Conwy Valley

The most notable scramble on Conwy Valley is the Afon Ddu Gorge route.

Afon Ddu Gorge Scramble

This route is on the west side of the Conwy Valley, just south of the village of Dolgarrog. Firstly, just to stress that this is a ‘gorge’ scramble, not a ‘ghyll’ scramble. There are deep pools and you may need to swim! For this reason, it should be done in dry weather (and better yet – with a wetsuit!). The gorge is popular with outdoor groups so does get busy.

The second important point is that you shouldn’t confuse this with the Dolgarrog Gorge a little further north. Dolgarrog Gorge is much more serious and suffers from dangerous flash floods due to a system of tippers at its top. Back to the Afon Ddu…The route is probably grade 2, but the crux is a 5a boulder traverse – don’t worry though – if you fall you just get wet!
If approaching from the north down the B5106 drive through Dolgarrog. Just after a pub and before a road bridge there is a parking area on the left at 775664 (near the water works at Pont Dolgarrog). The river flowing under the bridge is the Afon Ddu which flows out of the Llyn Cowlyd Reservoir.

Cross the road and walk up the track into the woods, turning left as soon as possible on a small path that leads to the river bank. Gain the river bed.
There are many possible lines early on. The first entertaining rock being an easy traverse on the right bank (looking up). Keep scrambling up until you reach a steep step with a waterfall round to the left. One possible way is up the middle of this step, squeezing through some boulders at the top.

Above this comes the crux; the 5a boulder traverse. The walls narrow into a gorge, with a deep pool between them. If you don’t like the look of this some steps lead out of the river bank on the right. If continuing, traverse the right wall of the gorge, the hardest moves coming at the end. Many a person falls in at this point!

Beyond this the gorge steepens. Climb a waterfall a few feet high before escaping onto drier rock on the right. The next step is again taken on the right and the gorge opens up.
Scramble upwards with more choice of line. Some short mossy waterfalls can be climbed but are slippery – avoid if in doubt. Keep on up the gorge until you arrive below a massive waterfall; scary! Thankfully this is avoided as it is far beyond the scope of scrambling. Look on the left bank for a path and steps leaving the river bed. These zig-zag above the gorge and lead you out above the big waterfall.
Gain the bed again and keep on upwards. Most harder steps can be avoided.

Eventually you reach a deep plunge pool and a path leaving on the right. This is the end of the scrambling.
Take this path into the woods past a water works building to reach a track. Follow this steeply back down through the woods to get back to the car park.