The Hole

The Hole
Rock Type	Natural Carboniferous Limestone
Climbing Style	Trad
Approach Time	40 minutes
Area	Gower
Sub Area	Thurba to Overton
Local Area	Paviland and Juniper Wall
Geodata
WGS-84 Location	51.551322, -4.259650
OS Grid Ref.	SS 434 860
WGS-84 Parking Location	51.561586, -4.242797
GR Parking Location	SS 446 871
Parking Postcode	SA3 1PE
Base Elevation	0 metres (Other)
General Info
Faces Direction	South
Aspect	Partially Sunny
Wind Sheltered	Mostly
Climbing Type	Serious
Seepage
Tidal
Before/After Low Tide	? hours (See Note)
Crags Within a Half Mile.
Above Freelunchers Zawn, Below East Gully Groove, Blackhole Gut, Deborah's Overhang, Deborah's Zawn, Devil's Cwm, Eos Zawn, Fetlock Zawn, First Sister, Hollow Top, Horses Cliff, Juniper Wall, Liberty Zawn, Paviland Far Far Far West, Paviland Far Far West, Paviland Far West, Paviland Main Cliff, Paviland Way Out West, Rams Grove Crag, Rams Grove Seaward Crag, Saddam's Wall, Seaspit Small Cove, Second Sister, Sister 2 and Half, Stalking Horse Zawn, Stallion Cove, TV Zawn, The Crag That Time Forgot, The Hole, The Knave, Third Sister, Tooth Fairy, Yellow Buttress

PREAMBLE

This crag gets a Serious rating on account of its awkward access and isolation.

ACCESS

Access from the free parking at Pilton Green, (SS 446 871 or 51.561586, -4.242797). On the right-hand side of the B4247, approx. 2 miles from Rhossili. Park on the grass at the edge of the track leading to a farm. Cross the road, bear left and take the public footpath (signposted to Foxhole Slade) through the 'kissing-gate' on the left of the sandy-coloured house (Clifflands). Reach the top of a dry valley after about 20 minutes and numerous gates. (1.34km). At the landward end of the valley is a wooden kissing-gate (SS 438860).

Go through the gate at the top of the valley and descend a few metres to a green-painted steel gate.

After passing through the green gate, the coast path rises steeply then flattens out parallel to the fence line. Follow the coast path for 250m and then head out left to the point overlooking The Knave and the Three Sisters Area.

From here things start to get a little sketchy! You can descend the westward-facing very steep grassy slope to the rocks (approx 5m above sea-level) and then take the exposed scramble left (south) for about 80 metres.

THE ROUTES

1. Le Sewage Pudding - E1,5a
   Start at the base of the hole. Step onto the slab and move up to a deep slot. Continue slightly left to reach the groove and overhang. Move right onto the subsidiary slab and climb direct to the top. 15.
   
   
2. Raspberry Nipple - VS,5a
   Atmospheric. Scramble down the western ridge of the hole until it is possible to traverse back right towards the cave and a belay ledge. From a short crack make a committing reach to jugs on the lip of the overhanging wall. Finish more easily in a direct line. 10m.
   
   

First Ascents

1. Le Sewage Pudding - M.Richards, J.Williams - May, 1999
2. Raspberry Nipple - M.Richards, J.Williams - May, 1999