Tryfan (via Little & North Gullies), Bristly Ridge, Glyders

[rich_e]

For our second day in North Wales over the Bank Holiday weekend we decided to give one of the East face of Tryfan routes a go in an effort to avoid the crowds on the North Ridge. Parking in the long layby adjacent to the campsite our route initially followed the path heading up to the North Ridge before taking a left turn at the top of a narrow gully and heading for the Heather Terrace.

First target for the day!

Looking down the small gully at the top of which the path heads left (in ascent) up to the Heather Terrace

When you arrive on the Heather Terrace it’s unmistakeable – it’s a wide and boulder strewn terrace with lots of heather! Here we encountered a number of groups climbing the various gullies as well as the Tryfan goats.

Looking up the Heather Terrace

Climbers on one of the East Face routes

Having no desire to mistakenly end up on a serious climbing route it was time to consult the guide book to make sure we got the right gully. North Gully is the fourth of the significant gullies, rising between the North and Central Buttresses. The Little Gully scramble starts slightly further up the Heather Terrarce before joining North Gully part way up.

At the bottom of Little Gully a couple of groups were roping up which was mildly disconcerting... Nevertheless, we set off immediately to avoid trailing one of the larger groups and quickly gained height up what is a brilliant Grade 1 scramble.

Looking down the lower section of Little Gully

The way up!

Hollie enjoying one of the scrambly sections

When you arrive in the amphitheatre near the top of North Gully you can either scramble straight up a narrow gully to join the main ridge between the North and South summits or head left along the eastern traverse path. We opted for the traverse path and it didn’t disappoint.

The way ahead on the traverse path; quite a large drop to the left here...

Looking back across the top of the North Gully

There’s a slightly challenging move up a rock step to get out of the amphitheatre but we soon found ourselves on a boulder strewn platform just below the summit between North Gully and South Gully.

Scrambling out of North Gully

Heading south slightly around tricky looking boulders we then doubled back behind them up an easy angled slab before scrambling up to the summit.

Hollie on the final slab below the summit

Emerging on to the crowded summit of Tryfan between the Adam and Eve stones has to be one of my most satisfying hill moments to date. We’d not seen anyone since leaving the Heather Terrace but now found ourselves amongst the masses!

View from Tryfan summit towards Bristly

Great views from the summit

Next stop was one of my favourites – Bristly Ridge. Follow the scree alongside the wall rising from Bwlch Tryfan, cross the wall near where it ends to the left hand side (in ascent) and you'll soon arrive at the bottom of an inviting gully.

The start of Sinister (Left) Gully on Bristly Ridge

The way up!

Looking back to Tryfan

Hollie on a scrambly bit

We encountered a few groups on the way up and helped out a group assessing the slightly tricky down-climb three quarters of the way up – it looks worse than it is.

Looking back at the down climb referenced above, you can just see someone part way down in the top centre

On previous ascents I’d followed the path around to the right after the down-climb but this time we found the route directly up the next “bristle” which was particularly satisfying! After lunch at the top of Bristly we headed up past the Cantilever Stone, the summit of Glyder Fach, Castell y Gwynt, and finally over to Glyder Fawr where the view of Snowdon is superb.

Castell y Gwynt with Snowdon in the background - never tire of this view

Path across to Glyer Fawr

View from the summit of Glyder Fawr

I’ve never been fond of the descent via Devil's Kitchen and so from Glyder Fawr we retraced our steps and before Castell y Gwynt headed left down the Y Gribin ridge. The descent path starts steeply but is easy to follow and the true Grade 1 ridge scrambling terrain is on the crest to the right of the main path (in descent) and is well worth a trip in the opposite direction.

Upper section of the Y Gribin Ridge

Looking back up the Y Gribin Ridge

The final section down followed the well worn paths which take you back down to the main road. Excellent days walking in one of my favourite places.

We used recently purchased Garry Smith’s "North Wales Scrambles" and it proved invaluable last weekend – highly recommend it if you’re thinking of trying some of the less well trodden scrambling routes like the Little & North Gully route up we took up Tryfan.

[ChrisW]

Cracking 2nd day Rich and some beautiful shots to support the memories, the shot of the jump between adam and eve is a cracker as is the dangle on the cantilever stone...great stuff

[rich_e]

Thanks Chris, it's a great route and we found it a good alternative to the north ridge on Tryfan. First time I've done the jump between Adam and Eve....seemed a shame to pass up the opportunity on a day like that! Definitely easier from the small one to the big one!

[Alteknacker]

Really nice report and pics of a most satifying route .

There really are almost innumerable variations if one takes one of the many routes up the East or West faces of Tryfan, and then ascends the Glyders via either Bristly Ridge or one of the Glyders' North West face routes - a real scrambling playground!