2-day rock climbing course for beginners in Wales

My partner and I had Gareth as our guide and he was brilliant. His knowledge and history of the mountains made for good conversations and his endurance and patience was greatly appreciated on our climb. We didn't know what to expect but Gareth guided us on the path we were taking going up and the other path we would take descending down. I found it challenging at times but Gareth was always patient and truthfully reassuring on the types of steepness we faced and was able to put time/kilometres on it too, which encouraged me to push myself. He was very welcoming to small breaks and also kindly captured pictures and videos of me and my partner as we climbed, which is nice to look back on. Overall, I highly recommend this service. As first time climbers, the Rhyd Ddu path was challenging but so worth it as it was a beautiful, quieter path to climb. I specifically booked this service as a birthday surprise for my partner and loved the fact we were not part of a group and were able to enjoy the experience together. Keep up the great work and I'll be sure to pass on these details to anyone interested in climbing. Regards, Eleasha.

We booked with SW&C for the North Ridge on Tryfan, with the goal being to let my 12 year-old daughter climb a mountain in the UK that you can’t walk to the top of. I’m so glad we did. We had the best day out despite the classic Welsh weather, and our guide made the whole thing totally stress-free, including navigating with visibility down to 10 feet or so at some points, taking loads of photos of us, showing the easiest moves for the “crux” and having a generally encyclopaedic knowledge of the mountain and related areas in general. I can’t recommend SW&C highly enough!

Ascending Ben Nevis was a shared 21st/75th birthday treat for my grandson and me. Rich was really kind right from the start - eg changing the start time because some of our luggage was lost en route and we had to buy new waterproofs. He spent time getting to know us and our capabilities, encouraged us to do things like eating and keeping warm, encouraged us and joked with us and told stories all the way to the top in wind and rain and snow (in July!). Going down was something else and I'd have died, I think, without Rich, because my legs more or less packed up. He and my grandson encouraged me evey painful step of the way (six hours) and towards the end Rich tethered me to himself with a rope for support and encouragement. Never an impatient word, in spite of the very extended day, and not a hint that I might have bitten off more than I could chew. I am so happy and grateful. A scholar and a gentleman! Thank you Rich.

Climbing Snowdon as a single parent with my 16yr old son was never going to end well without a guide. I needed to make sure we got up & down safely without getting lost. Richard provided so much more than that, with interesting facts about the plant & wildlife, not to mention his background climbing Everest and as an RAF Engineer. I felt in very safe hands and our comfort & enjoyment was clearly his top priority. If you're looking for a guide, look no further! Thanks Richard for a great experience.

We received great information and advice prior to the trip and on the day our guide made it a really enjoyable and valuable experience. He was supportive, encouraging and extremely knowledgeable. Thank you Jamie and dog Gwen.