Ban Y Gor

It almost seems to be too good to be true, good weather for the second weekend running. Next destination on the list was Ban Y Gor in the Wye Valley-it looked like the best place in the area to climb in the shade with temperatures in the high 20s forecast.  The access to the cliffs within the Ban Y Gor woods was better than we anticipated, and the crags were impressively overhanging and quiet!

View through the tees from Ban Y Gor

With few photos in the guidebook it was tricky to work out the routes especially as it is made up of several crags along the footpath in the woods. The routes were great and different to the limestone I have climbed on before- which is perhaps why they seemed very hard for the grades.


A new route, possibly pink panther?!

The overhanging routes looked great and  I enjoyed the onsite of Gordonzola, 6b+- much less intimidating than it looked, and victimisation, 6b requiring a huge powerful move over through a roof.  Harder routes such as Duhka 6c, and  Blable North, 7a highlighted my poor footwork and lack of trust on the lichen covered rock.  The twelve routes we did were great and included a variety of different climbs, but next time I will be back to tackle more of the tougher overhanging routes.


Gordonzola, 6b+