Amphitheatre Buttress: A Classic Climb in North Wales

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Climbing the Amphitheatre Buttress on Craig Yr Ysfa is a true classic climb in North Wales. The climb itself offers stunning views, while the return journey via Carnedd Llewelyn adds to the epic experience. Ultimately, it’s an unforgettable adventure that promises to create lasting memories.

Just like our “Climbing Cadair Idris via the Cyfwry Arete: A Multi-Pitch Adventure” guide, this isn’t a technical guide about the climb; rather, it’s a picture guide designed to entice you to embark on this adventure yourself with or without kids in tow. We climbed the Amphitheatre Buttress in August 2021 when my children were 9 and 12 years old. Rock climbing in Snowdonia is always an unforgettable experience, with its stunning landscapes, challenging routes, and rich climbing history.

Once again, we enlisted the services of an amazing climbing guide – Bob Thomas at Contour Outdoor. I highly recommend Bob’s services for any climbing or mountaineering activities in the UK or beyond. Once you’ve experienced the best, it’s hard to settle for anything less.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. About Craig Yr Ysfa
2. About the Amphitheatre Buttress
3. Stats about the Amphitheatre Buttress Climb
4. Getting to the Start of the Climb
5. The Walk-In
6. The Climb
7. The Walk-Out
8. Frequently Asked Questions
9. Campsites in North Wales
10. Final Words

1. About Craig Yr Ysfa

Nestled in the tranquil Carneddau mountains, Craig Yr Ysfa is a remarkable mountain crag located on the eastern face of Carnedd Llewelyn at the western end of the Cwm Eigiau valley. This adventurous crag is home to numerous historic and classic routes, including the impressive Amphitheatre Buttress.

2. About the Amphitheatre Buttress

Climbing the Amphitheatre Buttress | Amphitheatre Buttress

The Amphitheatre Buttress, a multi-pitch Trad climb in Craig Yr Ysfa, spans 330m and is graded V Diff. Its long approach ensures a full day of adventure.

3. Stats about the Amphitheatre Buttress Climb

Starting Point: Car Park at Grid Ref: SH 731 663
Distance: 13.33 km
Elevation Gain: 826 metres
Climbing Time: 5 hours (including lunch)
Elapsed Time: 10h 15m
Grade: V Diff
Height: 330 m
Ordnance Survey Map: OS Explorer OL17 Snowdon & Conwy Valley
Amphitheatre Buttress Map & GPX File: View Route Map & Download GPX File

Amphitheatre Buttress – Elevation Profile

For a technical guide about this climb, check out Bob Thomas’ article Bob’s Route of the Month – February: Amphitheatre Buttress, V Diff Climb, 330m

4. GETTING TO THE START OF THE CLIMB

There are two options to reach the start of the Amphitheatre Buttress climb. One option is to approach it from Cwm Eigiau, while the other is to walk in from the Ogwen Valley. Our guide, Bob, chose the former, and we walked in from Cwm Eigiau. It’s worth noting that the approach from Ogwen Valley entails a very steep descent to reach the start of the climb, so be prepared for a strenuous hike if you opt for this route.

Park your car at the car park located at SH 731 663 at the end of the approach road in Cmw Eigiau.

5. THE WALK-IN

Approach from Cwm Eigiau: From the car park at SH 731 663, head south-west along the path. You’ll come across a stream at SH 723649 after around 1 km. Continue south along the stream. After crossing the stream again at SH 718640, head west on the path, and cross the stream for the final time at SH 701 635 until you reach the final steep ascent of about 300 metres. This leads to the start of the climb at SH 693 637.

Climbing the Amphitheatre Buttress | Approach from Cwm Eigiau

The approach took us 1.5 hours and was a good warm-up for what was to come, especially the last 300m of ascent to reach the base of the climb.

After reaching the base of the climb, we all geared up, adjusting our layers to suit the conditions and swapping our hiking boots for climbing shoes.

Personally, I tend to feel hot while hiking but cold while climbing due to the slower pace. Therefore, I usually add an extra layer of clothing before the climb, a wind-proof soft-shell jacket is a great option.

Climbing the Amphitheatre Buttress | Getting geared up for the climb | Image by Bob Thomas

6. The Climb

After getting geared up, it was finally time to start climbing. Throughout the entire climb, the kids and I took turns going first or second, based on our guide’s instructions. I cherished the few quiet minutes, while the kids climbed, and took in the breathtaking views and tranquility of the Welsh hills.

In the following images, you can see the terrain and get a sense of the climb’s difficulty. The climb was pitched at just the right level for us, or rather, for me. The kids have been out-climbing me since the first day we set (hand and) foot on a crag!

The crux of the climb, which refers to the most difficult section of a route, was situated on Pitch 4. The kids did a great job navigating this section, and I somehow managed to make it past it as well.

The pinnacles are the highlight of the Amphitheatre Buttress climb. We traversed the pinnacles as opposed to climbing over them which was still a thrilling experience. My daughter also had the added task of retrieving placed protection gear as she was the last climber on this pitch. She did a great job!

An almost-teenager loving the climb so far …

7. The Walk-Out

The walk-out was just as breathtaking as the walk-in with regards to the scenic views.

Initially, we headed towards Carnedd Llewelyn, which is the second-highest peak in Wales, standing at 1,064 metres. From there, we headed north-east to the saddle before descending south-east on a broad ridge. Finally, we continued our descent in a south-easterly direction towards the access road, which took us back to the car park located at Cwm Eigiau.

The terrain consisted of a mixture of clearly defined gravel paths, paths traversing grasslands, as well as sections where we had to walk across grasslands without any designated path, which was strenuous on the ankles.

The views towards Bwlch Eryl Farchog on our way to Carnedd Llewelyn were stunning.

Once we approached Carnedd Llewelyn, we headed north-east to the saddle before descending south-east on a broad ridge.

8. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT IS THE CLIMBING GRADE OF THE AMPHITHEATRE BUTTRESS?

The Amphitheatre Buttress climb is graded a V Diff.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO CLIMB THE AMPHITHEATRE BUTTRESS?

It took us approximately 5 hours to climb the Amphitheatre Buttress, which included a half-hour lunch break. This time accounts for all four climbers in our party – our guide, my two children, and myself. A smaller group would likely complete the climb in less time. In total, our climbing day lasted just over 10 hours, including the walk-in and walk-out to and from the crag from Cwm Eigiau.

WHAT’S THE ELEVATION GAIN FOR THE AMPHITHEATRE BUTTRESS CLIMB?

The total elevation gain for the Amphitheatre Buttress climb including the walk-in & walk-out is approximately 826 metres.

HOW HIGH IS THE CLIMB ON THE AMPHITHEATRE BUTTRESS?

The Amphitheatre Buttress is a multi-pitch Trad climb spanning 330 metres.

Where is the Amphitheatre Buttress located?

The Amphitheatre Buttress is located at Craig yr Ysfa on the eastern face of Carnedd Llewelyn in the Carneddau mountains in Snowdonia National Park in North Wales.

Where to park for the Amphitheatre Buttress?

For an approach from Cwm Eigiau, park at the car park at Grid Reference SH 731 663.

Weather for the Amphitheatress Buttress?

As with any activity in the mountains, always check the weather forecast.
The Mountain Weather Forecast by the MetOffice website or app is very useful.

9. Campsites in North Wales

We stayed at the Dolgam Campsite which is a 45-minute drive to the car park in Cwm Eigiau. It’s a simple campsite with very clean facilities that has a relaxed feel to it. They also offer Bed & Breakfast if camping isn’t for you.

10. FINAL WORDS

We climbed the Amphitheatre Buttress three days after hiking up Ben Nevis in Scotland. During this climb, I was still suffering from muscle ache, which definitely taught me a valuable lesson.

Nonetheless, we had an epic day of climbing, and both my kids did amazingly well. It has become a little family tradition to climb for a couple of days with Contour Outdoor every year. A day out climbing with the kids not only fills my cup, but also my heart, soul, and muscles. There is no one else I’d rather go climbing with than my kids (although it would be cool to climb with Alex Honnold one day, I would still take my kids with me!).

Climbing the Amphitheatre Buttress was our second-ever multi-pitch adventure, and it was amazing! Once again, our guide Bob at Contour Outdoor delivered an unforgettable day by pitching the difficulty at just the right level for us. This is one of the reasons why, when you’ve found the best, you don’t settle for anything less.

Climbing with kids in tow can also be very amusing. Here are a couple of anecdotes from our day: My son commented, “I’ve climbed on nothingness!” after scaling a slab with only a few small holds. And my daughter exclaimed, “Oh my god, I’m gonna get hit by a bush!” upon emerging onto a heather-covered ledge.”

As I highlighted in our “Climbing Cadair Idris via the Cyfwry Arete: A Multi-Pitch Adventure” guide, adventuring solo with kids isn’t about doing it all by yourself. Rather, it’s about initiating it yourself without having to rely on someone else to join you; be it a spouse, partner or friend. So, plan that climbing, canyoning or rafting trip and book a guide! I only recommend guides/providers that we used ourselves and were happy with. Check out Top 20 Family Outdoor Activities in Wales for various activities and recommendations for guides & providers.

Happy Climbing!