...Rock Climbing, Scrambling, Mountaineering and Hillwalking in North Wales...Guiding, Coaching and Instruction
We specialise in rock climbing courses based in the heart of Snowdonia in North Wales. We have written a guidebook to the area and books on coaching climbing. You won’t find a better provider if you want to learn to climb or improve your climbing. The […]
Our head coach and instructor Mark Reeves has been involved with the long-term development of climbing coaches and instructors for over 15 years. Both in the UK and abroad. He is an expert in helping you discover your weaknesses and develop a plan to work on […]
We offer great guided walks up Snowdon. With our qualified and experienced instructors, we can find a solution to help get you to the top and back down safely. Give us a call and we can discuss how we can help you reach the highest […]
Welcome to Snowdonia Mountain Guides we have lived and breathed rock climbing and mountaineering in Snowdonia for the last twenty-five years. It is the last thing we think about at night and the first thing that crosses our minds when we wake up. We have lived what can only be described as a dream lifestyle where the mountains and adventure are right on our doorstep. In doing so have come to know mountains and cliffs of North Wales intimately. What we offer isn’t just a course in how to climb, navigate or ascend a mountain, instead we offer something more. An adventure into the unknown.
An experience that we hope will help define you and your future enjoyment of the mountains of Wales and beyond. We handpick routes to take you to your mental and physical limits under the watchful eye of our coaches and guides. In the process, we will give you one of the most exhilarating experiences of your life. We don’t sell holidays, we sell mountain adventures.
Want your climbing to improve rapidly? This month-long UK Trad climbing tour of the greatest climbing routes and destinations will make a real difference to your fitness and confidence.
Do you want a lovely week strolling through some of the most beautiful countrysides without too much in the way of steep up hills? If so we offer this amazing course that sees you walking a mixture of low level and easy walks in the hills and on the amazing coast of Wales.
Have you been hillwalking and wondered how to bridge the gap to grade 1 scrambling? This introduction to scrambling course helps address those skills and shows you how to safely approach mountain scrambles.
£600
Currently over 60% of MIA candidates fail one or more days on their assessment. Whilst in other awards the number falls to around 25% getting deferred on one day or more. Why not do it right first time join us on our instructor mentoring program.
Chodes was one of the first areas bolted in Spain for Sports Climbing. As such it makes a great place for a Spanish climbing holiday away from the crowds. A 5th and 6th-grade climbers paradise, Chodes and Calcenca offer a great variety of climbing in what are fair compact areas.
Has winter just hit North Wales? Need a guide for a last minute winter hit? Then get in contact with us and we will see whether we can find one of our experienced guides to take you up the route of your dreams.
£200
Whilst exploring the limits of the structural integrity of shale is one way I like to test myself, At the same time it can get a little tiresome emotionally and there is the whole argument of choosing your battles. With a little of this and a little of the weather not play ball for the Llyn Peninsular I her been getting out on more conventional rock.
So since my last mini instalment, I have been exploring quarries for routes old and new, been down a slate mine and of course been to the Beacon Climbing Wall. All of which has been great and really helping fill the days out around bring the new Slate guide into life.
With the Slate Guide in mind i had to start visiting a few of the new crags that have been developed. So I started with the highest hanging fruit. A crag above the highest know routes in Australia. A short 4b pitch leads to the level and around 6 routes. Whilst those routes on the left and right were OK, the central section has a perched flake that looks extremely unstable. So whilst the 6b/c (height dependent) right arete is great, care needs to be taken.
Lower down at a place called Ayer Rock there is a trilogy of routes, with on 6a, a 6c and a 7a. All of which are worth climbing if you make the effort to get there. Although the 6c right arete again and the 6a for that matter are the cream of the crop. I think this area is a great addition to the slate.
The following day the weather was gash so Jez and I headed to Tremadog on a hope and a pray. We hung about the lay-by discussing what to do and Jez thought he have a go at the 2nd groove pitch of Cream. So I headed up the first pitch and he went up the second, and like a lot of people had to hang on the rope below the roof, due to the problematic nature of the move. I managed to follow pretty well and arrived at the cave wondering do I go left and up Vector an E2 to the top or right towards the top pitch of Cream.
I went right and belay below the head wall, agreeing that I would give it a nudge. everything went well until it didn’t. Big air was had and eventually I battle my way to the top via a couple more rests. The desire to climb hard sated, we abseiled back down to the van and home for tea and medals.
Waking up after hanging in a harness for so long was like straightening out a coat hanger, a long an more awkward affair than I would normal hope for. So Simon’s plan for the Great Ormes was a little optimistic. However my plan was to warm up slowly, with Mumbo Jumbo and Tony’s Route before moving round the corner to Contusion, 6c which is a good final warm up for me. I then headed up The Bloods a 7a+, and much to my amazement I made it to the top by using the motto, you are not off until you are off. Somehow I maintain contact with the rock.
So whilst none of this is the deep play of the Llyn, It is all really good fun and a great way to keep fit and psyched by visiting a variety of crags and rock types.
I've been a client of Mark's on multiple occasions. He has decades of experience climbing and it shows. He doesn't just show you how to do things, he helps you to understand why and when you should do them. My climbing grades reached an all time high under Mark's instruction. Thats really all that needs to be said.
So incredibly lucky for a beautiful day out on the mountain with Mark. He was wonderfully accommodating and went above and beyond to ensure that I had the best day climbing possible. We were able to do a couple of classic routes and he was constantly sharing his local knowledge and climbing expertise. His familiarity with nearly every person we passed on the mountain showed his remarkable depth of commitment to the climbing community in Wales. I couldn't have asked for a better guide.
