Cenotaph Corner | E1 Trad climb on Dinas Cromlech

United Kingdom / Wales / Gwynedd / Caernarfon
UKClimbing.com

The Cenotaph Corner is still an unclimbed gap, throwing out its challenge.

(Peter Harding, 1950)

The obvious 'last great problem' of North Wales at the time of the first ascent, it had already been named by John Menlove Edwards. By 1961 it was regarded as a trade route. Climbed free before 1968, FFA by persons unknown. A piton above the niche, possibly Brown's, survived until July 2024.

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BdWj3qmu5M

[2] Harding, PJR (1950). Llanberis Pass. UK: Climber’s Club

[3] https://climbing-history.org/library/7288/llanberis-pass

[4] https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/rock_talk/ron_moseley_and_left_wall-127598

[5] https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/dinas_cromlech-4/cenotaph_corner-3195

[6] https://www.climbing.com/culture-climbing/cleaning-up-climbing-history/

Contributors
duncancritchley
92 contributions since 2nd October 2025.
remus
26 contributions since 8th August 2021.

Lists

Pics + Vids

No pics or vids yet.

Ascents

7 successful ascents and 2 unsuccessful attempts recorded.

Climber Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade

Turned back by the first hard section at 20'.

References

[1] https://climbing-history.org/list/36/hard-rock

Brown's first attempt finished at the niche below the crux where he dropped his peg hammer on Wilf White his unfortunate belayer.

References

[1] https://theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk/blog/joe-brown-biography
Joe Brown Lead | ground up 24th Aug 1952
First ascent. 2 points of aid.
First female ascent.

References

[1] https://www.outsidersstore.com/blogs/blog/tea-biscuits-with-jo-scarr

Rowland remembers he did an early free ascent, but is pretty sure it had already been freed by the time he did it.

References

https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/rock_talk/cenotaph_corner-787347?v=1#x10110599

References

[1] Cleare, J and Smythe, T (1966) Rock Climbers in Action in Snowdonia. UK: Secker & Warburg

References

Possible first solo ascent, onsight and unfamiliar with the crag. [1] https://www.alpinejournal.org.uk/Contents/Contents_2010-11_files/AJ%202010-11%20457-463%20Braithwaite%20Valedictory.pdf

[2] https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/rock_talk/cenotaph_corner-787347?v=1#x10111548

I did it in free in the summer of 1969 as a schoolboy and by then that was normal, as a Swanage yobbo it seemed kinda easy enough and UK 5c/6a not unfamiliar territory nor was bridging, a sort-of HS slippery corner with an unpleasant but well protected finger-jam at the top. [1]

References

[1] https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/rock_talk/cenotaph_corner-787347?v=1#x10109827
Jerry Moffatt Solo | repeat 15th Jul 1983