Martin McGuigan Mary, Colleen and I went to South Wales and met up with Tara and her friend Hugh. Hugh has an outdoor activity business there and he took us round some of the climbing areas. We were staying in a town called Hay-on-Wye near the Brecon Beacons.

Day 1; we went to Dinas Rock in the Beacons and spent the day with the instructors taking groups of kids climbing and abseiling. Colleen and I did some messing about on some of the limestone crags just to get the feel of the place.

Day 2; We went to The Gap near the A470 to Merthyr Tydfil. It is a disused quarry and all the climbs are bolted and are HVS and above. Sport climbing (as they call it here) is like climbing on the walls only outdoors and you climb at a higher level than on non bolted routes. The rock was hard pink sandstone and lovely to climb. I led Generation gap (very apt since I was climbing with Colleen) E1 5b 25m; and Grout Expectations E1 5b 25m We then top roped Fluster E2 5C and Bluster E2 5B

Day 3; We went to Rhossili on the coast west of Swansea (Gower). Lovely place and good climbing. The area was Fall Bay to Thurba Head. Climbs; Osiris VS 4c 36m; a fantastic route with a huge roof with an old wooden peg the type used in days gone by. This climb was right next to one set up by Chris Bonington. The Bottle VS 4c 31m and a few smaller routes.

Day 4; A gorge near Chepstow on the River Wye A fantastic gorge two hundred feet deep and full of multi pitches of all grades. Mary and I did a four pitch VD. Colleen and Tara did a four pitch VS 4C route.The bottom of the climbs are in woods and there seemed to be hundreds of climbers there.

Day 5; We went to a Mountain that I have read about long ago; Cadair Idris see photographs We climbed the Cyfrwy Ridge; Eleven pitches VD. Mary and I teamed up and loved every pitch. Colleen and Tara went ahead with Hugh. We reached the top of the ridge in three hours with a tea break in between and then on to the summit 893m. The sun shone all day. A real quality day. Back down and straight for the boat at 4.00am home for 9.00am and work.