UKC Articles

Features

Running The Montane Dragon's Back Race 2021: So Near and Yet So Far

Running some 380km from Conwy to Cardiff, and taking in many of the big hills in Wales, the 2021 Dragon's Back Race was the longest and toughest to date. A relative newcomer to running, Chris Harle embarked on a year-long buildup so that he could hit the starting line with the highest chance of success. Sadly even the best laid plans can go awry. So what went right, what went wrong, and what's his advice for anyone tempted to take on such a challenge?

5 30 Sep

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Crag Notes Shifting Seasons

6 30 Sep

From Battersea to Barcud and Beyond

Jules McKim reflects on coming of age in the summer after school ended, when climbing took him down new paths and up new routes... 'Despite the urge to begin retracing our steps, we enjoyed a pause, a bracketed collection of minutes to gather our...

8 17 Sep

24 Hours of Climbing in the Peak

Richard Taylor tells the story of a 24-hour climbing challenge across Stanage and Burbage in the Peak District.

41 15 Sep

Fat Tyres and Quickdraws: Mountain Biking and Sport Climbing in the Peak

There's a long history of great rock climbers being 'lost' to the addictive...

3 13 Sep

Three-Finger Drag Queen

Chris Hamper - a lifelong climber with Parkinson's disease - writes about an initiation into the world of paraclimbing...

8 10 Sep

Hexcentric Beats - Making Electronic Music with Climbing Gear

The jingle-jangle of gear jostling for position on a climber's harness is a...

8 9 Sep

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Destinations

Ultimate Circuits: Combeshead and Down Tor

Far from the fleshpots of Bovey Tracey, the hustle of bustle of Bonehill, and the Hound and its infamous Basket Meals lie - across the western 'Janner' side of the moor - two tors with an altogether different character and feel...

2 11 Aug

The Big Routes: Greater Torridon Round

Long distance fiend John Fleetwood describes an epic circuit of all the big peaks in Torridon and the Coulin Forest - a compelling challenge for hill runners who like long routes spiced with scrambling, or hardened backpackers looking to test themselves over...

2 21 Jun

Scrambling Lake District Scrambles: 10 of the best

John Fleetwood, author of Cicerone's two updated Lake District scrambling guides, lifts the lid on some of his favourite hands-on routes on the fells.

19 Apr

Avalanched on the Lancet Edge - a Cautionary Tale

Mountain rescue expert Dave 'Heavy' Whalley recalls a serious incident in the early 1970s, a time when avalanches in...

12 Nov, 2020

South-West Sport Climbing

September heralded the fast approaching end of the summer climbing season with many praying for an eternal Indian...

27 7 Oct, 2020

Scrambling Classic Scramble - The Dubh Ridge

With acres of perfect slabs in a stunning island location, the Dubh Ridge isn't only one of the longest rock climbs in the UK, but...

5 24 Aug, 2020

A Guide to Climbing Trips in Europe by Train

Train travel enthusiast Amy Underwood Thompson shares some tips for planning and enjoying more...

63 22 Jul, 2020

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Climbing Skills

Article Types:

Bouldering Sport Trad Alpine Winter Indoor Training Mountaineering

UKC Gear Guide - supported by Rab Multi-Day Packs

Rachael Crewesmith talks through what to look for in a multi-day pack where you will be carrying overnight kit, a range of food, clothes, and...

5 Oct

UKC Gear Guide - supported by Rab When To Use A Larger Pack

Rachael Crewesmith talks us through the situations where it would be applicable to use a larger rucksack and examines some of the features that are often useful on a pack of this size.

27 29 Sep

Understanding and Managing the High-Altitude Environment

Stephen Taylor explores the challenges that living and moving in high-altitude environments present to the human body and how to manage them...

27 24 Sep

UKC Gear Guide - supported by Rab Choosing a rucksack and fitting it correctly

Rachael and Rob give an overview of different sized packs and show us a variety of sizes, and then explain how to correctly fit them.

17 Sep

Montane Alpine Preparation Tips for Down Climbing

Rebecca Coles gives her tips on how to safely and efficiently down climb. In the UK, it's rare that you need to down climbing and Rebecca advises on a couple of different methods, from belaying to moving together.

6 15 Sep

UKC Gear Guide - supported by Rab Mid-Layers Explained

Montane Alpine Preparation Racking up for an Alpine Scramble

UKC Gear Guide - supported by Rab Baselayers Explained

UKC Gear Guide - supported by Rab Down Jackets Explained

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In Focus

Culm Dancing The Guidebook and a Personal History

4 22 Sep

Tokyo 2020 The Olympic Flatmates - Jakob Schubert and Michael Piccolruaz

2 8 Jul

Tokyo 2020 What does it take to become an Olympic climber?

6 1 Jul

A Brief History The Ghost of Bonatti - A Brief History of the Petit Dru Rock Scar

8 27 May

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Trip Reports

Post-Lockdown Alpine Antics

George Ponsonby recalls post-lockdown adventures in Chamonix... 19th March 2020. Matt and I were packing up to leave Chamonix to head back to Ireland. The hope that this virus thing would only last for a couple of wee...

10 25 May

British First Ascents in Patagonia

In the hazy, distant past before the current pandemic, a team of Brits enjoyed their own form of isolation in a remote valley in central Patagonia. In January 2020, Simon Smith, Alasdair Fulton, Graham Dawson and Rob Lovell travelled to the Sierra de...

3 20 May, 2020

Runnel Vision – An expedition to find adventure in Brazil

James Taylor reflects on a trip to Brazil in 2019 where a strong team aimed to free climb a new route on the south face of Pedra Baiana; an 800m granite monolith.

9 21 Apr, 2020