It’s snowing heavily out there in the North Wales hills and the distractions of glorious winter climbing conditions are proving hard to ignore. Yet Big G, reliable as ever, steps up to the bouldering oche and fires off a metaphorical rally of crowd pleasing triple twenties. This month’s head turning beauty is of such lush slopeyness we are all left with a cruel dilemma: top notch sloper clinging, or a trip up into the frozen wonderland? It’s a tricky call, but if you choose the former you’d better take a yard brush to clear all the snow of the lip!

Dear BotM followers,

I should like to share with your good selves a piece of the finest volcanic rock. Now I often feel that the whole subject of volcanic activity in Snowdonia is, to be perfectly frank, somewhat ‘over egged’ (I've been here a good many years now, without coming across any at all). However, if that is what it takes to produce a jewel like this, then so be it.

In these inclement times a boulder must not be situated far from shelter, nor be so tucked away as to hold the moisture between showers. So the setting of this item is its greatest quality, taking pride of place in an oak clearing and sprinkled with fairy dust.

Proceed with haste to gr 523585 just south of Cyrnant on the little road rising out from Waunfawr up over toward Rhosgadfan. There is a layby and a large rock in a field - but that is not the one.

Instead, follow the public footpath south west for a hundred yards to the chosen place. There are some sloper moves here of such high quality it is a pleasure to fail on them. Landings are perfect too. From the evident bracken stalks it is clear that great privacy will be afforded by those visiting in the summer months, should that for any reason be considered an asset.

The rest of this hillside hides its secrets well in the dense woodland - somehow I do not think this boulder is alone!

Happy hunting,

Big G

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