In reply to UKC Gear:
Anyone got this, yet? What do you think?
I remember Perrin quotes Menlove Edwards, in his biography, as having said of one of Kirkus's guides something along the lines of: "obviously it's great, fantastic, hard work, etc. But...!" He then goes on to criticise it at length.
I feel similarly about this guide. Fantastically useful, so much hard (unpaid) work that's gone into it, and to see Lancs in colour is very energising. Nonetheless, much of the book cannibalises the last guide (words, descriptions, grades, etc.). I don't know a lot of Lancashire crags, but those I do know I know well. As such, it's amazing when this guide occasionally locates a new route, and those routes that have grade changes are already being hotly debated, but seem judicious (e.g. Jomo at Trowbarrow going up from VDiff to Severe; the scantily protected Nullarbor at Warton going up from VS to HVS). Nonetheless, I feel that where there were errors and oddities of the last guide, these have often merely been reproduced in this guide. Sometimes, routes are missed off the photo topos, and you're left wondering: "did they leave it off because, like me, they weren't sure where the buggering line is meant to be?" Other times, an inaccurate or idiosyncratic grade is retained (e.g. there's a Diff at Fairy Steps that's worth at least 4a; and can the grade "S 4c" really exist?). Of course, grading will always be a matter for debate, and at least it's not as bad as, e.g., the Langdale Boulders, where everything's been given V0, as though the guide book writers were anxious to be getting to the pub...
Having said this, another odd pleasure of the new guide is seeing a line that matches that you've been climbing, despite the occasional ambiguities of the last guide!
Would be interesting to hear others' thoughts. I'm sure the guide has sparked many debates...!
p.s. Also, so sick of NW stereotypes being used to sell the book - no doubt by a bunch of Southerners... They're a hair's breadth away from saying, "Yes, it does always rain! But, cor, don't the grim North put hairs on your chest!"
CW
Post edited at 14:18