"I'm sure that by the time Rockfax’s new pocket sized North Wales Classics guidebook hit the shops (a few days earlier than initially anticipated) I suspect I was one of the most eager climbers around wanting to purchase a copy. Why? Because on the day it hit the shops, I had just commenced a three week trad climbing trip in North Wales, and with the long term forecast looking so promising, there was nothing else but to set about ticking the classics of Llanberis, Ogwen and Tremadog. It was still bitterly cold up on Cloggy and the Carneddau mind!

As with all guidebooks, the proof really is in the pudding. Crystal-clear photos, carefully worded route descriptions, a good key and sound information are really only worthwhile if the guidebook is accurate and usable. The guidebook certainly isn’t without competition, as the team at Ground Up Productions have got a very well established select guide to North Wales, already in it’s second edition, so it was clear that the team at Rockfax would have to produce something exciting. An initial flick through the Rockfax guidebook in the shop, quickly determined that it was going to be a very worthwhile purchase.

As with all Rockfax productions, finding your way around the guidebook is a breeze, with coloured thumb-tabs down the page edge for each of the 9 areas: Tremadog, Cwm Silyn, Clogwyn Du’r Arddu, Llanberis, Lliwedd, Ogwen, Carneddau, Betws y Coed and a particularly inspirational section on Welsh Winter climbing. Photos are clear as ever, with routes marked in an array of dashed lines, hopefully minimising the chance of wandering off-route! Also, having put the guidebook through its paces in April, it was helpful to know which crags received the sun, and when!

The term reassuringly expensive springs to mind, as it’s not a cheap guidebook, considering it’s compact A6 size, but it’s clear that Jack Geldard has crammed as much into the 208 pages as possible, and has squeezed in 335 of the best routes North Wales has to offer, with very little empty space. The best thing about it? This has to be its size. Just as the name suggests, pop it in a pocket, and climb."
Ken Applegate - 10/Jun/10

"This new guide by Rockfax is pretty impressive, containing a vast choice of routes across North Wales all packed down into a pocket-sized book. It's concentrated on the mountain areas primarily (Gogarth, Llandudno, the Lleyn Peninsular and the slate aren't included) but also includes an excellent choice of routes at the popular roadside venue of Tremadog. No guide to North Wales would be complete without the Llanberis Pass and Cloggy and both are included in some detail here, giving an excellent selection of classics in the VS-E3 range. Where this guide excels however, is the selection of routes in lesser known areas such as Cwn Silyn, Lliwedd and Carneddau. Along with Ogwen and Betws y Coed these 5 areas are packed with quality routes below HVS, including numerous multi-pitch VDiffs. As one expects from a rockfax, each crag is accompanied with a clear photo-topo and the usual sketch map. The routes all have clear written descriptions and details of the crag descent are highlighted on the photos. Also included is a short but detailed winter section, just in case we get another winter like the last one. All in all a quality production which the author, Jack Geldard, deserves to be proud of. There's plenty of routes to keep the low extreme climber busy but if you climb at HVS or below and enjoy a good day out in the mountains then this guide is a must.
Reviewed by Karin Magog on www.climbonline.co.uk "
Karin Magog - 01/Jun/10

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