North Wales Slate

Book excerpt: The slate quarries near Llanberis have become one of the most popular climbing spots in North Wales for climbers looking for sport routes, or immaculate slab climbing. The development started with the slate boom of the 1980s when the area became famous for immaculate slabs of purple slate with bold run-out routes. Most of these routes are still there in their original style and many have become classics and much sought-after trad ticks. More recently the area has been developed with a multitude of super sport routes from short single pitches to huge multi-pitch extravaganzas. This guide is a celebration of all of those styles of slate climbing. It is a comprehensive guidebook covering all the routes which is a little unusual for a Rockfax, although we have produced such books before.