Hiking Up Tryfan, Eryri (Snowdonia), Wales

How often do you challenge yourself? 

We’ve been wanting to go on a proper hike for a while. After having a rather stressful week, the forecast looked pretty promising for that weekend, and we knew that we wanted to be in the outdoors! But we craved something more challenging than a usual walk with a clear footpath. So, we decided it was time to hike Tryfan! 

If you’d like to get a real taste of the hike, make sure to watch our Youtube video linked below.

Introducing Tryfan and Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park

Located in the Ogwen Valley of Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park in North Wales, Tryfan is considered one of Britain’s best mountains. With a height of 917 m, it also ranks as the 15th highest mountain in Britain. Many suggest that it’s the only mountain in Wales that you cannot climb without using your hands. (We can definitely confirm that. We had to use my hands multiple times to reach the summit!)

The name Tryfan translates to ‘three rocks’ deriving from ‘Tri-faen’. Due to its shape, which looks like the fin of a shark, the mountain is very photogenic. So, if you’re not ready to hike it just yet, we still recommend visiting the Ogwen Valley and doing some walking in the area. 

How to Get to the Trailhead of Tryfan

By Car: The most convenient way to reach the trailhead is by private or hire car. You can park at the Ogwen Car Park (post code: LL57 3LZ). It is a pay and display car park and it costs £3 for up to 4 hours and £6 for all day parking. We recommend getting an all day ticket. There are additional free or paid car parking bays located along the A5. Car parking is a big issue in the national park. If you want to find a spot you have to arrive really (we mean REALLY) early in the morning.

Note. Do not park anywhere along the A5! Many people do that once they see there aren’t any other options left. Firstly, it can be dangerous as the road isn’t very wide. Most importantly, it’s monitored regularly, and you’ll definitely get a parking ticket upon your return. They had police and officials out giving people tickets even if they didn’t park on a double yellow line.

By Bus: If you’re staying within the national park you can actually arrive to the trailhead via local bus. The bus stop is right in front of the visitor centre, so it’s pretty convenient. You can take the T10 between Bangor and Corwen via Betws-y-Coed. In addition, there’s Bws Ogwen shuttle bus that offers services between Bethesda, Lyn Ogwen and Capel Curig between April and October. They run every day but Wednesday and a return ticket is £3 per person.

Good to Know Before You Go

Level of difficulty

Climbing Tryfan will feel like a fine line between hiking and mountaineering. Even though it’s classed as the easiest grade scramble (Grade 1), we would treat it with respect. There are some easier and more challenging routes up so you can definitely increase the level of difficulty if you wish (up to Grade 2 or 3). This is one of the many reasons why Tryfan is loved by so many people. 

The most popular and fun route to ascend is the North Ridge. Along this route you’ll be using your arms a lot so you might have some muscle pain the next day. (Especially if you’re not a regular climber like me!). We think if you do walks and hikes regularly and you are reasonably fit, you’ll be able to hike up Tryfan. 

The route up is rocky and can get dangerous in bad weather conditions. You’ll be exposed to strong winds as you get closer to the top which can make the scramble more challenging. Therefore, try to pick a dry day for your climb to have the best possible experience. 

Length of the route

The route we did was about 4-5 km long and we gained a height of 600 m. Depending on your level of fitness, experience in scrambling and the number of breaks (photo-taking, rest, admiring the view) you take, the hike can take between 3-4 hours to complete. 

Therefore, we recommend starting early so you can truly enjoy the breathtaking views along the way.

Facilities Along the Trail

Cafes and Picnic Spots. There’s a visitor centre (Canolfan Cwm Idwal) right next to the A5, approximately 5 miles (8 km) south of Bethesda and about 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Capel Curig. There’s a kiosk serving light refreshments including hot and cold drinks. It’s open between 9AM and 4PM.

We definitely suggest bringing your own lunch with you. You can have a picnic on top of Tryfan.

Toilets. The only toilet facility is at the visitor centre. There won’t be toilets anywhere else along the route. The visitor centre also has one shower.

Accommodation. In case you want to stay close by and complete other trails such as the Glyders or Pen Yr Ole Wen, then you can consider booking the YHA Idwal Cottage, Bryn Tyrch Rooms or The Rocks at Plas Curig Hostel. For a unique stay, you can even spend the night at the Mountain Church. If these are full, you can always check out other locations in the national park. Of course, you can also camp at a camp site too if you already have your own camping gear.

What to wear and bring with you?

You are in North Wales so weather conditions can change quickly. We recommend picking a dry day, if possible, as wet terrain will make the hike more challenging. Plus, you will want to enjoy the magnificent views Tryfan offers its hikers. Before you set off, make sure you double check the weather forecast.

We picked a rather warm day with highs of 21 degrees Celsius. However, close to the top we were exposed to some pretty strong wind bringing clouds in and out as fast as a time-lapse would! So, one minute I was cold, the next I was warm, and I was constantly taking my jacket on and off. So, in summary, you want to:

• Wear proper hiking boots or shoes that will support you;
• Have different layers on, so you’ll never be too cold or warm;
• Have a waterproof jacket / coat with you in case the weather conditions change;
• Take a basic first-aid kit (just in case);
• Have a portable charger with you so you won’t run out of battery life;
• Pack some snacks and have plenty of water on you. You will have some beautiful picnic spots either along the way or on the top!

Ascending Tryfan

Please note that since there’s no designated way up and we won’t be able to give you an exact description of the route!

Having to find your own way up is definitely one of the main reasons the mountain is a favourite for many. You can reach the summit in many different ways and even if you start from the same point I guarantee that you won’t do the same route twice. 

So there’s no right or wrong way up, however I really enjoyed hiking along the North Ridge. The start of this route is pretty straight forward. If you park in the bay along the A5 there will be a public footpath sign which you need to follow to start with. The route heads straight up so you’ll gain height pretty quickly. I bet you’ll probably run out of breath around the point where you get a clear view of Llyn Ogwen. Make sure you stop here briefly, have some water and enjoy the view before carrying on. 

From this point it’s all about finding the best possible way up based on your abilities. The only thing to be aware of is that you don’t want to go too far to either right or left to avoid some very deep gullies. Don’t be afraid to use your hands and take it slow if needed. Let faster people behind you pass if necessary. You don’t want to feel anxious and rush a movement. You came here to enjoy yourself after all. 

Don’t miss! – If you’re lucky you might be able to spot some of the most experienced climbers on Tryfan, the Feral Goats. If you spot one or two, just stop and admire the way they ‘show off’ their more elegant ways of leaping between rocks. 

The Cannon

Another reason to scramble up the North Ridge is to see a cool rock formation called the Cannon. You’ll find it about one third of the way up. It does stick out like a cannon, and you can actually see it from the valley. So, make sure you don’t miss it!

A little warning! – Please consider both your ability and the weather conditions if you’d like to take the perfect Instagram photo standing or sitting on the Cannon. Whilst we had a gorgeous forecast on the day of our hike, the conditions changed as we got higher up. Whilst on the photo I may look ‘cool’ and ‘relaxed’, in reality it was incredibly windy on the Cannon, and I was holding on for dear life whilst crawling onto it.

The Summit

You know you’ve reached the summit when you see the iconic 3 m high monoliths standing approximately 1.2 m apart from each other. 

These two pillars are known as ‘Adam and Eve’ (or ‘Siôn a Siân’ in Welsh). You’ll see hundreds of photos of people jumping between these two obelisks on social media. Of course, it is an Insta-perfect shot, however, there’s another (greater) reason why people attempt to jump between the two. Apparently, you can also gain ‘The Freedom of Tryfan’ if you leap from one pillar to the other.

A little warning! – There’s a 1.2 m gap and a rather deep drop between the two formations. Please consider both your ability and the weather conditions on the day of your climb before attempting this ‘challenge’. When we reached the top, I could hardly stand still due to strong wind on the flat ground, so I obviously didn’t even dare to climb on top of the pillars. For reference, others who reached the peak around the same time as us decided against it too. 

Descending Tryfan

Whilst you may think going down is easier than climbing up a mountain, in reality it can be just as challenging. 

Personally, I prefer hiking up then descending as the hike down always leaves me with knee-pain the next day.

We decided to start descending along the South Ridge, but instead of following the path down to Llyn Bochlywd, we headed down the eastern side of Tryfan. Which, to be honest with you, was probably not the easiest way down! But it’s definitely one of the quickest as you basically just go straight down the side of Tryfan before reaching the footpath that runs alongside it. Unfortunately, this side of Tryfan didn’t provide us with much shelter from the wind, the clouds or the rain as we had hoped it might. 

If you decide to take this route, let me warn you about the path itself. It’s very slippery in any weather conditions, so you really need a trusty pair of shoes, and you need to take it slowly. Trust me, you don’t want to slip here!

However, once you reach the footpath, it’s pretty easy. You’ll also have some great views of Tryfan so take your time admiring this beautiful mountain and feel proud of yourself for completing the hike.

Additional Ridge Hikes in the UK

If you enjoy ridge hikes and scrambles, then check out the following ridge hike posts: 

• The Ultimate Guide to Hiking the Glyders via Bristly Ridge, Eryri (Snowdonia), Wales
• Climbing Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) via Crib Goch, Eryri (Snowdonia), North Wales
• A Guide to Hiking the Pen Y Fan Horseshoe, Brecon Beacons, South Wales 
• Hiking Helvellyn via Striding Edge and Swirral Edge, Lake District, England
• The Ultimate Guide to Climbing Ben Nevis via Carn Mor Dearg Arête, Scotland

Final Thoughts on Hiking Tryfan

This hike helped me to realise two very important things.

Firstly, I proved to myself that I can reach the summit, even if it meant I needed to slow down or calculate my next steps carefully. This means if I challenge myself and work hard, I can achieve my goals. 

It also ignited my love for mountains even more. As much as I enjoy going on city breaks, my true passion is being in the outdoors and being close to nature. Hiking Tryfan made me realise just how little time I’ve spent in the mountains and how much more I want to spend there in the future. 

I’m already planning my next challenge in my head, so make sure to keep an eye on my Hiking Adventure Series for more outdoor adventures coming your way.

Have you ever hiked Tryfan before? If so, let us know which way you hiked up and how you found the hike? What other hikes have you done in Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park? Let us know in the comments below.