Flintshire: Woman walking 15 peaks in husband's memory

Steffi Hughes lost her husband Liam in a climbing accident in 2023

A year after losing her husband in a climbing accident, a Flintshire woman will walk Wales' top 15 peaks to raise money for those who tried to save him.

Liam Hughes, 42, died in an accident while climbing near Llangollen on 7 June 2023.

Steffi Hughes, 37, moved to the Sychdyn area with Liam almost 10 years ago to be closer to their "special place" - Eyri, also known as Snowdonia.

After the accident, she stopped climbing but still walks and cycles.

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Being outdoors has been "vital" for her to cope with her loss, and she still "feels the presence" of her late husband when crossing her favourite mountains, she said.

Liam, originally from Prestatyn, was an experienced climber who loved being out on the mountains

Steffi described the first few weeks after losing Liam as a bit of a blur, adding: "I've had to find some sort of normality again, and exercise is the way for me - and cycling especially."

Exercise has become her coping mechanism.

Steffi is a mother of two young children, which keeps her "busy enough", as well as her business, White House Reflexology.

"I have no choice but to carry on with my life," she said.

"Luckily for me, I have things to focus on, and that and all the support from friends and family - and the lovely community in Sychdyn - has kept me going."

Steffi said Liam "walked out of the house and never came back"

Steffi received a call after the accident, while the mountain rescue team and air ambulance were trying to rescue Liam.

She said hearing what was going on in the background was "terribly traumatic".

"He walked out of the house and he never came back," Steffi said.

"I had to sit my children down and explain to them what had happened.

"I wouldn't wish that on anyone - it was a horrible thing to have to do."

Steffi said she "hoped to be able to pass on to my children how much Liam and I loved the mountains"

Despite how difficult that day was for Steffi and her children, she said thinking of her husband now does not make her sad.

"I'm so grateful for the time I had with him. He was an amazing person," she said.

"The house is full of pictures of him and we talk about him every day, and we sit watching videos and things like that.

"It's important that the children don't forget, but even though they're young, they have so many very happy memories.

"A lot of them are from being out on the mountains - and we still do things like that with each other, but I'm with them now.

"Hopefully I'll be able to pass on to my children how much Liam and I loved the mountains and spend as much time as possible in our special place - Eyri."

Steffi's challenge will raise money for the rescue teams that went to her husband's aid.

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