Beddgelert and Nant Gwynant Bouldering

Over the past couple of days I've been making the most of the dry conditions and limited time to go and checkout some newly developed boulders in south Snowdonia. I've found some real classic V5-V6  boulder problems, up there with the best problems in North Wales in terms of quality.

Nant Gwynant - Craig Y Lyn 

Nant Gwynant bouldering is best know for the classic Elephantitus , but a new area has been developed a little further down the road. Right below the crag Craig y Llyn are a collection of roadside boulders. Most are a little mossy, but the main event Voie Normal block is awesome. Voie Normal goes at V6/7 for sitting, an essential tick for a Gwynant bouldering session. There are also a few other variations and link up's on this block, the left to right traverse of Alice which starts low down on the left then crosses Voie Normal half way then finishes with a wild slap to the arete then a move back left is particularly good.


As always the awesome North Wales Bouldering site is the source of info: http://www.northwalesbouldering.com/newsitem.asp?nsid=528

UKC crag:
http://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crag.php?id=813

Beddgelert Forest 

10 min up the road from Beddgelert in the direction of Rhyd Ddu is a forest which runs up the slopes of Moel Hebog and Moel yr Ogof. This idyllic setting is home to a few newly developed gorgeous slopy dolerite boulders. 

Boss Cuvier Block
On my visit today I repeated Boss Cuvier from a sit start V5 and Central Hog V6. Both these problems are fantastic. I was particularly impressed with Central Hog (video below), it took my quite a while to work out the sequence. It really is (probably a tough) V6 once I figured it out, but for a good half hour I was convinced that it must be several grades harder!


Nice location - unfortunately the boulders themselves don't get much sun  and take  a while to try

View from the boulders


I used my mountain bike to access the boulder today, once I had mastered biking with a pad it made a 30min walk into a 10 min bike ride then a 5 mins back to the van. Highly recommended.

North Wales Bouldering Article (there are a few, click on the links at the bottom): http://www.northwalesbouldering.com/newsitem.asp?nsid=418
UKC: http://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crag.php?id=10735

I'm keen to go and have a look at Freddie Welsh on a nearby boulder next: http://www.northwalesbouldering.com/newsitem.asp?nsid=535


Also near by is this great looking traverse by Jonny Dawes: http://www.northwalesbouldering.com/newsitem.asp?nsid=462

Also accessible from Beddgelert forest is Cwn Trwsgl (just over the ridge), there looks like there's some great bouldering to be had there: http://www.northwalesbouldering.com/newsitem.asp?nsid=582

So much to do, and so much development potential for those who are willing to put in a bit of exploration work!