What are the best Scrambling routes in Snowdonia?

Nov 10

We ask Tom Lawfield - founder of Summit Guides, what are some of the best scrambles at each grade in the Ogwen Valley, Snowdonia.

“I love the Ogwen valley – there are so many routes packed into a small area, and a good place to sample some of the best scrambling routes in Snowdonia.”

GRADE 1: Bristly Ridge – Glyder Fach Main Cliff

Bristly Ridge is a fantastic route in ascent or descent – it can be tacked on after Tryfan North Ridge or done in descent after one of the other Glyder Fach Main Cliff routes. One way of doing it in ascent is taking a rope and taking in some harder lines on it – which make it more like a Grade 2. Otherwise it goes at Grade 1 – there is a little bit of route finding to make sure you find Sinister Gully if you’ve never been there before, but otherwise it’s fairly obvious.

GRADE 2: Pinnacle Ridge – Pen yr Ole Wen

Possibly the quickest accessed scrambling route in Snowdonia – making it a perfect outing if you are short on time. The fun is short lived – but culminates in a spectacular and photogenic knife-edged arete – which can be taken either on it’s right, or more boldly on its left as you climb up.

GRADE 3: Cneifion Arête – Cwm Cneifion

Some argue the finest route of it’s grade in Ogwen. With a Diff start for a couple of pitchs and an arete that people often refer to as alpine in nature, it’s an unmissable classic. Cneifion Arête works particularly well following a route on Idwal Slabs. A personal favourite if people want a challenge on courses is to link up Ordinary Route (Diff) on the Slabs, then Cneifion Arête followed by Dolmen Ridge – which makes a full day. You could even do Bristly in descent if you were going well.