Year of Adventure

 2016 – The Year of Adventure

Back in November we had the pleasure of working alongside several local companies to deliver a weekend of adventures to some lucky competition winners, as part of the “Year of Adventure” 2016. Visit Wales had organised a competition where the winners got a weekend away, here in Pembrokeshire… They were put up in local accommodation, fed locally, and taken out on activities for the weekend by local providers. These included Foraging, Kayaking, Coasteering and Climbing. While other local companies were delivering some of the activities, we had the pleasure of working alongside TYF and Dragon Activity Guides to introduce the competition winners to the delights of Sea Cliff Climbing.

Experience sea-cliff climbing in Pembrokeshire in 2016, the Year of Adventure in Wales

Experience sea-cliff climbing in Pembrokeshire in 2016, the Year of Adventure in Wales

Now we’re pretty biased, but Pembrokeshire is the best sea-cliff climbing destination in the UK, and whether you have never climbed at all or are a seasoned climber, there is something for everyone here. From friendly slabby routes to big steep multi-pitch routes, bouldering to deep water soloing, the county has so much to offer, making it a perfect destination for your climbing holiday. So with 2016 being the Year of Adventure in Wales, now’s the perfect time to come and find out for yourself! Luckily for them, the Visit Wales competition winners had a sneak preview!

Looking across Pembrokeshire from Porth Clais. There's a lot of Adventures to be had in 2016!

Looking across Pembrokeshire from Porth Clais. There’s a lot of Adventures to be had in 2016!

Over the weekend we ran sessions for total beginners, families with nervous youngsters (and nervous mums and dads!), people that had done a little climbing indoors and even some that had climbed outdoors before. The big thing they all had in common was they were just super keen to be outside! And what a weekend we had! The sun shone, company was great, the weather and sea played ball, good food was eaten and loads of fun was had. We climbed with Orlando who was as nervous as anyone could possibly be, but he conquered his fears, abseiled down the cliff, and by the end of the day had climbed every single route at the crag, some of them pretty tricky! A live changing experience hopefully Orlando – even if you might never climb again?! Then there were the guys that needed pushing that bit further, so we moved on to a bigger rock face, with a more serious feel to it and a committing approach. They just lapped up anything we threw at them and overcame every challenge we could set. Along the way, they guys learn’t the basics of climbing, the technical aspects to it, but also the mental side of things which are super important in our sport. With any luck they’ll be back to Pembrokeshire in 2016, the Year of Adventure, and might want to take the next steps and learn to climb for themselves to enjoy this special place with us!

The Autumn sun setting on the crags of North Pembrokeshire...

The Autumn sun setting on the crags of North Pembrokeshire…

Prince’s Trust in Devon

This week I have been working for Reach Outdoors, with the Prince’s Trust in Devon. We have been with a fantastic bunch of young people, looking at helping them gain confidence, develop team work and leadership and improve their communication skills. all through outdoor activities and a planning and review process. These weeks are always super rewarding (sometimes a little hard work too!), but this weeks group were awesome. Throughout our week with the Prince’s Trust in Devon, we have been walking on Dartmoor, Gorge Walking and Rock Climbing amongst other things. The weather has been unreal, especially for the start of October! Lets hope next week is even half as good! Though it does look like the weather is on the turn…

Climbing in Devon

Climbing with the Prince’s Trust in Devon

Gorge Walking with the Prince's Trust in Devon

Gorge Walking with the Prince’s Trust in Devon

Walking with the Prince's Trust on Dartmoor

Walking with the Prince’s Trust on Dartmoor

This weekend has been spent in Dorset, getting some sunny sport climbing done on Portland. Coming from Pembrokeshire where every trip entails an adventurous abseil into a big crag for some trad climbing, it was great to rock up and do some relaxing sport climbing after my week with the Prince’s Trust in Devon…

Climbing on Portland

Climbing on Portland

 

Climbing in Pembrokeshire

Last week we had a few days off at last! And it was a joy to be out on the crags climbing in Pembrokeshire for fun! As we hadn’t been on the limestone in a while, we spent a few days down there. Initially with Alun, but Bramble also got out of his kayak and came with us one day! Great company and some new places explored, and steep, adventurous routes done!

Climbing at St Govans

Climbing at St Govans

Steep ground Climbing in Pembrokeshire

Steep ground Climbing in Pembrokeshire

Climbing through the Blow Hole

Climbing through the Blow Hole

After a few days personal climbing in Pembrokeshire, I had a great day teaching lead climbing skills to Steve and Nikki. Being strong indoor climbers they picked up all the new skills quickly, and both did their first lead climbs in the Porth Clais area. Amazing weather and good company, hopefully they will both be back out on the cliffs again soon!

Steve on a course lead climbing in Pembrokeshire

Steve on a course lead climbing in Pembrokeshire

After a busy Monday to Friday it was a quick trip to North Wales for the weekend… I was attending a “Train the Trainers” course at Plas Y Brenin. Run by Mike Raine, this course is aimed at those delivering training to candidates going through the national governing body awards, such as the SPA and ML. The goal is to get like minded people to explore different teaching styles and models, using mock clients. An interesting couple of days, and a joy to be in the hills in such amazing weather!

Teaching ML rope work in Snowdonia

Teaching ML rope work in Snowdonia

Bank Holiday Weekend Climbing in Pembrokeshire

What a great couple of weeks it has been! I’ve been too busy climbing, working and exploring in Pembrokeshire to write any blog updates, so here is a sum up of the last couple of weeks, and the bank holiday weekend climbing in Pembrokeshire…. The weathers been almost non-stop good, great tides and magical sunsets, great clients and new routes climbed to boot!

We had a great day with Sicco and Hannah, a father and daughter from Germany (who thankfully spoke perfect English…). Hannah was psyched to get on any climb she possible could, and at only 9 shows great promise for the future should she keep it up, whilst dad Sicco had done loads of sport climbing previously – so he cruised his first trad lead climb here on the Pembrokeshire sea cliffs.

Sicco happy having led his first trad route!

Sicco happy having led his first trad route!

We had a day out with some local instructors who have got their SPA assessments coming up. This award lets them take groups of novices onto single pitch crags, a vital stepping stone in the ladder to being a successful outdoor instructor. We went through top and bottom roping, group abseils, and problem solving. We were luck to have some willing guinea pigs come along for the guys to practice on too!

Teaching SPA Skills to Instructors

Teaching SPA Skills to Instructors

It’s almost a tradition now for people to spend the bank holiday climbing in Pembrokeshire, and with the release of the excellent Climbers Club Pembrokeshire guidebooks, we are definitely noticing the area is getting busier, with crags that were relatively unexplored before, now having frequent visits..  Luckily for us we know more secret spots (and whole crags with no routes on!) so we were able to escape the crowds with Si and Elliot on a learn to lead course over the Bank Holiday Weekend…

Seconding a climb in Pembrokeshire

Seconding a climb in Pembrokeshire

We visited several crags on the first day, looking at loads of belays and rope work, gear placements and of course climbing heaps of classic routes, and on the second day, from being relative novices, both Si and Elliot were doing their first trad lead climbs. Great effort guys and thanks for a great weekend with good company…

Lead Climbing Course in Pembrokeshire

Lead Climbing Course in Pembrokeshire

I was lucky to have bank holiday Monday off for a rare change, and was rearing to get out and have a climb, and being super sunny and warm, a dip in the sea. Not many places in the work you can go on what is one of the busiest tourist days of the year, and have the crag to yourself, right by the turquoise sea, watch Porpoises and seals and swim in the warm(ish!) water to cool off as it’s too hot! Magical! Gotta love bank holidays in Pembrokeshire climbing with the cliffs to yourself!

Stunning St David's Head

Stunning St David’s Head

Once the crowds had departed from Pembrokeshire, the weather was still awesome, and the tides perfect for some exploration. We spent the day looking at lead climbing skills at a very unexplored crag near Newgale, with some excellent established routes, great to learn to lead climb on, it should be more popular – but we’re not complaining! We had the pleasure of doing a couple of first ascents during the day, the most memorable being up a pinnacle, with a proper pointy summit necessitating a counterbalance abseil decent. Throughout the day our only company was a couple of seals that watched us pretty mush non-stop… I’m excited to get back here and check out more of the new routes…

Exploring new routes in Pembrokeshire

Exploring new routes in Pembrokeshire

Coasteering in Pembrokeshire

After a beautiful start to the week, and a day climbing in South Pembrokeshire at Saddle Head in the sun and a warm afternoon in North Pembrokeshire at a crag near Solva, the rest of the week was spent Coasteering!

Coasteering in Cathedral Caves in North Pembrokeshire

Coasteering in Cathedral Caves in North Pembrokeshire

Pembrokeshire is renowned for it’s Coasteering, and in a commercial sense it all started here back in the 80’s. There are a phenomenal amount of different places to Coasteer, not all suitable for groups, some being really adventurous Coasteers!

Coasteering in big seas in Pembrokeshire

Coasteering in big seas in Pembrokeshire

I think I’ve spent a total of nearly 20 hours in the water this week, luckily there’s a big element of scrambling and climbing whilst Coasteering in Pembrokeshire…

DWS whilst Coasteering in Pembrokeshire

DWS whilst Coasteering in Pembrokeshire

We not only run many rock climbing courses, but are able to take you on these fantastic and wild Coasteers, come and check out what it’s all about and have an adventurous day Coasteering in Pembrokeshire with us…

Big jump Coasteering in Pembrokeshire

Big jump Coasteering in Pembrokeshire

 

Ruminahui Ascent

The group had slightly more ambitious plans after their hike on Chimbarazo. An ascent of the technical 4700m peak Ruminahui was the goal. As we were well acclimatised by this point we made swift progress on the easy lower slopes, and were rewarded with spectacular views of a family on Condors floating above us on the mountain.

It was cold and blustery in the way up, with no views of what lay ahead, but it got much steeper the higher we ascended, and soon we were scrambling.

Climbing Ruminahui

We got the rope out to protect the group for the last 20 meters or so, but they all managed to get to the exposed summit, their first bit of proper climbing at 4700m!

We didnt linger too long on top as it was pretty chilly and windy, once back down the rope we were able to move faster and warm up.

Ruminahui

The clouds parted on the decent to give us some spectacular views… Well done on your ascent team… If your in the area, Ruminahui is well worth having a go at climbing, but it’s no pushover!

On Ruminahui

 

 

 

 

 

Sunny Sport Climbing Portland

This weekend I’ve been down in Dorset, working on a “learn to sport climb” course for Freeborn Climbing. We had 5 fantastic people who had varying levels of experience, all progressed massively over the two days. It makes a nice change for me, as we have virtually no sport climbing in Pembrokeshire, so it was great to clip some bolts in the sunshine!

Sport Climbing in Portland

Sport Climbing in Portland

Over the course of the weekend we climbed loads of great routes, initially looking at a focus on belaying, climbing movement and efficient technique, alongside the art of clipping quick-draws!

Teaching threading lower-offs at The Cuttings

Teaching threading lower-offs at The Cuttings

Once the team all had the skills to thread lower offs and felt confidant to lead, we climbed loads of routes to reinforce the skills…

Coaching leading on the sharp end whilst sport climbing

Coaching leading on the sharp end whilst sport climbing

We rounded up the weekend with some problem solving and avoidance. Hopefully everyone will be confidant to get out themselves now and get on the sharp end! Awesome effort in hot weather!\

How to protect an abseil

How to protect an abseil

Tying-off the belay plate

Tying-off the belay plate

 

Walking Skills in Pembrokeshire

This week I have been working and walking in Pembrokeshire on behalf of TYF delivering walking skills courses to students from Tormead School. The walking skills were delivered in the under-visited Preseli Hills in Pembrokeshire. The area is famous for the Bluestones (Spotted Dolerite rock) that were actually used in the inner circle at Stonehenge… Its pretty mad that all that time ago these massive stones were transported 200km! Aliens? Glaicial erratics? Rolled on logs? You decide!

The site of the Bluestones from Stonehenge

The site of the Bluestones from Stonehenge

We started the week with a big dump of rain, the first in what seems like months here, and finished in sweltering heat! The focus of the walking skills course was to give the students a grounding in decision making and risk assessing, hopefully leading to them being safer walkers and scramblers in the future. As well as looking at map reading skills and plenty of fauna and flora, we spend much of the time scrambling around the various summit rocks.

Summit rocks on Carn Menyn

Summit rocks on Carn Menyn

The area is usually deserted, which is mad! There is loads of potential for short scrambles and bouldering to spice up your day, and it feels like a proper upland environment. I really enjoy running mountain skills courses here, it’s great for navigation and the aforementioned scrambling, plus contains loads of fauna and flora and sites of historical significance. As well as the usual plants, mosses and lichens, we were lucky enough to see loads of Ravens and spot a Peregrine close up…

Ravens nest on the Preseli Hills

Ben above an old Ravens nest in the Preseli Hills

 

A great week working with Ben was had, and we had a few great nights down Whitesands Beach and Abereiddy with the students soaking up the sun and the ever amazing Pembrokeshire sunsets…

Whitesands Beach Sunset

Whitesands Beach Sunset

Weekend rock climbing Courses Available

The forecast rain hasn’t materialised here in Pembrokeshire yet again – just to remind us how amazing a sunny place this is to climb! Whilst it does rain occasionally in Pembs, it’s a good bet to book your learn to climb courses with us here in our very agreeable climate!

COURSE DATES AVAILABLE

Dates available for “Learn to Lead” or “Learn to Climb Outside” courses this spring/early summer:

June 6/7

June 13/14

July 4/5

Price : Learn to Lead weekend –  £150 per person based on 2 people (must have 2 people to run!)

Price : Learn to Climb Outdoors weekend – £100 per person based on 4 people, £150 pp based on 2

Email: stu@climbingcompany.co.uk  –  to BOOK now

Beth seconding at Caerfai

Beth seconding at Caerfai on a “Learn to Climb Outside” Course