Gorge Walking, what a rush.

[Silver Fox]

A mate of mine is getting married next week. Being the outdoor type he fancied doing something, er, outdoors for his stag do. He arranged a half day gorge walking in Snowdonia and saturday just gone saw ten of us pitch up at the Tree Top Adventure Centre just outside Betws y coed.

With the sub-zero temperatures one or two were beginning to think this was not a good idea after all, but how wrong where they to be. Wetsuits, bouyancy jackets and helmets were provided, footwear and gloves were our own responsbility.

Under the supervision of Vikki the Chief Instructor the afternoon consisted of climbing, traversing waterfalls, swimming and jumping into deep rock pools. We were out for over three hours but the time flew by. In the icy conditions that was probably enough for some. By the end of the day we were cold and wet but the laughs we'd had more than made up for it. Back to the centre for a shower and dry clothes then off into Betws for beer and food, what a cracking day.

http://www.ttadventure.co.uk/activity_providers/item/59461/Gorge_Scrambling_.html

 

[BrumJim]

Is that like canyoning? Had a great time near Dunkeld doing something similar a few years ago. In summer, though.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Ghyll Scrambling here in the Lake District.

Glad you enjoyed it although it is even better on a nice hot day!

All scrambles are graded, they start off nice and easy and end up in climbing territory where the use of a rope is usually needed even by experienced scramblers.

If you are hill savvy ie understand mountain weather and can navigate etc then you can get guides published by Cicerone for Scrambles in Snowdonia and Scrambles in the Lake District and have a go yourself. You will find a number of simple grade 1 ghyll scrambles in them although they are more numerous in the Lakes.

Be a shame not to do it again as you enjoyed it so much - plus you do not need to pay either!

 

[BigonaBianchi]

I'm pretty sure I went there on a geography field trip a few moons ago.

 

[Beebo]

It sounds great.

I'm going on a stag do next month and we are going coasteering in Dorset, which involves scarmbling over the cliffs and jumping into the sea. Some people have already complained that the sea will be too cold but I cant wait, the adrenaline rush and cold water will clear my hang over from the night before. I'll let you know how I get on.

What footwear and gloves would you recommend?

 

[BrumJim]

Cheap trainers. They will get sodden and wrecked.
Gloves - I went bare handed. You need good grip on the rocks, but the sharp edges are likey to cut desk-jokey skin.

 

[Silver Fox]

It sounds great.

I'm going on a stag do next month and we are going coasteering in Dorset, which involves scarmbling over the cliffs and jumping into the sea. Some people have already complained that the sea will be too cold but I cant wait, the adrenaline rush and cold water will clear my hang over from the night before. I'll let you know how I get on.

What footwear and gloves would you recommend?

I wore SealSkin gloves and socks under a pair of old sturdy boots for grip and ankle protection. Both hands and feet were quickly soaked through but the sticky pads on the fingers and palms of the gloves gave a reasonable amount of grip on the rocks.

As BrumJim says, whatever you wear will take a pounding but it's bloody good fun.