Currently, the first Snowdon 'commuter' train in the morning is packed with workmen of all trades, as the new summit building project pushes ahead on all fronts, bolstered by the recent spell of benign weather.


Inside what will become the cafe area of Hafod Eryri with the upper windows
looking out on the summit.

Up on the roof, the first course of the roughest grade granite blocks has been started. The granite blocks used comprise of four different surface textures with the smoothest seven courses at the the edge, gradually getting rougher as you work inwards. The centre of the roof will effectively appear as an oval of the roughest granite.


The uppermost course of granite blocks is the first one of twenty-three courses
that will use the roughest grade featuring on the roof.

It is a time consuming process as all the blocks have to be measured and drilled, with pins and glue inserted, before they are slotted into position. This work undertaken by the Merseyside firm, Stone Central, featured last week in the Liverpool Echo newspaper.


The large windows on the western side of the building.

Carillion, who are responsible for the project, plan to keep working at the summit into the winter and finish as close to Christmas as the weather will allow. It was December 18th last year when this blog carried a posting titled 'Tools Down for the Winter'.


Hafod Eryri clad in scaffolding seen from the south.

The first fix of the electrics is due to start this week and the underfloor heating will shortly be fitted with a layer of sand and cement on top of that before the granite floor is layed. The good weather at the end of last week meant the helicopter contracted by the National Park was kept busy flying white bags of stone to the summit for path building.


National Park contractors working on the paths around the summit area.