Llanberis Guides
Mountain Guides based in Llanberis, North Wales, UK. We are specialists in high quality, personalised guiding and instruction in all aspects of rock climbing, mountain walking and mountaineering. IFMGA/BMG and WMCI/MCI qualified.
North Wales, and Llanberis in particular, is the hub of Welsh climbing, sitting at the foot of Snowdon; the highest mountain in England and Wales. It’s the perfect place to be based as it’s very close to the mountains and the sea cliffs, within easy reach of all the climbing, mountain walking and mountaineering that the area has to offer. It’s straightforward to travel from many major cities in the UK, so it’s possible to make a short trip over a couple of days, or longer if you have more time.
Our small group of Guides and Instructors, are all highly qualified IFMGA Mountain Guides and / or Mountaineering Instructors (MCI or WMCI), or both. In addition to holding the highest guiding qualifications, we are all long-term local activists and residents in the area, so we know our home crags and mountains very very well indeed.
We aim to take a relaxed approach, so that you can enjoy learning in a calm, safe environment, and hopefully have some fun along the way! We can cater for everyone from complete beginners looking for a place to start, to advanced climbers honing their skills, to families looking for a great day in the mountains.
We are totally flexible on days and dates, so we can suit you, and we can tailor any itinerary to fit in with your needs and aspirations. We operate all year round, and whatever the weather we can find something valuable to learn, or do, to extend your skills and experiences.
Many people, and some companies, call themselves ‘mountain guides’ but not all hold the ‘Mountain Guide’ qualification – so it’s important to check when you choose your Guide to make sure that you’re getting ‘what it says on the tin’! For more information about qualifications click here.
Independent Mountain Guides based in Snowdonia
Where it all began
What makes climbing in Snowdonia and North Wales so special
150 years of climbing and mountaineering have put Snowdonia and North Wales on the map as a world famous climbing destination. We may not have the biggest mountains and the tallest cliffs in the world, but what we do have is quality, variety and a massive sense of history. Since mountaineering began, activists from the area have taken their skills, developed on these humble rock faces and mountain tops, to tackle some of the most demanding climbs on the planet. What we also have is weather. We can be fighting blizzards in the winter or smearing on the suncream in the summer, but it all adds to the sense of adventure and experience
At a glance…
Mountain Walking
Guided mountain walking in Snowdonia one of the many fantastic mountains. Navigation training, mountain skills and mountain leader preparation or refreshers.
Mountain Scrambling
Mountain scrambles on the fine ridges or gullies of Snowdonia. Fun days out with or without a rope. Guided days and training
Rock Climbing
Learn to rock climb, learn to lead trad, climb on sea cliffs, or be guided on some classic climbs in North Wales
Alpine and Winter
Alpine training in Wales, Welsh winter mountaineering and overseas Alpine guiding
Professional Guiding without losing the amateur spirit for adventure…
The Guides
Llanberis Guides is headed up by Libby Peter and Ric Potter, who are both experienced IFMGA British Mountain Guides and Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructors (WMCI). We are sometimes joined by colleagues who share a similar level of qualification and experience, and depth of professional expertise along with a love for climbing and being in the mountains.
Ric Potter
IFMGA Mountain Guide, WMCI.
Ric started climbing in the early 1980s, and soon moved to North Wales, for the great climbing and to do a PGCE in Outdoor Education at Bangor University. Since then he has climbed and skied in many areas of the world. For over 25 years Ric has worked as an instructor and guide, including a number of years living full time in the Alps, some guiding in the Greater Ranges, and training and assessing British guides and instructors. Ric now divides his time between rock climbing in Wales and Alpine mountaineering in the summer, and backcountry ski and snowboard guiding in the winter.
Libby Peter
IFMGA Mountain Guide, WMCI, and Coach
Rock climbing and mountaineering have been central to Libby’s life for over 20 years. She has visited many of the major climbing areas in the UK and worldwide, sampling all aspects of climbing from bouldering to high altitude mountaineering and everything in between. In addition to guiding and instructing Libby often writes articles for the climbing press and is the author of Rock Climbing – the official handbook of the Mountain Training rock climbing qualification schemes.
What are you waiting for?
