Family Friendly and Child Friendly Rock Climbing in Mid Wales (Elenydd/Meirionnydd)

With two young children I am more and more interested in finding family friendly and child friendly climbing in Mid Wales and West Wales. My favourite spot at the moment is (location removed as on my last visit we were told to stop climbing - I believe we should be able to climb there but until I've clarified the position I'm omitting the location).

With a large flat grassy area beside the crag and picnic table it is ideal for families, and we've even gotten up there with a buggy!

National Trust Cwm Tydu Bioblitz

Nice little video about the Cwm Tydu Bioblitz.

You may even recognize one of the climbers!

Here's a photo taken with my phone from the same day, with Doug on a cool boulder problem which requires jamming on the overhang! Well done to Sy for the FA of the problem and for ably spotting Doug.

Rock Climbing in Ceredigion

Let's clear something up to begin with... there is rock climbing in Ceredigion, some of it high quality such as Ynys Lochtyn, and Craig Yr Eglwys. There is also lots of bouldering, at venues as diverse as Pumlumon and Borth. There are even a couple of spots to sport climb! With a new guidebook to Mid-Wales not far off completion, time is short to go 'off-piste' and get a real sense of exploration.

To Climb or Not to Climb? Bouldering in Bogota.

Recently came across some excellent looking boulders on Alto San Mateo, Bogota. Rushed to a shop to buy a brush to clean off some problems, and returned and completed a fun little circuit of basic problems in the V0-V2 range. Returning back to base that evening a search online didn't reveal any recorded climbing on the boulders, but did however turn up some interesting details of petroglyphs on some of the boulders and a problem with quarrying damaging the site. Later a chat with some locals revealed a disinterest in the site and a fear of even visiting it due to thieves and drug users frequenting there, plus quite a few wild dogs roaming around.

What a shame to leave a beautiful and interesting location to the destruction of graffiti, broken bottles, thieves and quarrying! A visit to the well know bouldering spot of Canoas just outside Bogota showed how bouldering and the preservation of the petroglyphs could co-exist. If more people were interested in the area it would be an asset for the local community choking in petrol fumes with no safe green space on their doorstep.

Should rock climbers have the responsibility to do something to help preserve rocks, even those we can't climb?

All for a Good Woman

"How's your training going?"... "Why haven't you posted anything on your blog?"... "If I were you I'd climb every day, why don't you get out and do more?" I haven't been very communicative recently as I've been having an illicit affair with A Good Woman Called Mari. She's proving to be a bit of an ice-maiden.

The Ice Cave at Clarach

I've gotten to second base. Third base is still proving difficult to steal, but I've got my hand on the prise a couple of times. However I've yet to mount the final push for fourth. Why am I bothering? She's above my class, but it makes the game that much sweeter. Unfortunately I'm still a punter as her grade was done by the French in the 50's, and she's a bit tired out. So what training have I been doing for this? Dave Macleod cleared snow for his warm-up on Echo Wall. Another good warm-up is clearing rocks from the base of your problem.

It also makes for a soft sandy landing when she spurns your moves. With any affair you have to remember to enjoy the chase and the romance...

Sunset at Clarach Bay