DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH!!!!

Useful websites for planning

• ukscrambles.com/wales-scrambles (Limited selection of scrambles)
• thebaldscrambler.co.uk/scrambling-routes/ (Excellent, detailed descriptions of scrambles and hikes)
• ukclimbing.com/Rockfax App (paid subscription) (Essential resource for hard climbing, but route descriptions may be limited. Physical guidebooks for climbs are more comprehensive)

This document is only a guide

It is not complete or necessarily correct. What follows is merely a suggestion of some popular routes that we have found online that may have been done by the club previously, using resources that are available to anyone. It is not a substitute for individual research, route finding and preparation.

Ben Lairig is not a guided club

You are responsible for your individual safety in the mountains. Everyone must come equipped with the knowledge and gear to remain safe. This means:

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• Preparing a route plan for each day and finding other people to go with.
• Carrying a paper map and compass / downloading OS Maps using the club account (these are the maps you should be using to navigate on the day, the login will be given out at the planning meeting).
• Bringing appropriate gear, refer to our Kit List.

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Committee members are generally more experienced but are not trained mountain guides and should not be relied on for anything other than advice.

Mountain Rescue

Dial 999, ask for police, then ask for mountain rescue.

Only use in an emergency after contacting committee members first.

Tryfan

Yr Wyddfa/Snowdon

(1085m)

Pen-yr-Ole-Wen

Carnedd Dafydd

Carnedd Llewelyn

Glyder Fach

Glyder Fawr

Crib Goch

Crib Lem Spur

Tryfan North Face

Bristly Ridge

Pyg Track

Miners Track

Cneifion Arete

Chasm Face /

Dolmen Arete

South Ridge /

Pinnacle Ridge

Carneddau Loop

Eryri (Snowdonia)

Glyder Loop

To Bethesda

- Hillwalking routes

- Easy scrambles (Grade I - II)

- Hard scrambles (Grade III+;

ropes required)

Idwal Slabs

Amphitheatre Buttress

~1km

Little Tryfan

Llyn

Ogwen

Llyn

Llydaw

Glaslyn

Llyn

Idwal

Ffynnon

Llugwy

Senior’s Gully

Idwal Cottage

A4086

A5

Miner’s Track

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Round Length: 13km

Average Time: 5hr

Elevation: ± 720m

Summit: Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon)

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The classic tourist path up Yr Wyddfa. Follows a gentle incline for most of the way along the lakeside and past some old Copper mines. Towards the end the track slopes steeply upwards which always kills the calves. There might be a chance to swim in the lakes on a warm day.

Glyder Loop

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Round Length: 8km

Average Time: 4hr

Elevation: ±830m

Summit: Glyder Fach; Glyder Fawr

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A nice day out, starting past Bwlch Tryfan and finishing past Llyn Idwal. Up one ridge and down the other. A slightly more adventurous detour is required for the summit of Glyder Fach, but well worth it.

Carneddau Loop

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Round Length: 16km

Average Time: 7hr

Elevation: ±1080m

Summit: Pen Yr Ole Wen; Carnedd Dafydd; Carnedd Llewelyn

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A long day out across the Carneddau. There are two starting routes up Pen Yr Ole Wen– up the east ridge for a walk, or up the south ridge for a scramble. Finish by walking back along the A5 road.

Pyg Track

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Round Length: 10km

Average Time: 4hr

Elevation: ±740m

Summit: Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon)

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The Miner’s Track’s slightly more adventurous cousin. Still a fully paved route but following the side of the ridge for most of the way. The Miner’s and Pyg are two variations of the same route so can be used interchangeably for ascent/descent.

Hill Walks

Crib Goch

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Round Length: 14km

Average Time: 7hr

Elevation: ±1100m

Summit: Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon)

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A long classic Grade I scramble along a knife-edge ridge with high exposure. Absolutely top recommendation. Involves several crux pinnacles, which can be easily avoided by following the ridge to the left.

Start off on the Pyg Track, and

return via the Miner’s Track.

Bristly Ridge

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Round Length: 8km

Average Time: 5hr

Elevation: ±850m

Summit: Glyder Fach

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A very fulfilling Grade I scramble which starts in sinister gully, passes across the pinnacle crux, and traverses the rest of the ridge to the summit of Glyder Fach.

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North Face – Tryfan

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Round Length: 5km

Average Time: 4hr

Elevation: ±700m

Summit: Tryfan

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A classic Grade I scramble with lots of route variation possible. If done quickly, you can continue up Bristly Ridge and on to the Glyders.

Crib Lem Spur

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Round Length: 15km

Average Time: 6hr

Elevation: ±1090m

Summit: Carnedd Dafydd; Carnedd Llewelyn.

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Long day out from Bethesda. Grade I. Return via the Carneddau for a good day out.

Pen Yr Ole Wen

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Round Length: 7km

Average Time: 3hr

Elevation: ±700m

Summit: Pen Yr Ole Wen

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The standard route is a footpath, but it traverses some scrambling on scree slopes and gullies. For a harder challenge, deviate left across scrubby heather to find the very short Pinnacle Ridge (Grade II).

Easy

Scrambles

Cneifion Arete

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Grade III

Climb Length: 140m

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A classic 3-pitch scramble which is an excellent place to learn rope skills. Approach to the climb can be done via a grassy footpath or Senior’s Gully (Grade I). The first pitch is the hardest (graded Diff) – if you can start the route then you can finish it. Includes a chimney section which is very fun.

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Dolmen Arete

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Grade III

Climb Length: 90m

Summit: Glyder Fach

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A classic Grade III climb – steep and exposed. The route starts off simply, then gets harder and steeper, with an infamous ledge traverse and large slabby boulders.

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Chasm Face

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Grade III

Climb Length: 85m

Summit: Glyder Fach

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A complex 4-pitch climb to the left of Dolmen Arete. A fun route across slab, up a gulley, a steep face and ending with a tight shuffle into a cave area. Do not attempt unless you are comfortable with tight spaces.

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Other Climbing areas

Idwal Slabs

Little Tryfan

Amphitheatre Buttress

Hard

Scrambles