as a result of slate quarrying and the approach from the west through Deiniolen only offers the access road to the surge pond and Marchlyn Dam, both part of the Dinorwic hydro-electric scheme. Nevertheless a walk round the Marchlyn 'horseshoe' - over Carnedd Filiast, Mynydd Perfedd and Elidir Fawr - has superb views, and the panorama from Mynedd Perfedd takes in the Glyderau, Tryfan and the Carneddau. The photo shows the view over Nant Peris from Elidir Fawr.
Idwal
Cwn Idwal is surely the most easily accessible 'wild area' in Snowdonia, being just a short easy walk from Ogwen Cottage. The right hand photo shows that on rare occasions the wind stops blowing and the landscape can become almost unrecognisable. It's Llyn Idwal on a November afternoon.
The first photo shows the entrance to Twll Du (Devil's Kitchen) and Devil's Butress - an area associated with the development of rock climbing in north Wales, from O G Jones and the Abraham brothers to one of the great climbing pioneers, J Menlove Edwards. Taking the track to the west of the buttress towards Glyder Fawr brings you to Llyn-y-Cwellyn (Lake of the Dogs).
Tryfan
Forking left from the Idwal path (where it takes a sharp right turn) leads up in to Cwm Bochlwyd - the lake in the left photo, which was taken from the top of Tryfan when looking towards Y Garn in the distance. Further along the path takes you up to Bwlch Tryfan from where the second was taken.
Glyder Fach
South of Cwm Bochlwyd is Glyder Fach. From Cwm Bochlwyd one route is via Bwlch Tryfan and Bristly Ridge or alternatively via the Gribin ridge. The Cantilever stone is a few metres from the top of Bristly Ridge and the right hand image is a view towards Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) and the sea at Portmadog from the summit of Glyder Fach.
Lakes
Finally a couple of roadside views, the first of Llyn Padarn and the second of Llyn Cwellyn.