This is a selective rock climbing guide to the Gower peninsula in South Wales. Gower Rock aims to showcase the depth and quality of rock climbing on this wild, beautiful yet somewhat unknown peninsula. The area contains a wide variety of climbing on an enticing array of venues. On some routes you can step straight off golden sands onto classic lines; in other cases you can send your way across peaceful cliff-top paths before dropping into some pretty demanding terrain just a stone's throw from ice-cream-scoffing tourists and pastoral picnic spots. The magnificent areas of Fall Bay and Three Cliffs have enough classic routes to keep you busy on many visits to the peninsula. The sport crags of Southgate compliment and add variety to the well-established hard routes of Oxwich and Pwlldu. The selection of venues and climbs included in this guide will provide plenty of adventure for all climbers, among some of the best scenery in the UK. In 1956 the Gower peninsula was designated as the UK's first Area of Natural Outstanding Beauty (AONB).
Any visitor to the area will see why: it is packed full of stunning beaches and welcoming villages and provides a breath-taking backdrop to numerous outdoor activities including surfing and paragliding. There are miles of fantastic coastal paths to walk along (a perfect way to explore the many treats of the peninsula) and copious amounts of climbing. Stuart Llewellyn is a passionate climber, new router and local enthusiast. His dedication to the local climbing community through the BMC has not only improved access and support locally, but increased the area's national presence with the creation of the Gower Climbing Festival, the first step to the creation of this very guide. With the release of this book, and a step back from local climbing politics, Stuart is set to once again climb the rock, not just talk and write about it...Matt Woodfield is a climbing instructor who works locally; teaching, instructing and taking people on adventures. Soon after moving to Swansea to study at the University in 2002 Matt turned his passion for climbing to a profession and has never looked back.
He enjoys nothing more than getting out on rock with people and helping them develop their skills, confidence and experience.