The Aisle
| The Aisle | |
 The climbs are at the landward end of this rock feature. | |
| Rock Type | Natural Carboniferous Limestone |
|---|---|
| Climbing Style | Trad |
| Approach Time | 25 minutes |
| Area | Gower |
| Sub Area | Rhossili |
| Local Area | Fall Bay to Mewslade |
| Geodata | |
| WGS-84 Location | 51.561474, -4.284079 |
| OS Grid Ref. | SS 417 872 |
| WGS-84 Parking Location | 51.565848, -4.270856 |
| GR Parking Location | SS 427 876 |
| Parking Postcode | SA3 1PH |
| Base Elevation | 0 metres (Other) |
| General Info | |
| Faces Direction | Various |
| Aspect | Partially Sunny |
| Wind Sheltered | Mostly |
| Climbing Type | Normal |
| Seepage | |
| Tidal | |
| Before/After Low Tide | 1.5 hours (See Note) |
| Crags Within 400m | |
|
Block Buttress, Catacomb Gully, Cathedral Wall, Conglomerate Cliff, Devil's Truck Area, Eyeball Wall, Four Gullies, Giant's Cave, Grey Wall, Hairy Dog Wall, Jacky's Tor, King Wall, Lewes Castle, Little Block, Mewslade Short Wall, Molar Wall and White Edge, Rolly Bottom Buttress, The Aisle, The Prows, The Pulpit, Thurba Head, Thurba West, Trident Gully and Ridge, Upper Jacky's Tor, Yellow Wall, Zero Gully | |
Contents
TIDAL STATUS
BOLTING POLICY
No bolting.
PREAMBLE
This is the obvious low promontory running out to sea between the Cathedral Wall and Gullys areas. It is detached from the mainland and it is possible to pass behind it by a narrow gully.
ACCESS
From Pitton Farm Car Park.
From the main Rhossili road, turn left in Pitton (south) to Great Pitton Farm (SS 427 876 or 51.556076, -4.267799) where there is a car park. The honesty box no longer exists and a system of seasonal tariffs is now in operation. Payment is made via a machine or paybyphone Ⓡ. See Pitton Parking for information on charges. Currently a maximum of £5.00 is charged for parking from 06.00 to 22.00.
Turn left at the entrance to the car park. Walk a short distance down a farm track then bear right past farm buildings to gain the path leading through a narrow valley to the eastern end of Mewslade Bay (12 mins walk).
From the bottom of the path, continue onto the beach and head westward across the beach for about 320 metres. (25 mins from Pitton Farm)
DESCENTS
Descent is by scrambling down either side.
THE ROUTES
- North Edge 12m VS,4c
The arête on the north (landward) end of the Aisle. - North Edge Direct E1 5a 12m
North Edge, but climbed direct with a nice technical sequence of layaways to land a cheval on a notch just below more shattered easy ground. - Black Corner 12m D
The groove 5m right of North Edge. - Twin Corner Left 12m D
The left-hand of two grooves, 5m to the right of Black Corner. - Twin Corner Right 12m VD
The right-hand groove.
Behind The Aisle is a hole. Go through this to reach the next routes. They can also be accessed by abseil. - Barefoot Acrobat HS 4b 10m
Above the back side of the arch over the cave is a steep juggy arête (about 10m left of Sump it Up) leading up to a groove. Strenuous but all on good holds and perfect rock. - Sump It Up 12m E1,5c ?
On the left (west) wall is a grey left-facing hanging corner. Gain it via easy flakes below and make a delicate move up into it to exit. - Boom Boom Boris 15m E4,6b
A hard and bold pitch. On the right wall, start 3m left of Treasure. Climb the wall on pockets to an overhang. Move out left and finish, crux. - Treasure 15m E3,5c *
The obvious thin crack in the east wall of the hole. - Zoom, Zoom, Doris 12m E4,6a ?
The wall right of Treasure. Pull right into a short right facing corner 3m right of Treasure. Move up over the roof and finish up the wall above. - Sixteen Hooves 14m E1,5b *
Start right of Zoom Zoom Doris underneath the arched roof. Pull strenuously through bulges to the roof (thread and a good wedged rest). Resume battle by a leftward exit and finish more easily up the corner (past another thread).
FIRST ASCENTS
- J.Talbot 00.00.1963
- Nick Taylor 29.8.2004
- J.Talbot 00.00.1963
- J.Talbot 00.00.1963
- J.Talbot 00.00.1963
- Nick Taylor 29.8.2004
- M.Crocker 05.12.1998
- A.Sharp, O.Jones 00.00.1986
- A.Sharp, J.Harwood 14.04.1984
- M.Crocker 05.12.1998
- Nick Taylor 10.06.2006
