UKC

Hello UKC hive mind. I *might* be hovering about Dinorwig maybe Sunday 3rd July at some unhealthy early time of day and have a mind to wander with a climbing partner through Dinorwig as he's never seen it before. Oddly we're not there for climbing (this time, but I'm itching to get on a couple of classics there, that'll be another day). If you are about to suggest Snakes, Ladders and Tunnels then you are very sensible and underestimate how idiotic I can be at times.. naturally I'm toying with the idea of Hobbits Ladders and Tunnels.  YES I understand it is graded as XS. YES I understand and accept the responsibility of the "adult" nature of such an undertaking.

I am not being lazy or asking to be spoon-fed details and encouraged I have watched and closely examined youtube.com/watch?v=z_ktKn6BvBM& read the description https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/twll_mawr-636/hobbits_ladders_and_... looked at other you tube videos about finding the exit from Twll Mawr and spend a lot of time using Google Earth matching videos and descriptions scratching my head etc. But the description makes reference to climbs and areas (such as Patellectomy) which I can't find in Rockfax. As a result I believe I understand the start and most of the route described from passing Watford Gap and onwards.

But not being a Dinorwig local I am struggling with the correct location of the "Secret Entrance" and the second ab (with the railway track anchor "chair" bolted to wall) 

My main question is the second abseil. If anyone can advise where the second abseil and "secret" entrance is I'd greatly appreciate it. This would be the third picture attached. There onwards I feel familiar with the geography

Thanks in advance!!

Conversely if I am close enough to the right track already in my attached 3rd pic where I can be told "go and look for yourself"  then happy with that too, but if I am way off track please nudge me

Hi mate,

Yes, you're pretty close. In your first image, Patellectomy is in the hole to left, looking out, of your red arrow. The route has the obvious parallel bars sticking out of it and the vid shows the abseil down its side wall. Ab off bolts.

The pipe is obvious: Descend, then move left (looking out) and continue along the level past a couple of pretty large blocks and a small ruined building. Immediately start looking for the abseil, which is off a block a short way back from the edge of the level a little further on. It's the only anchor around so if you find it then you're right on route. Align your rope in the chair as you pass it to avoid a long razor edge half way down the abseil.

After the abseil, the entrance to the tunnel is obvious from the vid - the sliver birch with a curved trunk is the clue. Switch your torch on and carry on in, right to the end, where there is a very tight squeeze out to arrive at the base of Twll Mawr.

Climb Revelations at F6b and the wobbly ladder then exit via the tunnel. Scramble carefully back up to the Watford Gap as per Ian's description, cross it, and squeeze through the narrow gap between the fence and the wall to scramble more scree up to the top of Quarryman Wall. Be careful here: It's a big drop off loose scree if you slip...!  

The rest of the route description is good and accurate.

I hope this helps? I'll post some pics on my profile: they show the location of the abs.

I'm glad you're wanting to repeat "Hobbit's...". It's an utterly contrived circuit of walking, scrambling, climbing, abseiling & caving... but it's really great fun and an excellent adventure, if rather serious at times.

Mike

Thank you very much for the pointers

Yes Hobbits looked contrived, unlikely and dare I say (without intending offense) actually a pretty idiotic thing for someone to create! Therefore it looked right up my street

I'm not thin, even by middle aged dad-bod standards, so it'll be the extra tight u-bend experience for me? I do know that being very relaxed, not wearing anything like a harness (or even a belt!) and just taking my time as long as it takes... helps with squeezes so I'm hopeful I can pass through the twll din of twll mawr like a giant toilet plungered t*rd, albeit in record slow time.

Can't wait... I'm genuinely getting a little excited and looking forward to my trip. And this is actually the most sensible thing on the agenda, by quite a long way!

Someone should commission the Bergsteigen.com team to make some topos like their VF ones, they'd work brilliantly for the quarries.

Was light rain very early Sun morning so had a walk about Australia and ladders instead (so nice just to walk without carrying ropes and whatnot) as I didn't fancy it in the wet. I compared what I saw with instructions given to me above.

Thanks all -- I'll come back for this one, it looks bonkers brilliant!