A “misleading” guide book on trekking in Snowdonia led a walker to his death although he followed a recommended route, an inquest was told yesterday.

Mountaineering experts called for the £3.95 book to be withdrawn from sale because, they said, it gave a “false representation” of a difficult climb.

After following one of its routes up Mount Tryfan in North Wales and getting lost, Christopher Parratt, 32, left his wife and dog on a ledge to get help but ended up falling more 80 feet (24 metres) and broke his skull.

The inquest at Caernarfon was told that Mr Parratt and his wife, Jennifer, 29, used the book Walks in the Snowdonia Mountains to try to find their way up the 3,000ft mountain. They referred to a chapter headed Tryfan the Easy Way, Detective Inspector Gerwyn Lloyd, of Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Team, said: “There is no easy way up Tryfan. It is a serious mountain, a mountaineering mountain, and there are no paths on it. The title Tryfan the Easy Way is extremely misleading.”

Mrs Parratt and her husband travelled to North Wales for a holiday in June. They walked up Tryfan with their dog, Oscar, after buying the book, a map and a compass in nearby Betws-y-Coed. Both were keen on sports and experienced hikers.

The couple, from Wallingford, Oxfordshire, followed a recommended route but despite becoming confused found their way to the summit, which was covered in low cloud. As conditions became wetter they used a map for their descent down the North Ridge. “We had lost confidence in the book on the way up,” Mrs Parratt said.

The descent was slippery and became increasingly steep and they could not see any path. They stopped on a ledge then Mr Parratt continued to climb down. “I stayed on the ledge and held on to the dog as he went down first,” Mrs Parratt said.

But Mr Parratt then lost his grip and fell backwards down the mountain. His wife called the emergency services before scrambling down to him. “I’m not quite sure how I managed that.” She stayed with him for two hours until the rescue team arrived.

Inspector Lloyd said that a map in the book was misleading and virtually impossible to follow: “I would like to see it withdrawn from sale.”

John Hulse, the rescue team leader, added: “There is no easy way up Tryfan — it’s a contradiction in terms.”

The guide’s publisher denied that the book suggested that climbing Tryfan was easy. Myrddin Dafydd, of Gwasg Carreg Gwalch, said: “The book describes two paths for every mountain — the ‘hard’ one and the ‘easy’ one. The ‘easy’ routes are only easier by comparison. The guide says that Tryfan is the toughest mountain in Wales.

“The book takes it for granted that it’s for people who are prepared and understand mountains.”

Nicola Jones, the deputy coroner for northwest Wales, recorded a verdict of accidental death.

A national treasure

— Snowdonia in Wales comprises 840 square miles of national park.

— Most of the land is privately owned and farmed

— Mount Snowdon, after which it takes its name, is 3,560ft high — it takes about six hours to climb and descend

— 10.5 million people a year visit Snowdonia

— Every year there are about 250 accidents and ten deaths there. Fewer than a quarter of the casualties are Welsh

Sources: Llanberis Mountain Rescue and National Parks websites; North Wales Police

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