We’ve posted a few Pembroke reports over the last year or two, often featuring the juggling and compromise required to balance all the permutations of seacliff climbing on a military firing range in a renowned birding area. We were determined to stack the cards in our favour for our final foray of 2024 – August means no bombs or birds, and with our Range West permits in hand we were all set for unrestricted adventure. Nothing could stop us…

… apart from an unintended souvenir from my trip to Paris. Of course I always share the gifts I bring back from foreign forays (to a surprisingly ungrateful Helen on this occasion).

Not too poorly, but not exactly full of beans either, we decided to take things gently for the week and of course keep a safe distance from anyone else we might inadvertently infect.

Glorious weather for a trip to the upper tier of Crickmail Point (now happily free of the Herring Gulls who habitually nest here)

Bumped into a couple doing Aero…

… and we ticked our way through most of the VSs on the wall. Here’s Helen on Slipway, Severe

Of course there’s nowhere better than Range West if you are seeking a bit of (self) isolation. A gated military compound, with access only allowed for those who have attended a briefing and a restricted number of passes each day. As it was, there was only one other party on the entire six miles length of the range during the three days we were there.

First stop: Arch Zawn, an hour or so flat hike to the Iron Age Fort area.

It’s a very aesthetic spot, especially on a sunny day.

If you look closely you can just about make me out on Arch Crack, HS

We worked our way through the routes on the East Face, keeping just ahead of the incoming tide, including Belgian Tom’s Hat Trick, HS and a couple of VSs.

The Green Bridge of Wales will have to wait for a future visit.

The Abseil Hole is another sector just out of the its annual bird ban.

Seacliff climbing meets pot-holing…

An atmospheric abseil…

… deposits you on a commodious platform, with various routes out, a number of which require a bit of caving. We went for Bullet, given a miserley one star (we both thought it was worth three) and a none too-generous VS.

A tricky and usually damp corner leads to a roof (at the level of the exit from the “hole”) with a kind of gallery ledge.

Quite atmospheric…

You then crawl through a side shaft…

… before popping out near the top of the crag, like a bullet fired from a gun. A stiff pull and steep jug-haul see you back at the top of the crag. Fun!

For a double bill of surreal questing we moved over to Mount Sion East for Rainbow Bridge, a two-pitch Severe ledge-shuffle in an improbable situation.

The climbing isn’t particularly anything to write home about but you get to visit some spectacular territory.

For a final day we headed to Bulliber and did a few enjoyable if short routes on Slab Bay. Farewell Hamish, VS…

Kirklands Rest, VDiff

Last Route in 2006, Severe…

All of which serves to illustrate the wealth of fun adventuring to be had on Range West at an amenable grade, where isolation and remoteness combine for a memorable experience without the need to work up too much of a sweat. The perfect spot for a spot of Covid convalescence!