top of page

Alex Riley

Alex is the company owner and main instructor at Moelwyn Mountaineering and started the company to pursue the delivery of high quality climbing and mountaineering instruction in a friendly and approachable environment. He's also an active route developer, climbing new routes all over the UK.

With over a decade of sports coaching and outdoor industry experience Alex holds the following qualifications and training;

Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor

Summer Mountain Leader

Rock Climbing Instructor

Winter Mountain Leader (training)

UKCC Level 2 Kayak and Canoe Coach

Outdoor First Aid 

P1110843.jpg

Alex's Story

How was I introduced to the outdoors?

 

Like many young people growing up in the UK I was fortunate to be able to go on a residential activity holiday when I was at primary school. This involved a multi activity week trying archery, raft building, mountain walking and finally climbing and abseiling. Fast forward a few year after a college course which involved lots of sports coaching elements, I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to do (I hadn't enjoyed formal education that much other than school trips and sport!) so I enrolled on a gap year program at Abernethy in Scotland. This gave me the opportunity to revisit the outdoor activities I had tried years earlier, I particularly enjoyed doing lots of snowboarding, kayaking and mountain biking, however I avoided climbing, having been really scared when I tried it a school.   

 

After lots of protesting against it I was taken out climbing and whilst I wouldn't say I was bitten by the bug instantly there were certainty elements I enjoyed, for example I found the movement really engaging so quickly took to bouldering. I also struggled with the technical elements at first, taking what must be a record breaking 6 months of indoor climbing to learn to tie a figure of 8!

 

After this period I moved to North Wales to start a trainee outdoor instructor course, on which I met my wife and a great group of friends. It didn't take long for rock climbing and mountaineering to become my favourite activity, quickly picking things up where I had struggled previously. Since then I have had the opportunity to work and climb all over the World.



Personal climbing highlights;

Rock:

Cool Moon E7 6c - Curbar Edge

My Halo E7 6b - Serengeti

Merionnydd E7 6b - Moelwyn Bach (Second Ascent)

Isolation Motivation E5 6b - Y Garth (First Ascent)

Bloody Arete E4 5c - Meikle Ross (First Ascent)

Lurking Fear C2+ - El Capitan

South Face 5.9/C1 - Washington Column

Don Quixote VI+ - Marmolada

Catacomb Crack 7A - Glen Ogle (First Ascent)

Breadcrumbs 6C+ - Sandyhills (First Ascent)

Winter

El Mancho VI/VII 7

Crest Route V 7

Savage Slit V 6

Scabbard Chimney V 6

Once Were Alpinists Left Hand V 6 (First Ascent)

Clogwyn Left Branch V 6 

DSC03123.jpg
bottom of page