by Lophophaps » Fri 21 Feb, 2020 7:50 pm
I have not been there for a while, so the following may be dated. There are or were two routes from the Sugarloaf car park. One goes around the back, the west side, veer left near the start. I found this unpleasant as the angle of the route under rock was hard on the ankles.
The other goes up the slabs, veer right near the start, on the track that climbers use. Wells Cave is tight, awkward and tricky access route. I'd avoid this with kids or going uphill. Instead, follow the route around this and go up a series of easy steps to just north of Wells Cave. From Wells Cave you drop down one terrace, maybe 2 metres, and then traverse. Just follow the pads or tracks. Or the track may bypass Wells Cave totally, down a few terraces.
The most interesting part is next, easy but slightly exposed scrambling where falling is a bad idea. It's not technically hard but children may not have the reach to get the handholds. Consider roping up and belaying if the kids look suss. A bowline around the waist should suffice. The top here is broad, maybe 3 metres, and flat
The ridge north is narrow in places and great care is needed. It's not hard, just narrow with a plunge factor. Several people have fallen off near here. At The Farmyard, one option is to go steeply down the hill on the track to the road, and then back via the road, uphill and a slog but easier than retracing the ridge.
I'd allow most of a day for this. Returning via the road means that you get water in the middle of the walk and the road is viable in fading light.