Tryfan
Encyclopedia
Tryfan is a mountain in Snowdonia
, Wales
, forming part of the Glyderau
group. It is one of the most recognisable peaks in the region, having a classic pointed shape with rugged crags
. At 3,010 feet above sea level it is the fifteenth highest mountain in Wales
. Between the mid-1980s and June 2010, its accepted height was 3,002 ft, but it was resurveyed using accurate GPS measurements and found to be eight feet higher. Until the 1980s, Ordnance Survey
maps gave its height as 3,010 ft, and so the new measurement confirms that the earlier survey was correct.
. Tryfan is the only mountain on the British mainland
, and the only one in the United Kingdom
outside the Cuillin
of Skye, to require scrambling on the ascent, although there are a number of peaks (notably Helm Crag
in the Lake District and The Cobbler
in the Scottish Highlands) that involve a scramble to reach the highest point.
Tryfan is most often climbed from the north, as it lies close to the A5 road. A common starting point is about 1.5 km east of Idwal Cottage (a youth hostel) or Ogwen Cottage (an outdoor pursuits centre). From here a route leads up the rocky north ridge of the mountain, a Grade 1 scramble by the easiest line, although with opportunities for increasing the difficulty if the most direct line is followed throughout. About a third of the way up there is a distinctive rock known as "The Cannon" which points 45 degrees upwards and is visible from the ground on the profile of the mountain.
Tryfan may also be climbed from the south, where it is linked via Bristly Ridge to Glyder Fach
. Bristly Ridge also offers good scrambling. Bwlch Tryfan, the saddle between Tryfan and the base of Bristly Ridge, may also be reached by a path leading up from Idwal Cottage to the west, passing through Cwm
Bochlwyd. This cwm contains Llyn Bochlwyd, sometimes called "Australia
Lake" or "Lake Australia" due to the resemblance of its shape to that country.
The summit of Tryfan is noted for the rocks of Adam and Eve, a pair of rocks some three metres high and separated by 1.2 metres. The rocks are visible from the valley to the north-east, from where they resemble two human figures. It is customary for those climbing Tryfan to jump between the two rocks; in doing so one is said to gain the "Freedom of Tryfan". The exposure on one side is quite great and those without a head for heights are advised not to attempt the step. Adam is not easily scaled being high and smooth. There is a foothold on Eve which allows the climber to scramble to the top. Two prominent pillar-like boulders are visible on the skyline midway through the approach to the summit via the South ridge. As these can be mistaken for Adam and Eve from a distance, they have become known as Cain and Abel, continuing the biblical theme.
. The Buttress is about 10 minutes walk from roadside laybys. The most popular route is known as the direct route: there are often queues
of people waiting to climb it. It is 75 m long, and graded
Very Difficult. The route was first climbed by G. Barlow and H. Priestly-Smith in 1910.
There is also a popular Grade 3 scramble incorporating the Milestone Buttress. This route is commonly used as an alternative approach to the North Ridge, as is the nearby slabby wedge of Tryfan Bach, on the other side of the mountain.
Snowdonia
Snowdonia is a region in north Wales and a national park of in area. It was the first to be designated of the three National Parks in Wales, in 1951.-Name and extent:...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, forming part of the Glyderau
Glyderau
The Glyderau are a mountain group in Snowdonia, North Wales. The name derives from the highest peaks in the range, Glyder Fawr and Glyder Fach....
group. It is one of the most recognisable peaks in the region, having a classic pointed shape with rugged crags
Cliff
In geography and geology, a cliff is a significant vertical, or near vertical, rock exposure. Cliffs are formed as erosion landforms due to the processes of erosion and weathering that produce them. Cliffs are common on coasts, in mountainous areas, escarpments and along rivers. Cliffs are usually...
. At 3,010 feet above sea level it is the fifteenth highest mountain in Wales
Welsh 3000s
This is a list of what are known as the Welsh 3000s, i.e. those 15 mountains in Wales which have a height of 3000 ft or more. Geographically they fall within three ranges, all sufficiently close to make it possible to reach all 15 summits within 24 hours, a challenge known as the Welsh 3000s...
. Between the mid-1980s and June 2010, its accepted height was 3,002 ft, but it was resurveyed using accurate GPS measurements and found to be eight feet higher. Until the 1980s, Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey , an executive agency and non-ministerial government department of the Government of the United Kingdom, is the national mapping agency for Great Britain, producing maps of Great Britain , and one of the world's largest producers of maps.The name reflects its creation together with...
maps gave its height as 3,010 ft, and so the new measurement confirms that the earlier survey was correct.
Routes of ascent
All routes of ascent involve at least easy scramblingScrambling
Scrambling is a method of ascending rocky faces and ridges. It is an ambiguous term that lies somewhere between hillwalking and rock climbing. It is often distinguished from hillwalking by defining a scramble as a route where hands must be used in the ascent...
. Tryfan is the only mountain on the British mainland
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, and the only one in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
outside the Cuillin
Cuillin
This article is about the Cuillin of Skye. See Rùm for the Cuillin of Rùm.The Cuillin are a range of rocky mountains located on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. The true Cuillin are also known as the Black Cuillin to distinguish them from the Red Hills across Glen Sligachan...
of Skye, to require scrambling on the ascent, although there are a number of peaks (notably Helm Crag
Helm Crag
Helm Crag is a fell in the English Lake District situated in the Central Fells to the north of Grasmere. Despite its low height it sits prominently at the end of a ridge, easily seen from the village...
in the Lake District and The Cobbler
The Cobbler
The Cobbler is a mountain of 884 m height located near the head of Loch Long in Scotland. It is a Corbett...
in the Scottish Highlands) that involve a scramble to reach the highest point.
Tryfan may also be climbed from the south, where it is linked via Bristly Ridge to Glyder Fach
Glyder Fach
Glyder Fach is a mountain in Snowdonia, north-west Wales, and is the second highest of the Glyderau and the sixth highest in Wales.Routes to the summit lead from Tryfan and Bristly Ridge to the north, via Glyder Fawr from Pen-y-Pass to the south, and along the Glyder ridge to the east, towards...
. Bristly Ridge also offers good scrambling. Bwlch Tryfan, the saddle between Tryfan and the base of Bristly Ridge, may also be reached by a path leading up from Idwal Cottage to the west, passing through Cwm
Cirque
Cirque may refer to:* Cirque, a geological formation* Makhtesh, an erosional landform found in the Negev desert of Israel and Sinai of Egypt*Cirque , an album by Biosphere* Cirque Corporation, a company that makes touchpads...
Bochlwyd. This cwm contains Llyn Bochlwyd, sometimes called "Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
Lake" or "Lake Australia" due to the resemblance of its shape to that country.
Milestone Buttress
Milestone Buttress at the base of Tryfan is a popular location for climbingClimbing
Climbing is the activity of using one's hands and feet to ascend a steep object. It is done both for recreation and professionally, as part of activities such as maintenance of a structure, or military operations.Climbing activities include:* Bouldering: Ascending boulders or small...
. The Buttress is about 10 minutes walk from roadside laybys. The most popular route is known as the direct route: there are often queues
Queue area
Queue areas are places in which people queue for goods or services. Examples include checking out groceries or other goods that have been collected in a self service shop, in a shop without self service, at an ATM, at a ticket desk, a city bus, or in a taxi stand.Queueing is a phenomenon in a...
of people waiting to climb it. It is 75 m long, and graded
Grade (climbing)
In rock climbing, mountaineering and other climbing disciplines, climbers give a climbing grade to a route that concisely describes the difficulty and danger of climbing the route...
Very Difficult. The route was first climbed by G. Barlow and H. Priestly-Smith in 1910.
There is also a popular Grade 3 scramble incorporating the Milestone Buttress. This route is commonly used as an alternative approach to the North Ridge, as is the nearby slabby wedge of Tryfan Bach, on the other side of the mountain.
