Gwilym's Adventure Blog

Another day with the group from The Hamp Estate and this time for some kayaking in Torbay. Small numbers again and we had a paddle around on a dropping tide, playing around the rocks and trying (not very hard) to stay upright. After lots of falling in and climbing out on rocks the session was over. We even saw a seal today.

Today was the second day of a Mountain Training Rock Climbing Instructor Assessment that I am directing for Wet and High Adventures on Dartmoor. We started at Dart Rock in the warm and dry for some climbing, belaying, bouldering and problem solving before heading to The Dewerstone where it was very wet (and my camera stayed in my pocket) for some abseiling skills.

Today I have been directing a Mountain Training Rock Climbing Instructor Assessment for Wet and High Adventures on Dartmoor. We started at Hound to with personal climbing, top ropes and bottom ropes. Unusually (due to forcast tomorrow) we went to Chudleigh for the evening rather than a climbing wall for some more personal climbing and set ups. We will start in the wall tomorrow and hope for a drier afternoon

Out at Haytor today working with a group from Hamp Estate in Bridgwater. Unfortunately rain stopped play by midday and we ran to the shelter of Dart Rock where it was warmer and drier. All 5 young people managed to climb and belay and learnt to put on their own harnesses and tie themselves in. At the end of the session they even had a little trip through the Dart Rock cave system. Working with Robin and Ben for Wet and High Adventures Ltd

I have been out on a sunny but windy Dartmoor today for a bit of 1:1 coaching with a regular client of Wet and High Adventures. He led 3 routes at Greator and 1 at Houndtor before the wind chill got to us and we beat a retreat to the food van.

Just because the title is Windy don't assume it wasn't raining, I just couldn't use the same title again. A wet and windy start turned into a drier finish. Before the mist really came in I saw a few sea stacks but for some of the ride, I couldn't even see the road properly let alone the sea. Strong side gusts left over from yesterdays storm gave me a bit of a battering during the morning before my first stop. Breakfast was had in 3 countries (well not quite). I was at Spanish Point, in Ireland with Africa playing on the radio. Spanish Point (Picture 3) is so called due to the wrecks off its coast from the Armada fleet. You will be relieved to know that not all the sailors drowned and they were helped ashore by the Irish and then executed! After an hour or so in the cafe, the weather brightened a little so it was back on the bike and continued following my friend the WAW (N). A detour out to the dead end road at Tawin and then into Galway. I didn...

It was a wet start to the morning on the south side of the Dingle Peninsula but not to be deterred I headed for the very end. A quick stop at the beach my sister told me about (I sat in a cafe watching the rain) and then I carried on to Dunmore Head, Ireland's most Westerly point (and Europe's most Westerly in some people's eyes). Unbelievably, the weather cleared just long enough for me to park the bike and walk to the very end to take pictures of the Blasket Isles before it closed in again. As I continued on the WAW through Conor Pass (I could not see a thing due to the mist) I was beginning to question whether to continue or find somewhere to bail out. However on the north side of the peninsula, the weather cleared and the sun was shining, the roads were dry so it had probably not rained there at all. After Tralee, I went to the beach for a break an watched some surfers before carrying on to my decision of the day. Ferry for 9 Euros or 150km detour i...