UKC

Tremadog - North Wales roadside trad cragging at its best

©


Although situated in the armpit of Wales (geographically speaking), Tremadog definitely doesn't stink. More often than not Tremadog can be the place to be, as whilst it is raining, cloudy and windy in the mountains the weather can be sunny, sheltered and warm at Tremadog. Those who have witnessed the magic that can happen when rounding the final 'Tremadog Corner' - as one seemingly changes climates from rain to sun as the crag looms near - will know that this is a place that can offer reliable year round cragging.

Pete Robins attempting Psyche and Burn (E6) Tremadog  © Jack Geldard - Assistant Editor
Pete Robins attempting Psyche and Burn (E6) Tremadog
© Jack Geldard - Assistant Editor, Sep 2007

After a decade or so in the doldrums Tremadog is once again a favoured venue. This is in no small way due to the fantastic efforts of local climbers and the BMC Tremadog Festival, the place hasn't so much had a renaissance, but more a serious nip/tuck, with tree's felled, routes cleaned and access paths spruced up.

This means that more routes are accessible and much more rock is open to the Tremadog sunshine, as a consequence the rock dries quicker and stays warmer, great during the winter, but you might have to seek the shade in the height of summer.

Ruth Smitton on Shadrach. Photo: Simon Richardson  © Simon Richardson
Ruth Smitton on Shadrach. Photo: Simon Richardson

As well as a revamp physically, Tremadog has had not one but two new guidebooks covering it published in 2010 courtesy of Rockfax and the Climbers' Club. If you have never been to Tremadog then basically it is made up of 4 major areas that are part of an escarpment that runs along a hillside that overlooks the village of Tremadog on the outskirts of Portmadog to the west of the Snowdon massif. It is pretty much at sea level.

"Tremadog has had not one but two new guidebooks covering it published in 2010"

The crags are predominantly made up of solid dolerite, with lots of positive edges, corners, arêtes, cracks and other features which make the climbing diverse and interesting, as well as fairly well endowed with protection. With routes ranging from Diff to E7 there is something here for everyone. The most accessible and therefore popular of the areas is...

photo
High up above the crowds on Void (E3). Photo. Mark Reeves

Craig Bwlch y Moch (Tremadog)

Owned and managed by the BMC, because of this it has been kept clean and tidy by local and not so local climbers at the annual Tremadog Festival. As the most extensive of the crags it is often the most popular, seeing that it is spitting distance from the focal point of the crag Eric's Cafe, a great place to enjoy a brew and cakes before, during or after climbing some routes hereabouts. Possibly one of the most famous of the crags many buttresses is that of the Vector Buttress. Steep, complex terrain that is host to some of the best extreme routes in Wales, if not the UK. Routes like Joe Brown's Vector (E2 5c) (E2) that celebrated its 50th Birthday in march 2010, Cream (E4 6a) (E4), Void (E4 6a) (E3), The Weaver (E2 5c) (E2) and the rarely tamed Strawberries (E7 6b) (E7).

Other buttresses in this area are Grasper Buttress, Neb Buttress, Plum Area, Fang Area, Grim Wall Area, The Slips, Oakover Buttress, Merlin Buttress, Bobo Area, and Yogi Area. Hidden amongst these crags are many great routes.

photo
Libby Peter on the all time Tremadog classic Vector (E2). Photo. Mike Robertson

Top Ten Sub Extreme Routes of Bwlch y Moch

Boo-Boo (D)(Diff)
Hail Bebe (VD) (VD)
Oberon (S 4b) (S)
Valerie's Rib (HS 4b) (HS)
Christmas Curry (S 4a) (S) or the Christmas Curry / Micah Eliminate (HS 4b) (HS)
One Step in the Clouds (VS 4c) (VS)
Meshach (HVS 5a)Shadrach (VS 4c) or Grim Wall (VS 4c) (VS)
Yogi (VS 4b) (VS)
Merlin Direct (HVS 5a) (HVS)
The Fang (HVS 5a) (HVS)

Top Ten Extreme Routes of Bwlch y Moch

Grim Wall Direct (E1 5b)(E1)
Diadic (E1 5b) (E1)
The Plum (E1 5b) (E1)
Leg Slip (E1 5b) (E1)
Vector (E2 5c) (E2)
The Weaver (E2 5c) (E2)
The Grasper (E2 5c) (E2)
Void (E4 6a) (E3)
Cream (E4 6a) (E4)
Vulture (E4 6a) (E4)


photo
George Doone on Valerie's Rib a classic (HS). Photo. Mark Reeves

Craig Pant Ifan (Tremadog)

The next crag towards the village, and still within walking distance from Eric's Cafe, is Pant Ifan, owned by the CCW, and as such the 'cleaning work' has not and should not occur here. However many of the classic routes are totally clear of vegetation, the crag is quieter than Craig Blwch Y Moch, nevertheless the routes are if anything as good if not better than some of those on its neighbours. In particular this crag is arête heaven with Scratch Arete (HVS 5a) (HVS) and Silly Arete (E3 5c) (E3) being routes of such quality that I would never turn down a chance to repeat them.

This section of the crag also includes the awesome Two Face Buttress and the popular single pitch beginners venue the Upper Tier.

Top 10 routes of Pant Ifan

Poor Man's Peuterey (S 4a)(S)
Scratch (VS 4c) (VS)
Great Western (VS 4c)/Monkey Puzzle (E1 5b) Connection (HVS)
Scratch Arete (HVS 5a) (HVS)
Barbarian (E1 5b) (E1)
Falcon (E1 5b) (E1)
Integral (E2 5c) (or the Direct) (E2 or E3)
Silly Arete (E3 5c) (E3)
Fingerlicker (E4 6a) (E4)
Vulcan (E4 6a) (E4)

Craig y Castell (Tremadog)

This crag is situated above a small school and a new hospital at the end of the Tremadog village, although only small the crag has many fine routes, and is again less busy than Pant Ifan and Blwch Y Moch. It marks a turning point of the escarpment that makes up the Tremadog chain of cliffs. The routes hereabouts are still multipitch, and range from HS to E3. Creagh Dhu Wall (HS 4b) (HS), The Wasp (E2 5c) (E2), Tensor (E2 6a) (E2) and Mensor (VS 4c) (VS) are all worth a trip to this crag.

photo
Christmas Curry - Micah Finish
© Mark Reeves

There are a few hidden gems tucked away on the broken buttresses that lead off towards the left hand side of the crag. Often overgrown, these are best left to the Autumn or Early spring before the new growth of brambles make the approach warrant a machete. The two routes worth seeking out when you have climbed out the buttress are Lonely Edge (E2 5c) (E2) and Pert (E4 5c) (E3), both taking in some great arête features.

photo
Grim Wall Direct
© Mark Reeves

Over the years a little sport has been undertaken by regulars to Tremadog that involves climbing all of the extremes that begin with the letter V - in a day. The routes are Valor, Vector, Venom, Void, Vulcan and Vulture (A good selection if ever there was). This makes a pretty tough outing and although I did all the climbs, I never managed to get them all done in a day!
Mark Glaister

Craig y Gesail (Tremadog)

This crag is the end of the Tremadog Crags, and is shorter and less well defined. There are however a couple of routes worth seeking out if you want a bit of solitude. The routes here are far less 'classic' than any on the other cliffs, although a couple of exceptions are Bramble Buttress (VD) (VDiff) a pleasant lower grade climb with a stunning finale, Plumbline (VS 4c) (VS) and Touch and Go (VS 4c) (VS).

Top Ten Esoteric of Tremadog

Rio (HS 4b)(HS)
Striptease (VS 5a) (VS)
Rienetta (VS 4b) (VS)
Stromboli (HVS 5a) (HVS)
Chwys (E2 5b) (E1)
Valor (E2 5c) (E2)
Itch (E2 6a) (E2)
Strapiombo (HVS 5b) (5.9 OW or HVS in UK money)
Cardiac Arete (E4 6a) (E3)
Titanium Man (E4 6a) (E3)

Pete Robins on Tremadog's famous hard line Strawberries (E7). Photo: Tristan Johnson  © Tristan Johnson
Pete Robins on Tremadog's famous hard line Strawberries (E7). Photo: Tristan Johnson

Logistics

When to Go

Tremadog is truly a crag for all seasons, if there is sunshine then you can climb year round, especially if the wind is blowing over the top of the crag. Spring and Autumn are great as well. In the heat of the summer the crag can get too hot. What is special about Tremadog is that it often escapes the rain and bad weather associated with the higher mountain crags.

Getting There

From the A5, turn left at Capel Curig and follow the A498 to Tremadog via beddgelert. From the A55, follow the A55 to Bangor and take the third signposted exit to Bangor also signposted Caernarfon A487, follow the signposts on this road to Portmadog, just before Portmadog you reach the market square of Tremadog, carry straight on down the A498 for about a mile, where you will find Eric's Cafe and parking for the crag. Parking at Eric's will cost you a small amount of money, although there is a small free parking area at the base of Craig Blwch Y Moch, and it is possible to park on the verge below Pant Ifan.

Accommodation Advertise here

No Premier Listings found in this area

Many people will want to stay closer to the heart of North Wales climbing in Llanberis, there are however some places a lot closer to Tremadog. In particular Eric's Cafe has a camp site behind it, as well as a bunkhouse and if your feeling flush a Holiday Let. Bromsgrove Mountaineering Club also have a hut at the foot of Valerie's Rib.

Food

Eric's does a good line in Cafe food, and Portmadog has a few eating establishments, as well as a supermarket. The Golden Fleece in the village of Tremadog is a bit of a walk from the campsite, but serves food and has wifi access

Guidebook

North Wales Rock by Rockfax covers all of the best climbing.

Instructor/Guides Advertise here

No Premier Listings found in this area

Gear

Again Eric's Cafe sells guidebooks to the area, as well as a limited supply of climbing equipment. Other than that you will have to head back to Llanberis and shop in V12 Outdoor or Joe Browns.

Other Actrivities

Well if it is raining then you have a couple of options, if it is light rain a few routes can stay dry, in particular the first pitches of Vector and Cream to the cave, similarly Striptease is very sheltered. The other wet weather alternative can be The Hyll Drem Girdle or the small bouldering wall at the bottom right hand side of that crag. For a cultural experience maybe visit Port Meirion, the architectural marvel that was the set of the 1970's TV classic The Prisoner. If you have a mountain bike then about 30 minutes south is Coed Y Brenin which has some great way-marked trails of all difficulties.

Climbing Walls Advertise here

No Premier Listings found in this area


Mark Reeves is a photographer, climbing instructor, writer and film maker. He is also a member of the Llanberis mountain rescue team. If you hurt yourself on a crag in the Llanberis pass, he may well be coming to your aid.

You can read more about Mark Reeves on his blog: Life in the Vertical

Mark is also a professional Mountaineering Instructor. You can find out more on his other site:




Loading Notifications...
Facebook Twitter Copy Email