Bochlwyd Horseshoe

From your parking spot, make your way towards Tryfan and its Milestone Buttress, a huge crag near the base of the mountain. Head through a metal gate along the road, and ascend the steps to a wall which is followed up the early slopes. The path heads left through a boulder field, bringing you above the Buttress. Once there, bear right to ascend through a gully, which leads to the famous Cannon stone formation. Scramble directly up the rocks here or veer left for easier routes. A stretch of ridge walking leads you to The Nose, a gigantic jumble of rock that must be tackled! Up and over The Nose, then along the ridge to the North Tower. Bear right around this, and you’ll have the summit of Tryfan in sight. A short dip follows, then a gulley which leads you to the Adam and Eve boulders marking the top.

Descend Tryfan along the South Ridge, maintaining a consistent bearing in this direction down the steep slopes. Bwlch Tryfan is your goal. Once you’re here, walk along a wall that ascends onto the lower portion of Bristly Ridge. Two gulleys (Sinister and Dexter) are available – Sinister (despite the name) is a good pick here. Hop over a wall on your left and scramble up through the gulley, an overhanging rock marking the way. The ridge broadens towards the top. You’ll have to descend into a gap with the Great Pinnacle before you; skirt around it to the right and take another gulley that leads back to the ridge. A final stretch of scrambling brings you to another pinnacle, with a path on the right leading to the summit of Glyder Fach.

Next is the striking rock formation of Castell y Gwynt, just west of Glyder Fach. From here, the path descends to the left into Bwlch y Ddwy-Glyder. Instead of continuing to Glyder Fawr, veer right along a path following the cwm, which brings you to the top of Y Gribin. Scramble down along the crest of the mountain, with a path on your left providing assistance in tricky spots. At a broad field, bear right to link up with a clear path that descends to Nant Bochlwyd. Reaching a stream north of Llyn Bochlwyd, follow it north, then cross over at the base of a canyon. Pick up a path here that leads you back to the A5 near Tryfan.