UKC

St. Govans Rockfall

© Alan James
There has been a massive rockfall at St. Govan's Head in Pembroke in the area of the classic E5, Public Enemy. Photos here seem to indicate that the left-hand side of the Public Enemy cave has collapsed, destroying that route, as well as Crime of the Century and Crime and Punishment. Public Enemy was first climbed in 1980 by Pat Littlejohn and is described in the Rockfax guide as "A magnificent challenge which is one of Pembroke's great ticks".

Some years ago, one of the most popular E3s at St. Govan's, Conscientious Objector, collapsed in a winter storm. Climbers who did Public Enemy this summer (including this News Editor) were shocked at the instability of the area of cliff around Public Enemy.

Also in Pembroke, the BMC report that the Pembrokeshire Climbing Club have finished clearing out all the rusting debris that washed up in Huntsman's Leap this summer. A job well done.


This post has been read 2,001 times

Return to Latest News


21 Dec, 2005
Holy cow. In the grand scheme of things, that's a very close call.
21 Dec, 2005
I knew something wasn't quite right when I seconded the top pitch. It just felt really unstable but it's so impending. I can imagine how the whole thing must've just carved off. Shiver.
21 Dec, 2005
Those cracks in the BMC photos are interesting. I suspect you kind find those along the whole of the top of St. Govans. It is an exposed bit of rock with nothing above it weighting it down. Mowing Word might be similar although it feels a bit more solid. Alan
21 Dec, 2005
Is that bit just visible in the left of the picture where there was a rockfall a few years back? Conscientious Objector? Have there been big storms recently?
21 Dec, 2005
That was on my wishlist !
More Comments
Loading Notifications...
Facebook Twitter Copy Email