UKC

‘ow do all.

I’ve tried a fair few times to go bouldering and I always seem to end up wandering around looking for something climbable. I then find what looks like the best bit of rock, and its either way too hard (can’t get off the ground), daft easy or above a sea of incisor looking fangs of boulders that would snap a leg as soon as look at them. Quite often I can’t even be bothered to get my boots out of my bag.

I’m trying to get back to the giddy heights of comfortable on E1 but working offshore has scuppered any strength, stamina and skill I once had. Due to the random nature of my work, mid-week partners for roped climbing are often difficult to find too. So, bouldering should be the perfect thing to get some strength back up when I can’t go climbing.

I live in Aviemore so have started to look at some boulders round here - Link boulder – couldn’t get off the ground or too easy, Cake shop block (mossy dank overgrown pine needle strewn rock with a 6’ wide cave). I stopped off at Warton Pinnacle Crag off the M6 the other day – again pretty scrappy and disappointing. Denham Quarry on another M6 stop-off – 15’ of traversing and that was that. Backk to the van for a brew. Crookstones a year or so ago was better – there was a stuff to do there with mostly nice landings.

So, should I either accept that UK bouldering is crap and readjust my expectations, or can some-one recommend some decent venues where I can tire myself out? Something in the (English) 4c to 5c with some 6a I can work on with nice landings.

Cheers,

Lex

In reply to lex: http://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crag.php?id=292

In reply to dale1968:

That sounds perfect, cheers. If only it were a little closer. Any more suggestions a little further north anyone?

Lex

In reply to lex: sorry this is a bit nearer http://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crag.php?id=538

In reply to lex:

Burbage boulders? Cromlech boulders? I never fail to have fun at either of these places and I too get put off by bad landings.

I don't know about Scottish bouldering but in the Lakes there's the Langdale boulders and best of all Sampson's Stones. Carrock fell is closest but never been there myself.

In reply to lex: Fill yer boots http://boulderbritain.com/

In reply to lex: Greetland quarry? Not been for years but it had good landings, a 6a crux and it was 100s of yards long. Very good for stamina

In reply to lex: You missed the opportunity to visit Fairy Steps which is just north of Warton or you could go to Hutton Roof on the opposite side of the M6, both are excellent bouldering venues with loads of problems at Fairy Steps.
Would you stop off in Yorkshire? There are plenty of low grade bouldering venues there.
As for Scotland there are many bouldering areas being discovered constantly. Last time I was up your way though I visited Reiff
and Torridon, which aren't really close to you but great venues and the Tom Riach Boulder is just up near Inverness, that has problems around the grade you want.

In reply to SeanB:

Cheers, I;ve thought of getting that, and I've looked at the logbooks on here and other websites, but have come to the conclusion that just becasue a venue is included in a guide is no guarentee of quality. I'm used to reading between the lines for routes / crags as to whether they are any good or not, maybe there is a similar code for bouldering? Is boulder britain accurate in its depiction of quality?

Lex

In reply to phleppy:

I thought Fairy Steps had big access problems? I saw something on the web about that so went to Warton instead.

This is what I'm after - personal recommendations.

Cheers all.

In reply to lex: Niall Grimes (author of Boulder Britain) is perfectly honest (sometimes brutally). Although people's opinions will always differ.

In reply to lex:

Here you go: https://www.scottishclimbs.com/wiki/Bouldering

Ruthven, Brin and Cummingston spring to mind.

Warton Upper is nicer than Pinnacle - some lovely easy soloing. Woodwell has some good stuff (and some horrendous beasts). Hutton Roof isn't far off your M6 theme. Maybe you just don't like bouldering? It's not a crime

In reply to lex:

Cummingstone definitely your best bet locally. Nice spot, good landings and some routes worth doing.

For some reason you seem to be getting lots of recommendations in Northern England?

In reply to lex:

Silly question: Do you have a mat? Bouldering mats make bouldering make sense.

jk

In reply to Jamie B:

I have climbed at Cummingston in the past - it is a lovely seaside spot so will head up there soon.

Think the N of England tips are because I go to M/cr / the Peak up and down the M6 now and then, and I like to break the journey. I’m happy to have recommendations for anywhere and I'll file them away in the van. Bit like Boulder Britain but personalised…

I tried to go to The Thirlestane the other week but there were a few families campled under the crag and I didn't want to subject them to te sight of a climber f(l)ailing on everything just above their tents.

Lex

In reply to jkarran:

I was hoping no-one would ask as... no,. I don't. Bouldering is a means to an end and I like the idea of carrying just a pair of boots, a rag to clena them with and a chalk bag. I don't really want to be carting about a mattress all over the place, plus not really got the space to store it at home or in the van when on other, longer, journeys where bouldering is a small component.

If I did have a mat, how many (rough percentage guess is good enough) more boulder venues would I be able to enjoy be increased opened up if I had a mat?

Cheers,

Lex

In reply to lex: I think you've answered your own question there.

Well done jk.

I didn't even enjoy Font that much on my first trip - without a mat!

In reply to lex:
Bouldering on Skye is great, especially if the Cuillin is holding the cloud, though not exactly local. Both Carn Laith and Corie Laggan

Glen Lednock is good on the way south, Torridon in the west.
Best locally is probably Cummingston, as mentioned.

Depends if you want an obvious venue, with set problems, or some "adventure bouldering" in a sea of boulders on whatever catches your eye...

Few more area ideas here:
http://www.betaguides.co.uk/bouldering-areas/scotland.html

In reply to lex:
Bouldering without a mat is like going soloing, whatever venue you choose, you'll only be able to do 10% of the routes you would with a rope...
Borrow a mat and see if it changes your mind / improves your opinion of any venues

In reply to lex:


Don't know much about Scottish bouldering but of the crags I have visited worldwide, maybe 95% would be significantly improved by bringing a mat, the remainder have sandy or shingle landings or are arse scraping traverse walls. I do have rather tender feet so your mileage may vary.

It makes a huge difference. Referring to it as a mattress suggests you're being slightly snooty about the whole thing in which case you're unlikely to enjoy it, we don't tend to challenge our prejudices too vigorously. Or... You've somewhere picked up the idea a mat has to be huge to be of use, it doesn't. I bought a tiny mat that fits in my sportscar boot, on its own it isn't perfect but it opens up so much more climbing even at venues with relatively good landings you're no longer worried about bruised heels from a pebble or slipping on grass or turning an ankle on a tree root, even just keeping your feet dry easily is a real improvement.

jk

In reply to jkarran:

I see... 95%, thats a massive difference!

Guilty as charged, your honour, I'll pull the snootyness in I've never even used one, I'll admit. It just seems to go against the grain of lightweight freedom of just boots and chalk bag.

What make / model do you have?

Sometimes the prejudices that are hardest to challenge are the ones we don't even recognise...

Lex

In reply to lex:

I got a little Alpkit mat. They don't do it anymore but they still have a small model in the range and the prices are usually competitive.

See if you can borrow one, you might just like it
jk

In reply to jkarran:

... but... but... from there its only a short step to wearing a beanie!

In reply to lex:


Which everyone knows is gateway behavior for going shirt off and shouting "Send it dude!" in a non ironic way... You've asked the question, you're on the slippery slope already

jk

In reply to lex:

Get a mat!

Honestly it really does open up a hell of a lot more routes. Better on your knees if you're always off like me.

And always gives you a lot more confidence aswell!

In reply to lex:
Agree with what everyone else has said - if you haven't got a mat then it's going to be very hard to find technically challenging stuff that you can do safely.

We didn't get one for ages because we thought we wouldn't have space, but then we did and it turned out that we had. They take up less room than you'd expect.

In reply to xplorer:
Lex
If it was me I'd buy a 'Soloist' type device - then you can go and top rope or even lead to your hearts content at somewhere local, as opposed to the other 'local' bouldering suggestions - mainly at 60 miles plus distance.

You can even borrow mine.

Another benefit of that is that it also builds confidence in the rope, which I thought was a little lacking on that first eyrie type stance on Central Grooves - or was it my belay building that you were worried about?

JW

In reply to John Workman:

No, I had full confidence in the rope and your belay. It was my arms, head and cojones in which confidence was lacking. Even as a second...

Maybe I should get a Soloist and a mat, just in case...

Lex

In reply to lex: go to caley or brimham in yorkshire.trowbarrow and woodwell do have some fun stuff. bowden and back bowden also have some fun easier problems as well. If u want to travel further afield go to font you will never look at bouldering again in the same way.

In reply to lex:
How about Craig y Longridge for a break on your Manchester runs? Great training venue.

In reply to lex: There are plenty of folk that boulder based in the Aviemore area, you should try and hook up with some and get out somewhere. That would help you discover some new areas and try a out bouldering with a mat.

In reply to lex: What they said ^^^. As for your logistical issue of working offshore and keeping your strength. I'm guessing you work on oil rigs? Can you find a door frame or something else you can do pull-ups on? Or take a bar you can stick between a door frame. Doing a few pull-up sessions will help keep your strength and in the right conditions improve it.
Have fun out there.

In reply to lex:
Roundhill in North Yorkshire is a great little spot, not too far from slipstones as well. And it's got tonnes of easyish bouldering with great landings. You could probably manage without a mat. I've just spent an afternoon there and it was great. Really rough good quality gritstone.