13/08/2026
๐๐ง๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ณ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐จ ๐๐ญ ๐จ๐ซ ๐ง๐๐๐ซ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐ - ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐๐๐ค ๐ข๐ญ'๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ฌ๐ ๐จ
The huge black gabbro boulders on the beach at Porth Ysgo, just 2.5 miles from Crafted Camping towards Aberdaron offer the most popular and extensive area of gabbro bouldering on the Llyn peninsula in North Wales, along with a stunning location & views across Aberdaron Bay, the Ynysoedd Gwylanod or Gull islands and across to Ynys Enlli or Bardsey Island.
The extensive tumble of gabbro boulders on the beach with their slow cooled, coarse grained crystalline structure offer great friction for climbing but are tough on the fingers. Gabbro is a type of basalt but is often referred to as black granite. These boulders can be climbed all year round although, the friction is best in the winter. Some of the boulders here may be tidal but many can be climbed at high tide. Porth Ysgo offers a plethora of bouldering problems at a range of grades as listed in the guidebook Bouldering in North Wales (2017, 2nd ed) https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/porth_ysgo-1368/ But note plenty of crash mats and friends to spot you are essential as the landing is not flat but rather other angled boulders.
We have had two groups of climbers come & stay at Crafted Camping in the last week, who have come to stay in the area specifically to go bouldering at Porth Ysgo, such is its reputation and draw.
For those who love the rocks but don't want to boulder it's a great place for rock hopping & exploring the rocky shoreline and there's also a sandy beach there offering a quiet place to relax after a good boulder. https://www.thebeachguide.co.uk/north-wales/gwynedd/porth-ysgo.htm
The quiet little cove beach is accessed by one of two footpaths which lead down a valley and steep flight of steps to the beach. There is limited parking at Ysgo Farm.
Photos by Gethin Robson. Diolch Gethin.
