It’s still snowing here in North Wales and Big G has ventured out in suitable mountain attire to check out a little known and previously undocumented beauty sitting high above Deiniolen.

Dear BotM followers,

Is this perhaps the oddest boulder in North Wales?

It sits within a huge mound of slate spoil in the quarry below Marchlyn Bach reservoir (GR 600628), and is entirely visible from the road. It is very odd that such a monstrous piece of naturally weathered rock might find itself here, and set at such a perfect angle. Conflicting legends abound. One theory is that the quarrymen recognised its future significance and went to great efforts to position it in this way, even making a small platform below it to facilitate good landings. An alternative is that one of the first boulderers to discover it – the Herculean strong Paul Higginson - carried it into position from the hillside below.

The main line (Paul’s Problem V6/7Aish) features tantalising moves on slopers, which deposit successful applicants on the terrorizing slab high above .

Visitors are advised to keep their eye on the skyline, the views being tremendous. The actual quarry itself leaves much to be desired from an aesthetic point of view with an investigation of any further rocks leaving one with a sense of rich disappointment. Those going there in the near future may take the opportunity to enjoy the surreal ‘stacked skips’ at the road head, though it is not known how long this art installation will be in place.

Keep the faith,

Big G

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