Cadair Idris, meaning ‘the Chair of Idris’, is said to be the armchair that the giant, Idris, sat on to gaze at the heavens. There are numerous legends about Cadair Idris, some based in Welsh folklore and others with links to Arthurian legends. One legend has it that the mountain is haunted and anyone who spends the night alone on the top becomes a madman or poet. This tradition of sleeping alone on the summit of the mountain stems from a bardic tradition where bards would sleep on the mountain in the hope of finding inspiration. The lake below the summit, Llyn Cau, is said to be the prison of a water dragon, dragged there by King Arthur himself after the dragon had terrorised a local community.
The Pony Path starts at the Tŷ Nant car park and ascends through woods, passing the Will Ramsbotham memorial before continuing up the grassy slope. A good level of fitness is required for this hike, which has a continuous incline.
Further details on location, and how to book, can be found on JustGo.