Climbing books reviews: Llanberis by Iwan Arfon Jones
Last year when I first visited the Llanberis Pass, I fell completely in love with the place. A visually stunning 3 mile stretch of rock climbing paradise, with routes for everyone, from beginner to expert.
This is actually the sixth edition of this climbing book. The first edition was published back in 1987. I’m not sure how many climbs are featured within, without counting them, but I can tell you it’s a lot.
The passion of the author really shines through in every page of this climbing guide. Evident from the clear description of the process applied to grading the routes, to the comprehensive list of first ascents at the back. Each crag page features an overview of the crag, aspect, altitude and a guide to the walk-in time. There’s even a guide to when to use each crag for optimum conditions!
The residents of Snowdonia are spoiled rotten for rock climbing. Driving through the Llanberis Pass, you notice smaller crags which appear to be virtually ignored. If you were to relocate those crags to the Peak District they would be crawling with climbers. It’s easy to see how Iwan found the enthusiasm to treat us to this guide, and I’m really glad he did. Llanberis is arguably the best climbing venue in the UK, and this guide is a must have if you plan to go there.
Oh, did I mention the book covers are plastic coated to keep it in reasonable shape when you take it climbing with you. Brilliant!
This book is available to buy fromThe Climbing Book Shop for £19.50. It’s not cheap, but it is well worth it.
