
Slatehead
The Ascent of Britain's Slate-climbing Scene
Peter Goulding(Author)
Parthian Books (Publisher)
Published on 27. June 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
320 pages
978-1-917140-33-1 (ISBN)
Description
The slate quarries were walking distance; they'd have a smoke, a party in an abandoned hut, try and climb something. A small culture emerged of punks, nutters, artists and petty thieves, crawling up abandoned rock, then heading to the disco at the Dolbadarn. These were the Slateheads.
The people in these interleaving worlds - the punk dole dropout star- climbers; the Victorian quarrymen pioneers; the Welsh-speaking grandson of a ropeman, abseiling in to bolt sport climbs like Orangutang Overhang in the Noughties, Lee and his mates slogging west today - all are polished like nuggets in this 360 Degrees view over patience, pride, respect, thrill, movement, the competing claims of home and agency, and above all, a belief in second chances.
The people in these interleaving worlds - the punk dole dropout star- climbers; the Victorian quarrymen pioneers; the Welsh-speaking grandson of a ropeman, abseiling in to bolt sport climbs like Orangutang Overhang in the Noughties, Lee and his mates slogging west today - all are polished like nuggets in this 360 Degrees view over patience, pride, respect, thrill, movement, the competing claims of home and agency, and above all, a belief in second chances.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cardigan
United Kingdom
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 130 mm
Thickness: 26 mm
Weight
332 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-917140-33-1 (9781917140331)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
08/2024
Parthian Books
€5.99
Available for download
Person
Peter Goulding is a climber from the north of England. He has spent most of his working life in pubs, kitchens and on building sites. He currently works at Center Parcs as an instructor and is an alumnus of UEA.