The whole escarpment is within an SSSI (Coed Adwy Gwynt SSSI) and there have been issues of vegetation clearance and rock modification which have concerned both the owners and the Natural Rescources for Wales. The original documented climbing is on the northern buttresses and is privately owned. The landowners of the northern buttresses have been concerned regarding liability as they were informed by thier insurers that they cannot allow climbing on this land. The BMC and the landowners have agreed that climbing can continue here but strictly on the basis that all climbers willingly accept the risks involved with climbing and that no new routes or bolting take palce.
Some more recent developments are on the southern buttress and are on a nature reserve owned and managed by the Butterfly Conservation Trust. Similar issues exist here and climbing only takes place strictly at your own risk and no new bolting or vegetation clearance should take place.
The owners and NRW have stated that there should not be any further vegetation clearance, tree felling or changes to the rock (such as removal of loose rock or clearing blocks from the base) without permission.