Pronunciation: Gleyder Vack

Spiky stuff: epic Bristly Ridge from the Ogwen Valley

For details of the November ascent of Glyder Fach, plus loads more pictures, see November 2005 Trip Report

The Ogwen Valley is surrounded by giants: the towering Tryfan, the shapely Y Garn at the valley head, and Glyder Fach, with a monster cliff looming over the shadowed hollow of Cwm Bochlwyd. This is a mountain with tremendous presence. Its north face is huge, adorned by several classic scrambles and rock climbs, and the mountain itself has many unique and interesting features that have combined to give it a legendary reputation.

In July 2005, my younger brother and I set out from our campsite at Gwern Gof Uchaf with the intention of climbing this fell. Although many combine Glyder Fach with the ascent of Tryfan (to form the classic Bochlwyd Horseshoe walk), we were looking forward to tackling Tryfan on the last day of the trip, and had chosen the Gribin ridge as our way to the top instead. Besides, we were newcomers to the slightly more aggressive mountains to be found in Snowdonia.

The weather was not too good when we set out. Cloud hung only a few hundred feet above the surface of Llyn Bochlwyd, the corrie lake that appears famously in the shape of Australia when seen from Tryfan. The Gribin ridge turned out to be a very entertaining scramble, especially near the top, although we couldn't see much due to the low cloud. We reached the summit at about mid-day.

The summit area is full of interesting features. First one encounters the bizarre Castell-y-Gwynt ("Castle of the Winds"), a giant stack of slate splinters that makes a good landmark on and off the plateau. Then the true summit itself, a pile of massive, slab-shaped boulders that must be clambered over to reach the top. Many people don't bother, but content themselves with the Cantilever outcrop some way to the east. This is another similar heap of boulders, but with the addition of a huge slab balanced at an implausible angle, like a see-saw. Countless photos have been taken of people posing heroically (or doing something silly!) at the end of the slab.

Glyder Fach is also famous for the daunting Bristly Ridge (see main photo), a jagged spine of rock extending some two hundred metres vertically from Bwlch Tryfan to just east of the summit. This is one of the best and most popular Grade 1 scrambles in Wales, and is commonly undertaken after the ascent of Tryfan. After having thoroughly enjoyed Tryfan's North Ridge, I have vowed to climb Bristly next time I stay in the Ogwen Valley.

Luckily the clouds parted for a few minutes during our stay on the summit, so we got a glimpse of the epic view extending across the Pass of Llanberis towards the Snowdon range. Glyder Fach really does have it all: classic scrambles and climbs, an imposing face, sharp ridges, a good view, and unique geographical features. This mountain is one of my favourites.

From Llyn Ogwen	Me on the Cantilever!
Snowdon range from the top	Castell-y-Gwynt
Me on the summit	From Pen yr Ole Wen