Mountain Walking in Snowdonia – Review

Like most lovers of mountains in the UK Snowdonia is an area that I frequent a lot. I spent a vast amount of time there when I was preparing for my Mountaineering Instructor Award and have been a visitor for over 40 years. I still spend a lot of time both recreationally and professionally.

Terry Fletcher has produced a great, compact,  little guide in his Mountain Walking in Snowdonia book. Jam packed with 38 routes from the A55 in the north down to Cader Idris in the south and Bala in the East it covers the full rage of the National Park. The guide also covers the famous Welsh 3000ers in my favourite way, over 2 days. It uses OS 1:50000 mapping and the routes are graded Easy, Moderate and Strenuous with any scrambles graded in the UK 1-3 system. So it’s very easy to understand.

The guides covers all the iconic routes the area including the brilliant Tryfan North Ridge and the Snowdon Horseshoe as well as some more out of the way days out in places like The Rhinogs which lie in the rain shadow and feel very remote. So there is something for everyone here, whether you are just starting out or a regular visitor looking for something you haven’t done before (there’s plenty in there).

The guide has a good introduction with all the logistics you need to enjoy your stay in the area, he also offers an insight into the flora, fauna, history and geology of the park. Each route has a detailed description with the distance and total ascent As well as a neat introduction, the route map and one or two photos so plenty of information to help you around the route. That’s not to say you don’t need to take a map and compass with you, no one should venture out with adequate equipment and the skills to use them. The guide comes with a plastic cover to help protect it from the elements, you have been warned!

Mountain Walking in Snowdonia come highly recommended and would be especially useful for someone just getting into mountain walking as the guide has a great progression of routes. There are definitely plenty of walks for me to do in places I’ve never been to and I’m sure there will be some for you too.

SRP: £14.95

Available from Cicerone with 25% off until 31st July 2016