Another small but perfectly formed crag on the west side of Snowdonia, in the Lledr Valley. Only a small number of routes, but three excellent ones: Lightning Visit, VS, Lavaredo VS, and Fratricide Wall HVS. All notionally two pitches, but easy enough to run into one with a bit of careful rope work.
Lavaredo is the pick of the bunch with a thrilling headwall on improbable holds through very steep terrain. Here’s a team on it, with the leader just contemplating the crux moves.
… and a view of the whole route (the first pitch takes the groove just right of the square cut rib picked out by the sunlight)
Fratricide Wall is a tougher proposition altogether, with tricky climbing through a steepening above the halfway stance (more so if you don’t tackle it far enough to the left) followed by a teetering traverse back right and then crux moves up the final groove and a fluttery launch for finishing holds on the Arête. Could easily warrant E1 and well worth 3*.
Back to the Pass and a night outside Beudy – the hut’s looking immaculate after the recent working meet and the attentions of Bill and Steve, and we had a fitting evening to admire their handywork.