The best scramble around is the Penmaen Ridge, a difficult Grade 2/3 at best!
Grade 2/3***
Guide time about 1 hour.
Approach: Limited parking at SH741769.
Route Line
Penmaen Ridge Route Guide
Follow the public footpath through woods to where it heads up towards Pen Pyra.
Prepare for a steep and tricky start right from ground level. Fortunately, the holds, whilst very jagged and not yet worn by the mass of human hands, are reliable and give you a good start to the scramble. Once the ridge line levels up, just be mindful of the drop to the left. A fall here would be very bad!
The ridge line itself is exposed but generally becomes a little easier the higher you get, offering wonderful views out to sea and over towards Anglesey. As the ridge concludes, there is a fair bit of loose rock and scree however there are no genuine obstacles and before you realise it you’ll have summited.
There are plenty of routes to continue walking from the top. Or for a nice return to the bottom, head west and descend via the paths and forest which will return you near the caravan site at the bottom.
Over all, this is a terrific scramble which should test the nerves at the outset. It can also be done in an hour or so. It certainly has somewhat of a low level Crib Goch feel about it and arguably a bit more unnerving at the beginning ….
Recommended Guidebook & Map
Recommended Scrambling Guide: (coming soon)
Recommended Accommodation:
Route Info
| Elevation | 245m / 804ft |
| Grade | 2/3 |
| Transport | Car |
Navigation
| Guidebook | Best Book |
| Maps | Best Map |
| Guided Tours | Guides |
| Accommodation | Where To Stay? |
| Contributor | Who Contributed? |
Route Contributed by: Jamie Chambers
I’m a Cheshire resident and Snowdonia is my home away from home. I occasionally venture to the Lake District aswell which is the most beautiful of landscapes. However, the sheer ruggedness of the Snowdonia mountains and the special coast line which surrounds it draws me back time and time again.
Best accomplishment to date: the Welsh 3000’s in just under 18 hours to raise money for a local hospice and in memory of my mother.
Favourite Snowdonia route: the Bochlwyd horseshoe (Tryfan, Bristly ridge and descent via Gribin).
It is a superb smash and grab Scramble from straight off the A55 and the views over Penmaenmawr and beyond are superb. I would Grade it as a good solid 2 but no more than that.
Agreed, I think the surrounding landscape compliments it wonderfully. And yes definitely feels more of a grade 2 than a 1 at times. I will have to venture up there again some day soon
A grade 1 in my opinion, good views of the great Orme easy to walk on to Conway mountain
From my experiences doing G1’s in Snowdonia, I would say Penmaenbach Arete feels more like a G2, without being 100% a G2 if you know what I mean?! Some of the 2’s in Steve Ashton’s guides are not much different than Penmaenbach. But that’s just the way I see it. Either way it’s a fantastic little route and the location is superb mate.