Pembrokeshire Rock Climbing Courses

Pembroke Sea Cliff Climbing 

This weekend saw Climb Pembroke running another BMC course on Sea Cliff Improvised Rescue training, for affiliate club members in North Pembrokeshire. Eight participants spent the weekend looking at various skills that can sort out minor problems, to full blown epics. The more I run these type of courses, the more I realise that these skills are so vital to climbers taking them selves into committing areas. Thanks everyone for coming and I hope you all feel a lot happier with your future climbing. 

Yesterday I was out with Alice, who wanted to brush up on her rope work and anchor set ups (also in North Pembrokeshire), Porthclais was heaving with groups, so we headed to a little known spot a short walk further on, to go through skills for the day. As with the rescue weekend, the weather was great and there were times I felt a bit too hot... Nice one Alice, it was great to catch some rays with you while boosting skills! 

Pembroke Sea Cliff Climbing Courses

On Thursday I head out to Stackpole Head for some personal climbing with Edmund. Waiting for the tide to go out enough to get on the main cliff routes, I led the top pitch of Stackpole Crack, a go'y little number with pretty burly lay backs and a unstable feeling top section. That done, it was down for the main events; Puritan (E2 5c ***) and Silver Shadow (E2 5b***). Personally I found Puritan to be a real effort, with a thrutchy, insecure and difficult crux. Silver Shadow on the other hand was out of this world! rarely you get on a route that has seemed to be designed to be climbed, and SS is one. I am still struggling to think of another rock route that I've climbed that matches it's quality... 

On Saturday I met up with Jonty, who was down from Bristol on a two day guided rock climbing weekend. Having done a fair bit of sport climbing, he was keen to get on some trad sea cliff climbing adventures - great! It was a top weekend, getting in loads of routes at four different venues and the weather was perfect. Thanks for coming Jonty.  This Tuesday I was out guiding with Sam and we headed to the beautiful Penally Range and blasted up loads of fine routes, in perfect weather again - looks like summers here to stay!... 

Sea Cliff Climbing Adventures in Pembrokeshire

Climbing Courses and Personal Fun! 

So now we've officially reached autumn, but the weather seems to be improving, so as far as I'm concerned summer is here again! The last couple of weeks have been busy, despite the unsettled weather (how British do I sound?! - No more talk about weather...). 

With the school summer holidays, I've been doing a lot of work with family groups, interspersed with some adult guiding and skills courses. 

On Monday I had a cool day out personal climbing with Paul Donnithorne, exploring an unclimbed sea stack around 20m high, coming away with three new routes. After that, we caught up with Dave Linnet, Sarah-Jane and Sachor and climbed the wonderful Isambard's Kingdom, on The Green Bridge of Wales. Great route but a little crumbly at the top... 

Yesterday I was out climbing with Emma Alsford for the first time which was really cool. She's been a pioneering climber on the sea cliffs of Pembroke for many years, and what she does't know about climbing here isn't worth knowing! We first went to St. Govan's East, then headed for a last route at St. Govan's Main Cliff. The weather was unexpectedly cloudy (hang on, I promised not to mention the weather again - what can I say, I'm British...) Thanks Emma for a great fun day out. 

Pembroke Rock Climbing Guiding Work

The Pembrokeshire sea cliffs continue to deliver, with a busy week of adventure. I've had the pleasure of taking Tom (an outdoor sport climber) to St. Govan's for his first taste of trad climbing. An old friend Jemma came out with me to do the (possibly) first ascent of the excellent "Rhino Ridge" at Barrafundle, via a cool sea level traverse in from the beach. There has been family rock climbing sessions, as well as a three guided multi pitch tips to Range East. There has been a mix of weather from almost too hot, to almost too wet, but the climbing has always prevailed!  Great to have met you all and to have got out on some cool adventures! 

Exploration, New Routes and Rock Climbing Courses

Sea Cliff Climbing in Pembrokeshire

The weather of late has been pretty unreliable with the forecast changing rapidly, making for lots of guide book checking for plan A, B, C, etc. But that's not stopped the "send train" steaming across the sea cliffs around the county. There's been a good mix of work and play, with the play including new and established routes with Tom Rogers, Chris Horobin from www.wildcountryconsultants.co.uk, Paul Donnithorne and Jemma Berry. There's been a lot of exploration of areas I've not been to before, which continues to be one of the things I most love about rock climbing. 

On a work front, there's been a good mix, with family groups, guiding and skills courses. Thanks for everyone that has booked onto courses. Especially those that were still up for an adventure when the weather was less than perfect! 

Here's some shots from the last couple of weeks.