Lockwood's Chimney

Welcome to the Gwynant Valley and the Lockwood's Chimney Show!

With another dismal weather forecast of heavy wintery shower and gale force winds, there weren't many appealing options available this morning for those wanting an outside climbing experience. Given the conditions, we chose to make an ascent of the 'classic' Diff grade climb called Lockwood's Chimney in the Gwynant valley. 

Major hail storm in the Ogwen Valley on the way to the crag!

It would be fair to say that an ascent of Lockwood's Chimney is best described as embarking on a 'journey' rather than a rock climb or a scramble. After crossing the river and negotiating the boggy, boulder strewn forest, you arrive at the start of the climb - easily identified by 'The Marble Arch'; through which one must pass to begin the voyage. A short scrambly pitch, pulling on tree roots is followed by a steep, polished crack containing a few more helpful roots. Above, one enters the chimney proper. A smooth, dark abyss, where thuggish thrutching combined with a good deal of grunting are the required climbing skills to ensure upward progress. Encouragement from the team in the form of whooping and laughing as well as some controversial use of the knee were all required as we wriggled up towards the daylight.

Getting stuck in! Deep in the cleft...

Then, after a final steeper pitch, we emerged back into the daylight. Inside the chimney, we'd forgotten how cold and windy it was outside - out on the cliff top, we found ourselves back in the wind and although the view was great, it was no place to be hanging around. So we quickly sorted out the tangles of ropes, and abseiled very conveniently back to the bags at the base of the route. After getting a bit of a soaking on the walk back to the car, we decided to re-warm and dry out by the fireside of a nearby cafe. Quality! Thanks for the photos Callum!

Topping out into the daylight

Always keep the belays organised!

Gwynant Valley - the view from the top

Right then! Let's get outta here!

Big abseil finish

After, getting back to The Cottage, we went down to Llanberis, for the Christmas parade and fair. By this time, the rain was steadily pouring, but Christmas was far from being cancelled - the show went on, with drummers, dancers, lanterns and stilt walkers! Father Christmas even got towed past at high speed hanging out of a chimney pot on the back of a trailer!? Only in Llanberis.....! 

Just another regular evening on Llanberis High Street