SCRAMBLES IN SNOWDONIA 4TH ED (CICERONE)

Scrambles in Snowdonia contains over 60 scrambling routes in Snowdonia, North Wales. All the routes described in this guidebook lie within the northern half of the Snowdonia National Park, where the most rugged mountains are found. Good scrambling in the southern half of Snowdonia is scarce, the rock here being typically loose or vegetated.

Northern Snowdonia naturally divides into four regions. From north to south these are the Carneddau, the Glyders, the Snowdon group and Eifionydd. The best scrambles in Snowdonia will be found in the Glyders, with the large majority concentrated on Tryfan, Glyder Fach and Glyder Fawr. The Snowdon group also boasts many excellent routes, whereas the Carneddau and the Eifionydd regions provide only a handful.

The choice of routes is, by necessity and design, a selective one. All the best scrambles are included, though for the sake of a broader coverage some mediocre ones in the Glyders and Snowdon group have been omitted in favour of even poorer ones in the Carneddau and Eifionydd.

The range of difficulty included in this guidebook extends from scrambly walks to the boundaries of proper rock climbing. Average fitness and a head for heights will suffice at one end of the scale, whereas nothing short of mountaineer's skill and daring will do at the other. Some routes fit neither category: scrambling over loose rock and up dripping, vegetated gullies seems to require a special cunning, for which neither hill walking nor rock climbing provides adequate preparation.