Lockwood's Chimney

A gloriously full day of activities and antics in the mountains! The forest floor is starting to come to life with the colour of spring flowers.

I spent the day with a group of students who are taking part in a conservation project. A river survey was completed and I was tasked with keeping the team fed!

The weather is stunning at the moment, which always helps when you work outdoors!

It is also the full moon, so a team of six of us, later that evening set out into the Gwynant valley to make an ascent of Lockwood's Chimney by the light of the moon. It felt like so long since I had an adventure with a group of friends and we all agreed that it was good for the soul as well as slightly bonkers. The first pitch was completely overgrown by brambles. Dave was sent forth to forge a way though!

Once up on the cliff, a chasm is located and following into the heart of the cliff. It steadily narrows and requires some ungraceful techniques to climb up into the dark confines.

Slowly but surely, we all inched our way up to the sound of Dave playing his Ukulele! 

At the top of the chimney, we emerged onto a large ledge, which was bathed in moonlight. Clipped onto the ropes, we had a sing-song in the moonlight before abseiling off down the moonlit face to find the bags, some 50m below us. No torches required!

A cheeky dram to celebrate the tom-foolery and a pre-birthday pint, and a packet of dry roasted nuts for dinner in the pub on the way home, topped off a fantastic day!

Lockwoods Chimney, V.Diff***

Ian/Clare/Bex/Aled/Dave/John