Instagram story viewer> @ray_wood> Posts

Ray Wood

@ray_wood

3.8K

followers

3061

following

Photographer || Video production || Marketing.
Generally fighting entropy & gravity—climbing & biking. Capable of scribbling a few words.

POSTS STORIES REELS

@jimpopeonarope making swift work of the second ascent of @caffinspain new highball, Ysbryd (Spirit in Welsh) 8A, above Nant Peris.

First climbed at the start of October, it takes the left-hand side of the arête of Agua Caliente (E7). You wouldn’t want to fall off the easier but still thought provoking finishing moves (pics 3 & 4). by @ray_wood

The latest addition to the ‘boards of climbing’ at the @coreclimbing showroom near Chesterfield.

Launched at @abc_walls last month. the eye-catching @core.board is adjustable from 15–70°. A symmetrical layout and being able to mirror problems on the app means you can get a well-balanced workout.

Its three different coloured holds help give an idea of difficulty, with mint generally being the toughest grip wise. Such training for climbing has come a long way in recent years, as well as being a lot of fun in its own right. by @ray_wood

Sixteen-year-old GB Youth Team and @madrockclimbinguk member, Spike Fullwood, sent Isles of Wonder (8B) on his first visit to this north Wales test-piece, after dropping the easier finishing moves three times.

The 50° compression prow on perfect rock in the Ogwen Valley, was established by Pete Robins in 2012. Spike said: “I had heard from a few people that it was one of the best hard blocs in the UK. And it definitely was.”

Quickly turning his attention to the sit-down start (sds), added by Aidan Roberts in 2022, bumping the grade to 8C+, Spike worked out the individual moves of the intense shouldery sequence into the stand-up, with plans to return for it.

Spike finished his session on the sds by taking some measurements of the angle and distances between holds with his iPhone. Like Aidan, to go away and train on a replica of the moves.

On the same day, after Isles, Spike called in at Parisella’s Cave to tick-off another 8B, Le Dernier Atrocity. by @ray_wood

The Jub Jub Bird is a classic E6 that’s been in my head for a decade – the thought of traversing the steep underside of the big hanging fin to find that exposed position on the arête just wouldn’t go away.

You climb a vertical pillar, throw as much gear in the back of it as you can, and then make the crux runout to the hanging arête. I had to retreat back to the pillar several times until I committed to a fiendish move I couldn’t reverse.

It’s a brilliant position on that arête, with your forearms swelling and the sun going golden as it lowers into the sea behind you. I plugged one cam in and lay backed up the fin to the safety of a birds-nest ledge. What a climb.

The Jub Jub Bird, E6 6b - Rhoscolyn, North Wales

Photos: @ray_wood 📸

#wearerab #themountainpeople by @ray_wood

Two Talfarach highballs on the Llŷn Peninsula, both requiring a few pads to ameliorate the landing.

@tom_waddy_ (pics 1-4) and @caffinspain (pic 5) tracking the finger rails on Piethe of Pith (7A) before the committing pop for the top.

Tom at his high point (pic 6) on the aptly named The Big Orange (8A). Both Tom & Caff (pic 7) will need a rematch for this one. by @ray_wood

The standout problem that featured on the front cover of the first edition of the ‘North Wales Bouldering’ guidebook.

@caffinspain and Dan McManus giving it max effort on Bytilith Wall 7C+, Llŷn Peninsula in 2017.

One of them comes away with the second ascent after Pete Robins established it in 2014. by @ray_wood

As the seasons shift in the UK I’ve been thinking about Jordan and the other-worldly Wadi Rum in particular.

I can only imagine that tourism has nose-dived in numbers, with the volatile situation in the Middle East and will continue to be affected in the months ahead—hitting the shopkeepers, accommodation providers and desert taxi drivers hard; seeing how much they depend on visitors for business.

EasyJet and British Airways have suspended flights to Jordan so there are now only very few, as well as expensive, flights out there from Britain.

If you’re wondering what’s going-on in the first photo it’s having to improvise with a nut-key to open a can of peas when you get to the bivy and realise you’ve forgotten the tin opener. by @ray_wood

A few of the leading riders in a soggy Snowdonia, who had set off early on Saturday from Llandegla, undertaking the ‘North Wales 400’—an ultra-endurance bikepacking challenge that is part of the UK Triple Crown; with the Highland Trail 550 and the Dales Divide being the other two routes.

All three need to be completed in the same year to successfully qualify as a finisher.

Designed by @tombrucecycling, the NW400 has over 10,000+ metres of climbing along its 410km length, including an ascent of Snowdon at the 170km point. The completion rate for the previous two years is less than 50%, giving you an idea of how tough it is.

@meganjoybarclay (pic 8) was loving the route despite having crashed earlier on a cattle grid & had stopped at Betws y Coed to cut down her trousers & patch herself up.

Although it was misty and grey overhead, it didn’t feel gloomy as the colours had a saturated glow at times—last couple of pics. by @ray_wood

Riding through Rhostryfan slate quarry and with the heather being in flower, the day had a purple hue. On such longer rides, one of the great pleasures is often the unexpected moments and encounters along the way, rather than simply the numbers. Life in 3D as @lukeunabomber would say.

Heading up the Cwmystradllyn valley, past the Ynysypandy 19th-century slate mill, to where the single-track road finished, we were happily surprised to see a sign saying ‘Tyddyn Mawr Tea Room open’. Such an unlikely place for a café, since it’s mostly only walkers heading up the old tramway and fishing folk who pass here.

The engaging owner, Cath, told us about the wildlife in the valley while we took in the cake options chalked on the slate cladding behind her.

As tea in Willow-pattern china cups and toasties arrived, a neighbouring farmer joined our table. He explained how he was concerned about the falling price for lambs at auction because of poor-quality grazing owing to the hot summer and consequently the lambs being underweight.

Sadly, there is only until the end of September for anyone else to chance upon this characterful tea room before it closes for good. by @ray_wood

Kim Le Court-Pienaar powering away to win stage 3 of the Tour of Britain Women 2026 race with just over two kilometres to the finish atop of the Great Orme.

The front group approaching the hair-pins that lead to the top of the Great Orme during stage 3 of the Tour of Britain Women.

Tour of Britain Women stage 3 with just over two kilometres to finish atop of the Great Orme.

Tour of Britain Women stage 3 from Mold to the summit of the Great Orme—104.7km with an elevation of 1927m.

Spectators heading up to watch the finish of stage 3 of the Tour of Britain Women. by @ray_wood

Great Dun Fell in the Pennines. A classic hill climb that takes the UK’s highest paved road to its summit at 848 metres. England’s Mount Ventoux… sort of.

The distinctive air traffic control radar dome & antennas crowning the top lend it a sinister big brother feel. It’s also a major landmark for the Pennine Way long-distance trail that passes through here.

An unexpected highlight of the ride was the pair of short-eared owls quartering the summit slopes. Flying in close to us with slow wing beats, one of them turned its head to hold our gaze, before gracefully banking away.

Thanks to @colddarknorth for the gpx Hillgrimage route from the other weekend. by @ray_wood

A gathering of partial solar eclipse watchers at the summit of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon). Surprisingly not very busy. by @ray_wood