Introduction
There are so many guided mountain walks in Snowdonia to choose from, including the iconic peak of Tryfan. The problem is deciding which one to do! A guide can pick the best routes for you, help keep you safe, teach you about what you see around you and share lots of useful tips with you.
Booking and Prices
If you want to book one of our guided mountain walks up Tryfan, or elsewhere in Snowdonia, then see the main page for more details and prices or see what our clients say about us. You can also have a look at the Calendar for forthcoming “Open” events.
When you are ready, then get in touch to make an enquiry or a booking.
We also guide mountain walks in the Lake District mountains and the Scottish highlands.
Guided Mountain Walks on Tryfan
Tryfan is famous for a number of reasons, and a much sought-after summit to complete. First of all, there is its distinctive shape, instantly recognisable once you know it. Then there is the fact that it is one of the very few peaks in the UK on which you will need to use your hands as well as feet to reach the top. There is no easy ‘path’, which is why many will choose to do a guided mountain walk on Tryfan. Next, many people will know of the two huge stones, named Adam and Eve, that sit at the summit. The tradition of jumping between them is not to be missed by those with good nerves (in good weather).
North Ridge of Tryfan
A further reason (or reasons) for Tryfan’s fame and popularity is the variety and quality of the routes up it. The most well known and most popular is without doubt the North Ridge. This is perhaps the most famous Grade 1 scramble in the whole of the UK and is justifiably popular.
But there is so much more on this mountain. At the base, is the famous Milestone Buttress where generations of climbers have learned to climb.
There there is the expanse of the east face (seen below) with the Heather Terrace traverse path (the obvious diagonal line in the photo). Above Heather Terrace are several classic mountaineering rock climbs (around VDiff in grade) as well as several excellent more technical scrambles (Grade 2-3).
Very often, an ascent of Tryfan’s North Ridge is then combined with a descent of the south ridge before climbing up Bristly Ridge to reach the summit of Glyder Fach. In the winter photo above, Glyder Fach is the left-hand mountain and Bristly Ridge is the right-hand skyline on it.
Accidents on Tryfan
Finally, however, a word of warning about Tryfan. It’s an accident blackspot and there are many mountain rescue call-outs, accidents and deaths here. This is partly a freak of statistics – the more popular it is then the more accidents there will be, proportionately. However, there’s more to it than that. The North Ridge starts off as a benign and friendly path and many people start out with the intention of turning back if it gets too difficult. The harder climbing is nearer to the top however. By the time people want to turn back, finding the correct and safe way down is much more difficult than they expect. They stray onto the east or west faces and either have an accident or call out mountain rescue just in time before they do so.
Most of the call-outs on Tryfan are to those attempting to descend the North Ridge. It’s not a mountain to be on alone if you don’t have the knowledge, skills or experience. The safest option for getting to the top if you are not familiar with the mountain, is to get a book a guided mountain walk up Tryfan.
