Dolmen Ridge is the final part of the Glyder Fach
trilogy and is one of the most sought after
scrambles in North Wales. The crux is exposed
and on immaculate rock but its seriousness has
given the route an air of notoriety.
Approach - Go right underneath Alphabet Slabs.
Continue along the base of the crag passing
below East Gully and past West Gully. This
defines the right edge of The Dolmen Buttress,
where a Quartz band arcs across the lower wall.
From below the quartz band, scramble up to
the right side of the gully, heading diagonally
rightwards away from the gully on well-travelled
ground. After 20m or so, start to zig back up and
left to reach the rib of the gully.
Ascend the stepped ribs to easier ground and
trend right before heading up to a grass/scree
bay just above a narrowing of the gully. From
here you should be able to see where the route
traverses left along a rampline to reach the crest
of the Dolmen Buttress.
Traverse out left from the gully along a
rampline to gain the left arete of Dolmen Buttress
almost half-way up it by some small spikes.
The next section is one of the hardest and
most sustained in this guide but the rock is
immaculate. The line follows a well-travelled
slabby groove to the top edge of the buttress.
From here, go up the ridge past the Dolmen (a
rock balanced on others like a burial cairn). Carry
on up following your nose as the terrain is
generally easier clambering over boulders.
