Main Cliff Area

Main Cliff Area
The Main Cliff of Gogarth extends from North Stack at one end to The Upper Tier at the other. Whilst generally the Main Cliff area is that area just left of the Upper Tier, the cliff extends all the way to North Stack Wall via a series of impressive cliffs and zawns.

As such there are many areas of the Main Cliff or Gogarth Bay. Each has its own character and feel. Often defined by the complexities of the approach. With nearly all areas requiring a abseil approach or some form of exposed scramble to the base.

North Stack

The North Stack wall is home to many classic runout chop routes. The best of which is arguably The Cad E5 or its direct version The Bells, The Bells E7. Despite this, there are a couple of routes for lesser climbers like South Sea Bubble E3 and Blue Peter E4.

Flytrap

This zawn is very isolated and despite not being very big packs a big punch. The route that gives the name to the area is the one that nearly everyone comes here to climb. As such Flytrap E2 is a classic and sees you take a meandering line up and down and into the belly of the zawn before escaping up through a blowhole.

Wen Zawn

This area is one of the finest Zawn in the UK. Home to many classic routes it is best known for Dream of White Horses. A classic rising traverse of Wen Slab. This is perhaps one of the most sort after routes on the UK at the HVS grade. It is also one we both offer private guiding and coaching on.

As well as this there is Britomartis HVS, Spider Wall E1, Wen HVS, Quartz Icilcie E2 and T-Rex E3. All of which are *** classics.

Easter Island Gully

This is a remote and hidden area with a difficult access. As such it is often a more esoteric area visited only by Gogarth regulars looking for a real adventure. With a host of really good rotues from HVS to E3 this again is a great area.

Main Cliff

A large swathe of rock that extends from Easter Island Gully. It has two approaches the Far End is best approached via a 100m abseil, whereas the Upper Tier end requires a long and arduous scramble to the base. There are so many good routes here to narrow it down is hard. However there is a good selection of routes from HVS to E3 that scatter the cliff. 

The main importance of this cliff though is a section of around 20 routes all of which are E4 and above. Nearly every route get stars and many are outstanding examples of the grades. 

Upper Tier

The upper tier is home to several great routes. Cordon Bleau, a high level VS  girdle of Main Cliff starts here. As does Bezel another great VS. There are a few excellent HVSs including The Gauntlet, The Ramp and Parklane/Doomsville. The stunning crack of The Strand a stunning E2 and of course the pumpy diagonal crack of Strike E4 to name just a few of the popular routes on this buttress.

Photo From Crag

Simpn Lake charging up a classic E5 on main cliff, Gogarth. Positron is perhaps one of the finest routes of the grade there, and there are many!

Simpn Lake charging up a classic E5 on main cliff, Gogarth. Positron is perhaps one of the finest routes of the grade there, and there are many!

The White Cliff

The White Cliff – A book about the climbing at Gogarth, with a contribution by SMG Owner Mark Reeves

Adam Riches on the imposing final pitch of Dream of White Horses, with its wild exposure it really is one of the best pitches of HVS climbing anywhere.

Adam Riches on the imposing final pitch of Dream of White Horses, with its wild exposure it really is one of the best pitches of HVS climbing anywhere.

Jeremy on the amazing Dream of White Horses, Wen Zawn, Gogarth.

Jeremy on the amazing Dream of White Horses, Wen Zawn, Gogarth.

Adam following the Britomartis Wall route Bluebottle, a wild traverse of the wall finishing up a steep and challenging groove.

Adam following the Britomartis Wall route Bluebottle, a wild traverse of the wall finishing up a steep and challenging groove.

Only the best guide to North Wales Climbs ever!!!!

Only the best guide to North Wales Climbs ever!!!!

Guy Wilson lead the final pitch of Dream of White Horses, Wen Zawn, Gogarth.

Guy Wilson lead the final pitch of Dream of White Horses, Wen Zawn, Gogarth.

Mark reeves climbing the amazing Sea Sea Bubble, E3 5c, one of the more ameniable and better protected routes at North Stack Wall, Gogarth.

Mark reeves climbing the amazing Sea Sea Bubble, E3 5c, one of the more ameniable and better protected routes at North Stack Wall, Gogarth.

Adam showing us he has mastered trad climbing after a five day sort to trad conversion course, as he styles his way across the final pitch of A Dream of White Horses, Wen Zawn, Gogarth. We also offer guiding and coaching across this route.

Adam showing us he has mastered trad climbing after a five day sort to trad conversion course, as he styles his way across the final pitch of A Dream of White Horses, Wen Zawn, Gogarth. We also offer guiding and coaching across this route.

Adam Riches on the Classic Dream of White Horses. Adam came for a sport to trad conversion and this was his fifth day of trad climbing!!!

Adam Riches on the Classic Dream of White Horses. Adam came for a sport to trad conversion and this was his fifth day of trad climbing!!!

Llion Morris traversing his way across the classic Quartz Icicle, E2 5c on Wen Slab. This quartz streak is an obvious line on the slab and a classic.

Llion Morris traversing his way across the classic Quartz Icicle, E2 5c on Wen Slab. This quartz streak is an obvious line on the slab and a classic.

The Upper Tier of Gogarth, with the stand out crackline of The Strand, E2 clearly seen 'standing out' from the rest of the lichen covered rock on the left of the shot.

The Upper Tier of Gogarth, with the stand out crackline of The Strand, E2 clearly seen ‘standing out’ from the rest of the lichen covered rock on the left of the shot.

The longer 60m abseil into the base of Dream of White Horses

The longer 60m abseil into the base of Dream of White Horses

Adam Riches cruising the crux of the third pitch of Dream of White Horses. Possibly the best route in the world!

Home of some of the boldest routes at Gogarth, North Stack Wall both scares and excites most climbers!

Home of some of the boldest routes at Gogarth, North Stack Wall both scares and excites most climbers!

Alex Mason abseiling into Main Cliff to explore the possibilities of a new route.

Alex Mason abseiling into Main Cliff to explore the possibilities of a new route.

The remote Easter Island Gully area of Main Cliff Gogarth. This is a great area and often devoid of other climbers.

The remote Easter Island Gully area of Main Cliff Gogarth. This is a great area and often devoid of other climbers.

Simon Lake eye up the physical crux traverse to gain the flake on Blue Peter a classic E4 5c at North Stack Wall, Gogarth.

Simon Lake eye up the physical crux traverse to gain the flake on Blue Peter a classic E4 5c at North Stack Wall, Gogarth.

The amazing but ultimately easy 2nd pitch of A Dream of White Horses.

The amazing but ultimately easy 2nd pitch of A Dream of White Horses.

The mighty Main Cliff at Gogarth. Home to some of the finest sea cliff climbing in the UK.

The mighty Main Cliff at Gogarth. Home to some of the finest sea cliff climbing in the UK.