I took my Intro Rock Course to Castell Helen today, other than a silence that you could cut with a knife as we prepared for the 60m abseil in. One of the group asked where the name came from, so I guessed it was named after Ellen’s Tower at the top and been bastardised to Castell Helen, as it looks like a tiny white castle. Surely its thats simple.
Although my favourite name for a crag at gogarth is Llawder, which whilst looking like a name steeped in the welsh language is actually just red walls backwards!
What is funnier at our crag of choice today is the two route we combined Pel and Rap, which when reversed make rappel, and unsurprising take the line of the abseil in.
After the Pel/Rap combination, we climbed the awesome Lighthouse Arete Direct. A great day out on the crag, and after the initial knee trembler of the first rappel in. The group loved the crag, and the atmosphere of there first sea cliff climbing. Not bad considering that two of the group had only been climbing for 4 days!
The crag was busy with other climbers and a steady stream of climber went up lighthouse arete. As well collectively enjoyed the blue skies and glowing sun. It felt like spring has finally arrived, thanks to the large high pressure that’s sat over the UK.