UKC

Hi there. I live in Greece and i am going to be in the UK to study in a few months. The thing is that i love climbing and i would like to be in a place that i can continue exercising this sport. So which place do you believe that is best for climbing; southampton or Sheffield? More specific details would be appreciated such as about bouldering walls, gritstone climbing etc. Thanks in advance.

In reply to dimitris18:

Erm, Sheffield.

In reply to dimitris18:
Sheffield has 3 large climbing walls and is very close to the most popular climbing area in the UK
Probably rains less in Southampton though

In reply to dimitris18: Sheffield is defiently the best place! the climbing works is great beacuse you can join with ease and climb within 5-ten minutes of turning up - if you want any directions for the climbign works i could give you some from the train station if you email me- also if you are thinking about climbing soem grit in the peak district near sheffield then i would recomend (if you will be there for a while-or returning back to that eare) that you buy the guidebook called- eastern grit . its good

hope that helps

In reply to dimitris18:
Sheffield. I used to live near Southampton and while there is some great climbing not too far away (Swanage in just over 1 hour) and a very good wall (Calshot is probably the best wall I've visited in the UK, although definitely the coldest) it simply isn't in the same league as Sheffield for climbing.

In reply to dimitris18:

I feel you should be aware

a) when the English speak of 'great' climbing they mean 'great climbing for England' & often refer to areas that simply wouldn't be considered worth climbing if they were in say southern France or Kalymnos.

b) the sport climbing in England, certainly below 7b, is not of good quality.

Thanks for your answers! They were very helpful!

In reply to dimitris18:
when offered uni places in sheffield and southampton, chose sheffield and would if given the choice now 15y later!!

came for caving and then found climbing.

Still here now.
Kat