A Welsh Climb and A Peak Walk

I haven't been climbing outside or indoors for years so it was quite refreshing to go to the Beacon climbing centre in North Wales and have a bash at it once again. The centre is at the end of an industrial unit and from the outside it doesn't look much but once you get inside you see what it's got to offer. There is plenty for children to do and for the serious climber. The have a good size bouldering area, pre roped routes and a funny seat belt type thing with a weight on the end which means you can just carabiner yourself onto it and it belays for you-brilliant! I managed to complete a 6a route so I was happy with that. My muscles did ache as I'm sure I haven't used any of those for a while! The centre also has a cafe so after a climb you can have a well deserved treat and watch the rest of the climbers carry on with their hard work. It's a big centre and great for a morning/afternoon out for adults or children. 

Next up on my adventure weekend was a trip up Kinder Scout. This is the route of the famous Kinder Trespass when in 1932 around 400 people took to the Peaks to protest for their right to roam on the beautiful country we live in. There is a car park near the Kinder Reservoir which has a plaque on commemorating the group that which to many were the people who drove the creation of national parks. From the car park there is well sign posted route up to the top of Kinder Scout and the plateau of silver sand and soft moorland. The view from the top on a clear day is beautiful and you can fully appreciate why the ramblers of 1932 wanted free access to this most breathtaking area. To get up to the top and back down past the reservoir only take a a few hours and can easily be done on a Sunday morning before every man and his dog descends on the area. Luckily the village of Hayfield has plenty of pubs for a post Kinder pint / cup of tea and cake. A lovely day out all within 45 minutes of Manchester, you can't say fairer than that.

Wet Welsh Waterfall

With all the wet weather of late it was maybe not the best of ideas to go for a walk on the edge of Snowdonia in North Wales but nonetheless it was a lovely walk. I went to visit Aber Falls at Abergwyngregyn  which is nestled in the Aber Valley. There are two car parks at Aber Falls both costing £2 to park for the whole day so not a bad price if you want a morning/afternoon trip out. The path leading from the car park to the water fall is pretty much graveled all the way so it's suitable for parents and pushchairs or for those in a wheel chair. It's only about 2 miles from the car park to the water fall so not too bad really. The path takes you past a couple of picnic spots, wild ponies and an old fashioned coal oven.

As a result of all the rain we've been experiencing in England and Wales the river was high and the water fall was epic! You didn't have to stand too close to the bottom of the waterfall to become absolutely soaked from the spray. The water was powerful and the noise was amazing. I walked as far as I could into the spray before my face could take anymore of the water pounding against it. I could stand watching waterfalls all day. This is a popular attraction with tourists to North Wales and I can understand why. It's beautiful.