Tryfan
Guided Walk
Snowdonia Guided Walk:
Tryfan
Tryfan is spectacular. From every angle it’s rocky peak is instantly recognisable and adventure on it’s steep slopes is guaranteed. For this reason it was voted Britain's favourite mountain by Trail magazine. A guided walk up Tryfan mountain is one of the best days out you can have.
Who is it for?
Tryfan North Face is a long Grade 1 Scramble which is suitable for reasonably fit people with a head for heights. It requires the use of hands for many sections due to the steep rocky ground. We would highly recommend that you have some experience of time spent in the British mountains and preferably other Grade 1 Scrambles before attempting Tryfan North Face.
What equipment do I need?
We will send you a detailed kit list upon booking and again shortly before the event.
Rigid or semi-rigid hiking boots will make the scrambling easier and we would highly recommend these but they are not essential. Normal hiking gear is needed and this varies a little depending on the time of year and the forecast on the day. Items that are always required which you may need to go out and buy include boots (not trainers), a waterproof jacket and a rucksack.
We will send you out a detailed kit list after you book with us and we can give you advice about what to buy if you have booked onto one of our walks.
Where does it start?
We will send you a detailed Event Notes email before the walk which include where and when to meet and parking instructions.
Instructors
All of our instructors are fully qualified Mountain Leaders with a minimum of a 16 hour First Aid certificate. All participants are covered by our Public Liability Insurance.
Tryfan
Route Description
There are many possible route choices up Tryfan North Face and we will adjust the route based on the weather, the condition of the rock, and your ability.
Tryfan mountain is situated on the A5 in the Ogwen Valley. As soon as you leave the road it is straight-up steep rocky steps to a large and imposing cliff face. You will walk around this impenetrable-looking cliff to where the ground flattens. After this, there are many routes up Tryfan and the 'footpath' is pretty much non-existent and there are many false trails. The best way is up a rocky scree slope with large boulders which you will have to clamber over. This is where the scrambling begins as there are a series of short rocky walls which must be climbed to progress.
You will pass the cairn at ‘Piccadilly Circus’ before getting to Tryfan’s infamous ‘Cannon Stone’ which can be seen from the valley down below and is a great photo opportunity. From here another rocky wall bars the entrance to a large, rock plateau. You will cross this and continue to ascend until you reach another rocky plateau and a big and imposing pyramid of rock called the North Tower. The steep scrambles until this point have all been fairly short but this is a different prospect due to the sustained nature of the climbing.
After negotiating the North Tower the ground eases temporarily but the climb continues over rocky ground and either up or around the Central Buttress. There are a number of lines to take here and depending on the conditions on the day and your ability we will adjust the route accordingly until you reach the summit of Tryfan and the twin rock pillars of Adam & Eve.
We will then descend via the South Ridge which is less steep and is the best way to hike up Tryfan.
