UKC

I'm trying to arrange a week in Annecy with family & friends. Has anyone been that could give me some helpful advice? We need a good/affordable campsite and some reccomendations for climbing areas with a range from S to HVS, so that I can research before piling out there. It's our first time climbing out of the UK. Thanks in advance

Annecy and the surrounding area is a great place for a holiday - especially during the summer as many of the crags are high and not too hot.
The grades you are looking at are 3 - 5+ (French) and there is loads to go at, both single and multi-pitch.

I use the guidebook: Escalade - Massif Bornes Aravis, which covers the climbing areas in the mountains east of Lake Annecy. Suggested crags include: Rocher des Aravis, La Colombiere and La Sapey.

Not sure about good places to stay as I have a friend who lives there so can stay with them. There are plenty of campsites around that area and, as it is such a popular holiday destination is well equipped for tourists. In addition to the climbing there are excellent via ferattas, parapenting and mountain walking. Not the cheapest area in France for a holiday but well worth checking out.


Have a good trip.

In reply to ClimbFrance: thank you so much for your helpful advice, only one problem now! Can i buy the route guide in english? I don't want to be translating with a crap Eng-Fr dictionary whilst stood at the crag! Sounds a recipe for disaster eh? Any advice from anyone would be helpful, as I won't be able to read/speak french fluently in 6 months!

In reply to misslipsy:

We used to stay at the campsite in the middle of Doussard at the south end of the lake. Quieter than the lakeside ones. Easier to get about as the roads get busier the closer you get to Annecy. Just a short walk into village for the croissants in the morning

Can't say much about the climbing as I was there paragliding but the crags look great from the air and easily accessible.

Little article on http://www.kirkleesclimbing.co.uk

Carl

In reply to misslipsy:

I doubt you will get an English guide, though you will probably get a topo guide which you should be able to decipher without too much difficulty.

Chris

ok thanks for the advice. I'm thinking my best bet is to order a local topo and then translate it before I go. Tedious but safest option

In reply to misslipsy: I've got the Rocher des Aravis guide in French, and you'd be pretty lucky to find any of the routes in it, to be honest! (Unless it's been recently updated)

If you get the chance, take the drive (and a long walk) up to d'Ablon

There's a multi-language guide for it which is available in most bookshops in Annecy, and while there's not a huge amount in the lower grades, it's an absolutely stunning spot to climb.

In reply to misslipsy: I have the Massif Bon Aravis guidebook, the new one, and it's pretty self explanatory, even if your French isn't good. The routes are easier to find than in some english guidebooks. get it in the office de tourisme over there

Hi
spent a couple of weeks there last year. loads of campsites on the south west coast of the lake, depends if you require 2* roug and ready, or 4* with slides for kids etc

there is a cycle track that runs all the way down the West bank of the lake, in fact its goes all the way from Annecy to Albertville. Its based on an old railway line so very flat

two thirds of the way down, passed St Jorioz as the cycle track goes into a tunnel behind the village of Duingt there is a slab with about 20 bolted single pitch routes from 3C to 6C. this is called Le Dalle de Duignt and is about 10 yards from the cycle track, has its own veiwing area, toilet and refreshment area with cake shop about 100yrds away

enjoy

In reply to misslipsy:

guidebook is

22 Falaises d'annecy (2004) by the way ISBN 2-9517182-1-7

you can get it from the climbing shop in Annecy itself.

In reply to misslipsy:

Excellent family run small quiet campsite called Le Taillefer (www.campingletaillefer.com) near Chaparon on the south west of the lake.

Fantastic last summer and 20 years ago when my Wife first went (same family still run it, though its now the daughter's).

Easy to get into Annecy and over to Chamonix if you want to go further afield.

wow thanks everyone for all your input! im starting to feel more comfident about the whole trip now. I think im going to head for the west side of the lake, as I've heard horror stories about traffic jams around the lake. Oh, I've seen photos of what looks like a river running through a crag, with beaches off the river. Does anyone know where that is?

In reply to misslipsy: We found Duingt quite polished and not that pleasant. Did enjoy Biclops and La Grande Jeanne, though. La Grande Jeanne is in woodland so is quite sheltered from the sun, and has an animal park at the top! There is a good spread of grades there.

We hired a static caravan for 6 of us on one of the sites on the West side of the lake. There was also camping available, and some more friends came out and camped for the second week of the trip. I think this was the one we stayed at: http://www.camping-lac-annecy.com/en/

In reply to misslipsy:
"Oh, I've seen photos of what looks like a river running through a crag, with beaches off the river. Does anyone know where that is?"

1st place that springs to mind is the Ardeche ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ard%C3%A8che_River )... way south of Annecy... lovely but very hot in summer

In reply to Raskye: thanks for solving the mystery! I had seen a photo and wasn't sure where it was, now I know. miles from where we're going but maybe a day trip will be in order. sun cream & swimmers needed...
Also, thanks for campsite reccomendations, everyone that did. I'm now looking at quieter, smaller sites in part due to budget, though mostly because I don't want to cope with millions of families as mine is enough!

In reply to misslipsy:

The Ardeche is a no go then... it gets really busy in summer

A little exploration online and when you're there will find lots of quieter but great swimming holes with crags nearby

In reply to Raskye: I'm just starting to find out that Annecy is the same. I think a goat shed in the woods might be ideal I'm getting old and hermit-like. Some of the outlying villages look wonderful though. Thanks tho, I'm just nervous as it's the 1st time climbing abroad. 2 weeks is enough time to regret a bad choice eh.

In reply to misslipsy:

Be bold & go for it Annecy is nice to visit in the evening and you're right the villages are nice... especially the ones to the south, away from the lake.

If possible, try go when the Fetes du lac is on... never seen quite as big fireworks anywhere else

Plenty to climb too... with loads of scenic walks in the hills. My kids used to love the lake while I flew.. it's fairly easy to find a quietish pontoon to swim off.

In reply to misslipsy:

Just a thought... Have a look at Samoens... quieter, plenty crags around.. I have climbed there!!

Village verging on chocolate box but plenty to do in area & just over hill from Chamonix

In reply to Raskye: I did look at going there, although partner, a child & 1 vehicle was a restriction. I'm climbing with a friend most of the holiday and my partner will be looking after my son, so we need to be in fair distance of all things for all people! Hence the requests for helpful advice. At the mo, i'm wanting to take 1 car, tho I'm hoping to buy a campervan soon, so plans could change then. I'm the master of indecision!

In reply to misslipsy: Loads of climbing to go at. Robert Durieux has produced a few topos for nearby.

http://www.escalade-74.com/topos/topo_28falaises.htm

The slab at Duingt is very user friendly.

However, you may want to go higher in the summer. Some excellent climbing at Coll de Columbiere. About 40 minutes by car from Annecy.

http://www.camptocamp.org/sites/102311/fr

http://www.escalade-74.com/falaises/escalade_colombiere.htm

As mentioned by another user Rocher d'Aravis is nice.

The big crag near the lake, Talabar is quite polished. However there are some great routes again maybe too hot in summer..

HTH

Jim