North Face of Tryfan – Scrambling

You should book a guided day scrambling up Tryfan, it’s one of the UK’s most famous mountains and it’s a marvelous day out.

The North Ridge of Tryfan is an excellent intro to scrambling in North Wales, it’ll be a brilliant experience and you’ll get fabulous photos.

Climbing Tryfan

Tryfan is part of the Glyderau range, it’s 918 meters high and it rears up from the shore of Llyn Ogwen.

Known for its jagged silhouette, it’s an absolute favourite for scramblers and climbers.

The North Ridge is often described as one of the UK’s best scrambling routes, it’s iconic.

Tryfan without a guide is NOT for the inexperienced or faint hearted, it can be a scary mountain and people often hurt themselves – bad choices can have bad outcomes.

Mountain Rescue is called to Tryfan often – usually due to people underestimating the route’s difficulty or ignoring a bad weather forecast.

Do NOT put extra pressure on Mountain Rescue teams – get some experience before you climb Tryfan or hire a guide to take you up.

The North Face of Tryfan

The North Ridge does not have a single defined path. Instead, there are multiple scrambling lines to choose from, all converging towards the summit.

Every ascent of Tryfan feels like a new adventure.

If you’re unsure about tackling this route, the South Ridge offers an easier alternative, though it’s still a steep climb and challenging underfoot.

Most accidents on Tryfan happen on the way down the mountain – you must be confident navigating, especially in bad weather if you’re going to climb Tryfan without a guide.

Tryfan with Wild Wales

If you’ve booked a scramble up Tryfan with Wild Wales we’ll meet at the car park beside the A5, located at what3words: limes.vocal.novels.

Once everyone’s arrived we’ll take a few minutes to chat through the day and make sure everyone has the clothing and equipment they need.

It’s a steep climb from the car park, we’ll take our time but you’ll still need a good level of fitness and mobility to enjoy the day.

If you often feel out of breath walking up hill, or if you feel unbalanced and unsteady on uneven ground then a scramble up Tryfan probably isn’t for you.

Tryfan – The Scramble

Once we’ve negotiated the boulder field, we’ll start scrambling all the way to the summit.

We’ll almost always pass the Cannon Stone which is a brilliant photo opportunity.

The North Tower is a bit more committing, it’s a longer sustained scramble.

It’s a great summit, made really memorable by the twin rock pillars of Adam & Eve. 

Tryfan – The Way Down

We’ll come down the mountain via the South Ridge, descending via Bwlch Tryfan and returning to our vehicles.

If it’s hot we might even pause for a dip in Llyn Bochlwyd.

Here’s the route we’ll probably take: Tryfan North Ridge

FAQs About Climbing Tryfan

1. Do I need a guide to climb Tryfan? If you’re a confident scrambler with some experience in navigation, you can probably tackle the North Ridge alone. If you’re new to scrambling, hiring a guide will make the experience safer and much more enjoyable.

2. Is Tryfan suitable for beginners? The North Ridge is NOT suitable for beginners, it’s steep, intimidating and can be very dangerous. The South Ridge might be a better starting point, though it’s still challenging.

A good level of fitness and confidence with heights are essential.

3. What should I bring? Sturdy footwear with decent grip, a map, compass and a GPS device, plenty of water, snacks, and weatherproof clothing are must-haves. Do NOT forget to check the weather forecast before heading out.

4. Can I climb Tryfan in bad weather? Scrambling on Tryfan in poor weather is risky and unpleasant – the rock becomes slippery and navigation more difficult.

It’s best to wait for clear, dry conditions.

5. Is there an easier route to Tryfan’s summit? The South Ridge is considered easier than the North Ridge, but it’s still a scramble with potential hazards. There are NO simple walking paths to the top of Tryfan.

Wild Wales in North Wales

Wild Wales helps people have brilliant adventures in North Wales.

We specialise in Mountain Walking and Wild Swimming.

Here’s a link to our Swim Retreats: https://shorturl.at/klt1W

Here’s a link to our single day adventures, Mountain Walking and Swimming: https://shorturl.at/LxA2S