UKC

Intake Ridge/Glaciated Slab

Never climbed here. Is it the best thing in Borrowdale for a couple of young (10 - 12) novices?

In reply to Rog Wilko:

Can't say if it's the best, but it's the best I've been to. The climbing itself is amenable and the setting is pleasant and child friendly. Gear is also plentiful.

The only downside is that the top of the crag is the top of a small, rounded arete so belay anchors need to be in the floor, there are no big spikes to rig an easy bottom rope and walking off is doable but exposed to drops on both side.

In reply to Rog Wilko:

Roger

Hope you are well. Glaciated Slab is pretty good for kids, especially if you stick to the crack lines, gear on the open slab is sparse, belays are a bit back so you need to lengthen them to be able to see how things are going below. On the downside the base is very rocky and the descent will need supervision. An alternative option is a small (approx 10 m) crag called Steel Knotts Bluff (below Steel Knotts, SE facing), to find it take the Castle Crag path from Grange until you get to the gate at the end of the woods, go through the gate then turn right and follow the wall for a few minutes and the slab soon comes into view. There are about 5 routes (D - S) and the base and descent are both child friendly, the slab is used by an outdoor centre and sports bolt belays on top. Another option is Upper Shepherd's (S Facing) again about 10 m; to reach this wall follow the path that leads from Shepherd's Cafe into Watendlath, at the end of the steep section you cross a broken wall, the slab is up on the left. Good positive holds, flat grassy base, OK descent and very convenient belays - climb anywhere at around D-VD. Both will be in the "picnic crags" section of the forthcoming Borrowdale Guide.

Enjoy

In reply to Oujmik:

Thanks, sounds like good advice.

In reply to Trevor Langhorne:

Hi Trevor,
Thanks for those detailed recommendations - just what I need.

In reply to Rog Wilko:
Glaciated Slab is ideal.
However, take a spare rope and anchor on a large boulder about 50-60 feet back from the top.
DC

In reply to Rog Wilko:

Hi Roger - another good crag for kids and a lot easier to reach is Church Crag in St John's in the Vale (it's in the current Eastern Crags guide).

In reply to Stephen Reid - Needle Sports:

Hi Rog Thats the one I would reccomend, Glaciated slab is a bit of a trek. If you actually want them to have a walk. Park as for Castle Rock and walk over High Rigg, climb, and then this is a bit the apprentices will like, James and Louise do, on the walk back through the woods this cafe http://www.campingbarn.com/ appears like magic , and as we all know climbing is always accompainied by cake

In reply to Dave Cumberland:




Thanks - but don't much fancy lugging the extra rope!

In reply to Stephen Reid - Needle Sports:

Thanks for that, Stephen. I've been there, but completely forgotten about it!

In reply to Lenin:

Thanks Steve.