A FEMALE rock climber has scaled the heights of success in Snowdonia.

Caroline Ciavaldini has become the first woman to climb the 'Quarryman,' a notorious route above Llanberis.

She joins only a handful of elite climbers who have successfully completed the ascent.

The Quarryman is the most famous route in the Dinorwic slate quarry. It is 100 meters long and divided into four pitches.

Caroline, who is 33, has been climbing since she was 12. She has been planning the ascent for three years.

In 2016, she successfully completed one of the four pitches, but completed them all on April 14 this year.

The climb is considered particularly difficult as the quarry has sheer sides, few places to grip and is extremely narrow.

Caroline, who grew up on the island of La Reunion, in the South Indian Ocean, but now lives in Connaux, in the South of France, said: "I had set a month aside for the climb because I knew I would have to wait for a good weather window, but I think in Wales, weather management is part of the game.

"The slates, with their absence of friction, and this route in particular with its unique shape, still surprised me in the intensity and diversity of skills that they demanded. I’m not sure I would be able to repeat what I managed on that one day!

She added: "Standing on the top at the end of that very special day, I had this wide smile that comes with the completion of a long term project. I managed to enjoy every moment, even when the fear of failure was so close to winning me over."

Caroline is married to fellow climber James Pearson, who grew up in Matlock, Derbyshire. Details of their latest climbing adventures can be found on their website and blog, www.onceuponaclimb.co.uk