| The Gwydyr Mountain Club was founded in March 1967 as a result of an advertisement placed in the Liverpool Echo. Because one of the founder members had recently been dragged up some rather desperate routes and had cowed never to go rock-climbing again; the advertisement actually referred to the formation of "a hill walking club on the Wirral". However, the use of "mountain" rather than "mountaineering" in the club’s title was intended to cover any activities carried out in wild places and in due course the said founder member did return to the rock, his fear dulled by the passage of time. It was thought that a Welsh name would be appropriate for a club that would have Snowdonia as its main activities base and so the name "Gwydyr" was chosen at random while driving past the Gwydyr Hotel in Betws-y-coed. | |
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The search for suitable premises in Snowdonia began almost immediately but it was not until December 1968 that a rented timber building in Llanrwst was obtained. This the famous "Llanrwst Hut" was an ideal base for us until June 1972, when we were fortunate enough to acquire our present property comprising a chapel and adjacent cottage in Capel Curig. Thanks to an enormous effort by members over the years the chapel has slowly been improved and developed and is now an excellent bunkhouse style facility in the heart of the mountains. There is a reserved weekend for members (and potential members) at least once a month. On other weekends the Chapel is let out to other groups and clubs but the upstairs bunks at the north end are reserved for members at all times. The cottage was renovated in 1980 and is let as a holiday cottage to families and small groups. |
| Gwydyr Mountain Club activities include mountain walking, scrambling, rock climbing and snow and ice climbing when available. A meets program is compiled annually from members’ suggestions and covers the main hill and mountain areas of the UK and Ireland. The program comprises of a mixture of day, weekend and longer visits all using private transport and involving booking self-catering accommodation or camping. Also, of course, there are the regular meets at Capel Curig and there are trips to the Alps and farther afield. To mark the club’s Silver Jubilee in 1992, twenty six members traveled to Nepal and trekked in the Everest region, some members of the party attempted Mera Peak while others crossed the Ming bo La. The meets program includes a number of special events, the most important being the Annual dinner and disco held at the Tyn-y-coed hotel, Capel Curig on the last weekend in March. The Gwydyr Mountain Club in run by an eight strong committee headed by a chairman (female holders of the post are known as madam chairman). The committee is answerable to the Club and both the committee and the club must act within the written constitution. There is an annual membership fee, which includes use of the chapel and discounts on cottage bookings as well as discounts for local mountaineering shops. |
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