Two Years and 805 Metres: The Cloud Inversion That Defined My Commitment to Snowdonia Stock Footage
Few shots in mountain cinematography require the kind of patience and specific weather conditions as a perfect cloud inversion. For over two years, I’ve been waiting for the weather to align just right for one single, massive filming project on Y Foel Goch in the Glyderau range of Snowdonia. A location I’d often eyed up from across the valley on the Carneddau, and one I knew would be perfect for sunset shots of Tryfan. I just needed the weather to be right, ideally a cloud inversion, I needed high pressure, low winds, and high humidity—the perfect signal for a sea of clouds.
Watch the VLOG on YouTube
This was a long-game commitment to conquering a meteorological phenomenon that had previously defeated me, many times! Dozens of trips into the mountains, thousands of hours piss wet through staring at the inside of a cloud…. This time, though, the forecast delivered, and after two years of meticulous waiting, this might be my best Snowdonia stock footage yet. It’s absolutely unbelievable.
The Ascent: The 150 BPM Rush
The journey up Y Foel Goch (The Red Bare Hill, 805 metres) was a logistical effort, requiring a serious pack-haul up a lesser-known route off the Ogwen Valley. On previous Snowdonia excursions, I’ve often carried a brutal 27 kilos of gear; this time, I’d tried to strip it down, but still ended up at 17 kilos before adding several extra kilos of food and water for a potential second night.
The hike started in the thick, humid, and foggy air of the Ogwen Valley. It was quiet—eerie, even—the thick air deadening all sound. But I knew the fog in the valley was the key to the clear sky above.
The race to the top was physical. When I hit 705 metres, I saw the first glimpse of sun breaking through, and that was the signal to put my foot down. My heart was hammering so hard I thought I heard drum and bass. But it was just my heart… hitting 150 beats per minute. The exertion was worth it: at 752 metres, the clouds broke, and I was genuinely lost for words. Below me, the valley was gone, replaced by a silent, brilliant white ocean of cloud.
Above the Cloud Sea: The Cinematic Triumph
From my vantage point on Y Foel Goch, every iconic peak was visible, making this truly world-class Snowdonia stock footage:
Tryfan (917m), perfectly framed, rising from the cloud blanket like a shark fin.
The entire Ogwen Valley completely submerged.
The distant, great Snowdon Massif (Yr Wyddfa, 1085m), Crib Goch, and Y Lliwedd were all visible as isolated islands in the mist.
The rare conditions gifted me some incredible, personal moments: I witnessed a Brocken Spectre, where the sun casts your dramatically enlarged shadow onto the mist below. I also captured the magnificent cloud bow arcing into the sky.
The Arsenal: Earning the Footage Frame-by-Frame
The sheer volume of high-quality assets captured on this trip is the true success story:
Cameras and Gear: The main action was captured on my Sony A7III (for the timelapse sequences) and my Sony ZV-E1 (for video, along with the DJI Mini 4 Drone for the aerial perspective. My reliable solo shelter, the MSR Elixir 1 Tent, provided the backdrop for the intimate, model-released camping shots.
The Long Shots: The Landscape Pack (CP #312) is dominated by exceptionally long clips, such as an awe-inspiring 22-minute morning shot of Tryfan and a 7-minute dawn scene. These are deliberately long, stable 4K clips, allowing editors to create custom timelapses at any length, or use them as long background plates.
Night and Motion: I stayed up late, repositioning the timelapse to capture the transition: the clear night sky above the clouds, contrasting with the glowing cloud blanket below. The final triumph was the sunrise where the cloud started streaming through the peaks "like a river".
The total effort—the planning, the ascent, the freezing night, and the successful capture of a two-year goal—is now distilled into four definitive Snowdonia stock footage clip packs:
Clip Pack #312 (Landscape Stock Footage): Over 1 hour 55 minutes of stable tripod footage, including the custom-timelapse-ready long clips of the red-glowing Tryfan and model-released shots of the entire journey.
Clip Pack #313 (Drone Stock Footage): The crucial aerial perspective, with commanding views and sweeping shots that emphasize the huge scale of the inversion that engulfed the Ogwen Valley.
Clip Pack #314 (Drone Timelapse Stock Footage): High-altitude, time-compressed sequences of the cloud and light movement.
Clip Pack #315 (Timelapse Stock Footage): Fixed-position ground-level timelapses, capturing the slow, surreal movement of the cloud sea over the valleys.
The Final Takeaway: Perseverance Pays Off
The success of this mission, after two years of preparation and multiple failed weather attempts, is a powerful reminder that perseverance pays off. I’ve put in the hard hours—the cold nights, the heavy packs, the long waits—so you don't have to. You get the ready-to-use, professional cinematic result.
The full video documenting this incredible adventure will be published this Friday on my YouTube channel. Watch it to see the effort that went into capturing this world-class Snowdonia stock footage.
Expand Your Welsh Archive: Other Essential Snowdonia Stock Footage
Clip Pack #147 – Snowdonia Winter Landscapes Stock Video Footage & Timelapse: This is my ultimate cold-weather collection, featuring 121 clips of icy peaks, rugged trails, and 15 ProRes 422 Timelapse Sequences, perfect for conveying the challenge and raw beauty of a full winter expedition.
121 clips | 33.77GB | 34 minutes 50 seconds | 4K UHD
15 Drone Clips | 15 Timelapse Sequences | 91 Tripod Clips
No extra fees for 4K, TV, or film use
Experience the raw beauty of Snowdonia in winter with this breathtaking collection of drone, timelapse, and tripod footage, filmed on a multi-day hiking and wild camping trip across the Carneddau.
Epic Mountain Landscapes in Stunning 4K UHD
This extraordinary clip pack captures the icy peaks, rugged trails, and ever-changing winter skies of Snowdonia National Park, featuring:
🌄 Incredible Drone Views
Ogwen Valley, Tryfan, Pen yr Ole Wen, and the Glyderau range
Sunrise over Tryfan with low cloud – one of the most stunning aerial views of Snowdonia ever filmed
Snowy mountain landscapes, frozen lakes, and pink-hued morning skies
🎞️ 15 ProRes 422 Timelapse Sequences
Clouds rolling over Y Garn, Glyder Fach, Glyder Fawr, and Llyn Bochlwyd
Snow showers forming over the peaks, then breaking to reveal blue skies
The ultimate shot: Nightfall over Tryfan with traffic light trails below, hikers descending with headlamps, and stars streaking across the sky
📷 91 Tripod Clips – Cinematic Detail & Storytelling
Wild camping moments – setting up camp, cooking, coffee, and photography BTS
Hiking, scrambling, and exploring snowy mountain trails
Close-up shots of snow-covered summits, windswept heather, rocks, and distant houses in the valley below
Capturing the isolation, beauty, and challenges of a winter expedition
A Must-Have for TV, Film & Documentary Projects
This is Snowdonia National Park winter footage at its finest, perfect for TV, film, documentaries, travel films, and nature storytelling. Whether you need wide establishing shots, detailed B-roll, or dynamic timelapse footage, this pack delivers.
🎥 Your editors will love you for licensing this stock footage pack. No extra fees. Full terms apply.
Clip Pack #206 - Amazing Cloud Inversion Snowdonia Timelapse 4K UHD Stock Footage: This pack offers 17 meticulously crafted timelapse sequences of clouds wafting gracefully over iconic peaks like Crib Goch and Snowdon Summit.
Experience the breathtaking beauty of Snowdonia National Park with this stunning 4K UHD timelapse collection. "Clip Pack #206" captures the rare and mesmerising phenomenon of cloud inversions, a spectacle achieved after years of planning and patience. This pack features 1 minute and 42 seconds of captivating footage, compiled from 17 meticulously crafted timelapse sequences.
Witness clouds wafting gracefully over the iconic PYG track, and be transported to the heavenly heights of Crib Goch, where low cloud inversions dance and swirl around the majestic mountains of Snowdonia and the serene Welsh Valleys. The footage showcases the awe-inspiring summits of Snowdon, Y Lliwedd, Carnedd Ugain, and the entire Snowdon Massif, bathed in sublime, ethereal light.
Captured over two days of perfect conditions, this collection offers some of the most extraordinary Snowdonia footage ever recorded. Ideal for documentaries, travel films, nature programmes, and any project seeking to evoke the grandeur and tranquillity of the Welsh mountains.
Key Features:
4K UHD Resolution: Crystal-clear footage for exceptional detail.
17 Timelapse Sequences: Diverse perspectives and cloud movement.
1 Minute 42 Seconds Total Duration: Perfectly concise for impactful visuals.
4.69GB File Size: High-quality footage for professional use.
Cloud Inversions: Rare and captivating weather phenomenon.
Iconic Locations: PYG track, Crib Goch, Snowdon Summit, Y Lliwedd, Carnedd Ugain, Snowdon Massif.
Royalty-Free Licensing: No extra fees for 4K or TV/Film use.
Sublime and Ethereal Scenes: Evokes a sense of wonder and tranquillity.
Technical Specifications:
Resolution: 4K UHD
Duration: 1 minute 42 seconds
File Size: 4.69GB
Number of Timelapses: 17
Licensing:
Royalty-free.
No extra fees for 4K use.
No extra fees for TV and film use.
Clip Pack #190 - The Devil's Kitchen, Glyderau, and Tryfan Stock Footage: For a specific focus on the rugged, jagged peaks of the Glyderau range and Tryfan, this collection features 117 clips combining drone shots and ground-based tripod shots, capturing low mist, swirling clouds, and vast mountain vistas.
Unveil the stunning beauty of Snowdonia National Park with Clip Pack #190, featuring 117 breathtaking clips in 4K UHD. Capturing the magical essence of the Glyderau mountains and Tryfan, this comprehensive pack showcases the rugged splendour of Snowdonia, from the iconic Devil's Kitchen to the serene Llyn Idwal.
With 21 drone clips, 3 timelapse sequences, and 93 ground-based tripod shots, this collection offers an unparalleled view of the Ogwen Valley, Glyder Fawr, Glyder Fach, Y Gribin, and the majestic Tryfan peaks. The low mist, swirling clouds, waterfalls, streams, and rugged rock formations create a captivating atmosphere that is perfect for your documentary, broadcast television, or film project.
Details:
Resolution: 4K UHD
Total Footage Length: 20 minutes 57 seconds
Size: 8.52GB
Content Breakdown:
21 Drone Clips
3 Timelapse Sequences
93 Ground-Based Tripod Shots
Fully Model Released: All shots of Chris Homer are model-released with no additional fees.
Usage Rights: No extra fees for 4K resolution, TV and film use.
Key Themes: Snowdonia National Park, Glyderau Mountains, Tryfan, Devil’s Kitchen, Low Cloud, Wild Camping, Mountain Landscapes, National Trust Mountains, Waterfalls, Rocks, Boulders, Timelapses, Mist, Drone Shots, and more.
This incredible footage includes spectacular low cloud swirling around mountain landscapes, ethereal drone views of Tryfan, the Adam and Eve summit stones, and majestic mountain scenes bathed in mist. These breathtaking shots of rugged peaks, rocky summits, and stunning panoramas are perfect for TV programs, series, nature documentaries, and more.
Price: £2295
An absolute bargain for high-quality 4K stock footage with full broadcast TV rights—clips that typically sell for over £500 each on major stock footage sites.
Perfect For:
Documentaries
Broadcast Television
Film Production
Nature & Landscape Projects
TV Series
Outdoor Adventure Films
Mountain and National Trust Content
Don’t miss out on this extraordinary collection of Snowdonia footage! Grab your Clip Pack #190 today, and check out my other Snowdonia Stock Footage for more stunning shots!
Clip Pack #203 - Snowdon and Tryfan Drone & Timelapse Stock Footage: This pack provides another essential archive of the Ogwen Valley and its surrounding peaks. It features 63 premium 4K UHD clips, including 36 Drone & Gimbal Shots of Crib Goch and 27 Timelapses of bubbling morning fog and mountain lakes.
Total Clips: 63
Total Size: 5.75GB
Total Duration: 13 minutes 33 seconds
Resolution: 4K UHD
A high-quality stock footage collection showcasing the dramatic landscapes of Snowdonia National Park, captured in stunning drone, gimbal, and timelapse shots. This pack is designed for TV production, film, and documentary use, delivering cinematic visuals for editors and producers working on premium content.
Included Footage:
36 Drone & Gimbal Clips:
Crib Goch ridge from multiple angles
My image is fully model released
Carnedd Ugain, Snowdon summit, and Y Lliwedd
The Snowdon steam train near the summit
The visitor center at Snowdon’s peak
Breathtaking sunrise and dawn footage of Crib Goch’s red rock formations
27 Timelapses:
Bubbling morning fog in a Welsh valley
Mountain lakes, jagged rock formations, and shifting light over the countryside
Moving clouds, sunrises, and sunsets over Snowdonia
The Adam & Eve stones on Tryfan
The Carneddau, Glyderau, Pen yr Ole Wen, and Ogwen Valley
Thick clouds, blue skies, and dramatic weather changes
Fast-moving mountain stream carving through the landscape
Key Features:
No extra fees for 4K resolution, my model release, or TV/film usage
Cinematic, professionally shot footage ideal for broadcast, film, and commercial projects
Captures the raw beauty and extreme conditions of Snowdonia, perfect for high-end productions
This pack provides striking visuals for projects requiring epic, atmospheric, and high-impact footage of Snowdonia’s rugged peaks and dynamic weather.
Clip Pack #114 – Glyderau, Snowdonia National Park – Winter Views of Tryfan, Glyder Fach, Snowdon: This comprehensive winter pack of 62 clips showcases the Glyderau range in its most raw form, with sweeping aerial shots of iconic summits under frost, and timelapse sequences of breathtaking cloud inversions.
Stock Video Footage & Timelapse - Glyderau, Snowdonia National Park – Winter Views of Tryfan, Glyder Fach, Snowdon
62 clips – 8.05GB – 20 minutes 13 seconds
46 drone clips – sweeping aerial shots of Tryfan, Glyder Fach, Glyder Fawr, and Snowdon
16 timelapse sequences – breathtaking cloud inversions, shifting winter light, and icy mountain peaks
Captured in the depths of winter, this clip pack showcases Snowdonia National Park in its most raw and dramatic form. The drone footage features wide cinematic vistas, steep ridges, and iconic summits, including Tryfan with its Adam and Eve summit stones bathed in golden morning light. The icy slopes of Glyder Fach and Glyder Fawr glisten under a thick frost, with snow settled in the rock shadows and along the mountain ridges.
Low cloud formations swirl beneath the peaks, creating a surreal cloud inversion effect. Pockets of mist roll through the valleys, adding to the epic grandeur of the Glyderau mountain range. Snowdon itself appears above the clouds in the distance, completing the scene with awe-inspiring beauty.
The timelapse footage is a true highlight, capturing the ever-changing winter atmosphere with remarkable clarity. From shifting sunlight over jagged rock formations to cloud movement blanketing the landscape, these sequences are among the finest Snowdonia timelapse shots ever produced.
Perfect for broadcast television, film, and commercial productions, this footage is cleared for unlimited use with no extra fees for 4K, TV, or film licensing. Whether you need high-altitude establishing shots, dynamic aerial views, or immersive timelapse sequences, this pack delivers top-tier content for professional productions.
Clip Pack #215 - Snowdon Winter Sunrise Stock Footage: This pack captures a moment of "absolute epicness" from an icy, dangerous climb to the summit of Snowdon at dawn in winter, featuring 60 clips of spectacular light and views.
Details:
Duration: 16 minutes 23 seconds
Clips: 60
File Size: 6.67GB
Resolution: 4K UHD
Description: This is an amazing collection of mostly drone footage, with some gimbal shots included, captured in January 2017 with a friend and colleague. We hiked up to the summit of Snowdon at "zero dark thirty" to reach the top by sunrise, carrying a ridiculous amount of what was then top-of-the-range drone gear. It was big, heavy, and cumbersome, flying like a sack of Snowdonia rocks, but it was cutting edge for the time. An icy, dangerous climb, filled with sweat and tears, followed, but we reached the summit in time for moments of absolute epicness that are rarely repeated.
About Snowdon and Crib Goch: Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) is the highest mountain in Wales, standing at 1,085 metres (3,560 ft) above sea level, and is located in Snowdonia National Park. It's an iconic peak, popular with hikers and climbers. Crib Goch is a knife-edge ridge on the Snowdon massif, considered one of the most challenging and notorious scrambles in the UK.
Footage Highlights:
Winter Summit Scenes: A layer of snow covers the summits, Crib Goch looks amazing, and red to gold light develops over the national park. The light is nothing short of spectacular, and there was no wind, making it truly magical. We spent hours flying and filming to top off the trip.
Epic Views: Features wide views, reveals, tilting shots, showing Snowdon summit, Crib Goch (the knife-edge ridge covered in snow), the summit looking magnificent in the morning light, the wider areas, and the surrounding lakes.
Historical Glimpse: The summit was empty! The mountain summit cafe, the rocks, the boulders, the snow, and the ice are simply brilliant.
Gimbal Footage: Includes gimbal footage from the top, even capturing a police helicopter just a few feet above the summit.
Ideal For: This is a bargain at just £1495. Some of the shots are nothing short of incredible, where the conditions just aligned and will probably never be repeated. Secure them now! I've since spent 200+ days filming in Snowdonia National Park, and this is still some of the best content I've captured. Those views are incredible.
Licensing: All footage is provided in 4K UHD with no extra fees for TV and film use. Full terms apply.