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Ridges of Snowdonia

The best ridge walking

By Steve Ashton

ISBN

9781852843502

Availability

Published

1 Jul 2002

Reprinted

10 Apr 2013

Edition

Second

Pages

192

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.30cm

Weight

230g

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More information...

Guidebook of the best ridge walks in Snowdonia. Routes from 8km to 60km for competent and experienced walkers. Walks include ridges in the Carneddau, Glyders and Tryfan, Snowdon range, Crib Coch, Nantlle, Rhinogs, Arans, Cader Idris and a Snowdonia 3000er traverse.

Seasons

All year round walking, but winter in Snowdonia can mean just that.

Centres

Bangor, Betws-y-Coed, Llanberis, Capel Curig, Bala, Bedgellert.

Difficulty

Long mountain horseshoes and traverses including some scrambling. Full and hard hillwalking days. The Snowdon 3000ers route is 37 miles and takes about 16 hours to walk.

Must See

Snowdon Horseshoe, Glyders traverse, Moelwyns northern ridges, Cader Idris circuit, Snowdon traverse

ISBN

9781852843502

Availability

Published

1 Jul 2002

Reprinted

10 Apr 2013

Edition

Second

Pages

192

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.30cm

Weight

230g

Overview

This guidebook explores the best ridge walking in Snowdonia, Wales. A collection of horseshoes, traverses and circuits, as well as summits, ascent and descent options for knowledgable and experienced walkers. The routes range between 8 and 28km (as well as the 60km Fourteen Peaks Snowdonia Traverse), and collect plenty of summits along the way. Exciting mountain days walking Snowdonia's ridges, with practical details on the terrain, difficulty, scrambling, distance and timings are included. Each route includes clear route description and annotated OS overview maps.
The guidebook includes spectacular ridges with long views over Snowdonia and further into Wales in a number of areas: the Carneddau ridges, the Glyders, the Snowdon group, the Moelwyns, the Nantille area, the Rhinogs, Cader Idris, the Arans and the extroadinary, 60km Traverse that links the 14 highest Snowdonia peaks in three ranges of hills.
This guide is a unique exploration of Snowdonia's ridges, that combines route description with an exploration of the hillwalking experience. The aim, above all, to deliver some of the finest mountain experiences to walkers along Snowdonia's big and challenging walking routes.

Table of Contents

A THE CARNEDDAU
A1 Northern Ridges
A1(a) Approach through Cwm Eigiau
A1(b) Descent to Aber
A2 Southern Ridges
A2(a) Descent to Ffynnon Llugwy
A2(b) Pen yr Ole Wen South Ridge
A3 Western Ridges
A3(a) Crib Lem (Llech Ddu Spur)

B THE GLYDERS
B1 Northern Ridges
B1(a) Braich y Ddeugwm Approach
B1(b) Bochlwyd Approach
B1(c) Kitchen Descent
B1(d) Y Garn Descent
B2 Main Traverse

C SNOWDON GROUP
C1 The Snowdon Horseshoe
C1(a) Crib Goch North Ridge
C1(b) Pig Track Descent
C1(c) Y Gribin descent
C2 Main Traverse
C2(a) Direct Approach to South Ridge
C2(b) Descent of Snowdon Ranger
C2(c) Direct Descent to Llanberis

D THE MOELWYNS
D1 Northern Ridges
D1(a) Ascent from Capel Curig
D2 Southern Ridges
D2(a) Cnicht from Nanmor
D2(b) Incorporating Moel yr Hydd

E THE NANTILE AREA
E1 Nantlle Ridge

F THE RHINOGS
F1 Main Traverse

G CADER IDRIS
G1 Circuit of Cwm Cau

H THE ARANS
H1 Main Traverse

I SNOWDONIA TRAVERSES
I1 The Fourteen Peaks

Maps

OS Landranger Series (1:50,000)

Sheets: 115, 124

OS Outdoor Leisure Series: Sheet 17

Updates

We do not yet have any updates available for this book

We are always grateful to readers for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground. If you would like to send some information to us then please use our contact form. They will be published here following review by the author(s).

Reviews

As guidebooks go, it does a first rate job. Everything you need, where you need it. Marvellous.

I bought this to do some research for my Summer holiday this year.

As guidebooks go, it does a first rate job. It contains all the information: General descriptions of the various areas of Snowdonia, very detailed step by step route descriptions with OS maps, not only for the main ridges but also for several variations. Includes stunning photographs and a final section covering a complete transverse of Snowdonia.

Everything you need, where you need it. Marvellous.

What makes this book stand apart from the rest is Mr Ashton's wicked sense of humour. After each 'step by step' there's a rather entertaining, more readable description of the route.

Here's what I mean. Discussing the descent from Yr Wyddfa South from page 83:

"Unless you want to fritter away the rest of a perfectly good afternoon doing good deeds for people, do not descend directly to Bwlch y Saethau along with misdirected and ill-shod tourists heading for Beddgelert. Why? Because that slope is set exactly at the critical angle for human beings in unsuitable footwear. Normally, of course, most of these people will proceed downwards according to the law of acceleration down an inclined plane; but there's always a few who will discover that as long as they keep very still, they are able to hold position on the slope indefinitely... follow the path down to Bwlch instead - falling bodies permitted."

Some parts made me laugh out loud.

Even if you have no intention of walking in Snowdonia, it's worth a read. Go and buy it now!

Mike: https://dodgeyknee.blogspot.com/2019/04/the-ridges-of-snowdonia.html

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Steve Ashton

Steve lived in Snowdonia for 20 years, during which he wrote several climbing and walking books to the region. The best known of these is the highly influential and now classic Scrambles in Snowdonia, which was largely responsible for reviving interest in this esoteric sport.

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