Big G, the old salty sea dog that he is, can’t stay away from the briny for too long or else his webbed feet start to dry up. Consequently, this month he takes us down south for some much needed coastal fringe action:

Dear NWB.com readers, I give you:

‘The Frozen Wave’ of Aber.

They’re closing in...

The beach botherers!

The wonders of the North Wales coast, from Angel Bay to Cae Du, are handing over their secrets one by one to those who care. Only the most remote and inconvenient places are left, where your mats will be lost in the wind, while the rest of your kit goes under gently advancing seawater.

The ‘Frozen Wave’ area by Craigyfulfran, north of Aberystwyth is just such a venue - a jewel in the crown of ‘hassle bouldering’.

The place (GR sn 583829 approx) was probably first discovered by partying individuals venturing over the high wall just to the north of this lively university town where many students seem to major in beach loitering for large portions of their study time. When stumbling across the extraordinary sea-solid shale formations they will doubtless have felt as though they were tripping. They probably were.

It is one of the wildest spots in Wales. A place from where you can see no signs of change or human activity in any direction...at least not yet! (There isn't even any of the usual sea debris to speak of – it’s quite odd) Very good potential for the relaxed.

Access is best achieved from Aberystwyth at mid to low tide. Don't get caught out! (You can go from the north but the waters take much longer to recede) Surmount the over-engineered ladder on the beach wall and stumble north over slippery rock pavements and around a couple of little headlands and you will get to the good stuff. The sea comes across acres of rock platforms, mostly flattened, save for the odd stubborn church-like pinnacle holding out. The best areas hide well a-foot the immense slopes of Constitution Hill.

The bouldering will be problematic before it gets the chance to be difficult. Indeed it may be a Sisyphean task to get the tides right the landings sorted and the rock dry. And even then, there are pinches and slopers here upon which only a chosen few will be able to successfully tug.

Never stop sploring!

Big G

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