New members meet Gilwern

We had a fantastic turnout for the New Members Meet, with 28 climbers joining us for a day of sunshine, limestone and sport climbing in the Gilwern are. The day kicked off at the lower tier of Tyla Quarry, where new members had the chance to meet each other, break the ice, and get partnered up.

At the start of the day climbers tackled a variety of routes, ranging from relaxed warm-ups to more technical challenges. It was great to see new partnerships forming and plenty of encouragement being exchanged across the crag. With good weather and even better company, the day flowed smoothly as climbers connected, learned from each other, and began to settle into the rhythm of outdoor climbing.

At one point during the day, a couple of curious members took a break from the rock and went on an impromptu explore of a nearby cave tucked away behind the crag. With muddy scrambles and headtorch-lit chambers. They emerged grinning, slightly dustier than before, adding a bit of unexpected caving to the day’s activities and a good story for the pub later on.

After lunch, the group migrated over to Gilwern North, also known as the Main Wall. The climbing there offered a change in style and a fresh set of challenges. The more expansive wall gave everyone a chance to spread out, try harder lines, and even scope out projects for a return visit.

We wrapped up the day with a well-earned wind-down at the Tow Path pub, where the full crew reunited over pizzas, ice cream, and pints. Laughter and stories flowed just as easily as the drinks, rounding off the perfect day of climbing and community building.

A huge thanks to everyone who came along and made it such a memorable day. Here's to many more climbs, new partnerships, and shared adventures ahead!