UKC

Hello climbers

I want to get out and around to start climbing/bouldering and wanted to ask if anyone living in the Hertfordshire area knows of any local crags. I'm a little restricted you see- I don't have any climbing friends or a car to travel around with so would need to stay local...So does anyone local know of anything I can go at...? (I'm in Hemel Hempstead by the way)

Cheers !

In reply to fruteborce: Hoho. Not the ideal spot. There is pretty much zero within 50 miles of Watfordy/Hemel.

Do a different hobby.

In reply to fruteborce:
I've got bad news, your nearest crag is 20 miles away and not very good...

http://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crag.php?id=3453

There is other stuff about but not really very 'safe', as in they'll fall on your head if you breathe near them.

I'd pimp yourself out on here for a partner with a car!

In reply to fruteborce:

The most encouraging thing about Hertfordshire is that both the A5 and the M1 go through it and both lead to climbing, as do the railways. Join a club - it's not too far to the Peak

I grew up there - I resorted to chipping an old railway bridge.

In reply to nniff:
Chipping? BURN THE HERETIC! In all fairness compared to most of the other climbing in Hertfordshire vandalising a railway bridge is probably the sane option

In reply to FreeloaderJoe:

hmmm...yeah that does suck. I'm pretty keen to stick with climbing though.

In reply to Reach>Talent:

Yeah will look in to doing that.

I've had look through some of the posts actually and it seems like a whenever someone offers free instruction their offers get snapped up immediately ! Will see how it goes.

Cheers

In reply to fruteborce: hey im from there too (at uni at Hatfield) nothing really round here i'd did hear the other day you can get a train down to southern sandstone via london east croydon i think

wheres this railway bridge you talk of i was almost tempted to do one the other day its getting desperate

In reply to Reach>Talent:

What the hell are you talking about Mike - it's the crucible of hard Hertfordshire climbing as well you know!

OP: Herts is a dead loss mate. There's a 15 foot outcrop of conglomerate near Hertford - but it's more sand than pebbles and you're very definitely not allowed on it. There's the magnificent Met Police Fishery in Cheshunt that mkean pointed out and there's the odd bridge about.

Shame they moved Temple Bar back to Paternoster Square really - now Bedfordshire, that's a different matter!

In reply to Reach>Talent:

Funny thing is Mike, climbing 'culture' was more a part of my life with our climbing chats on the way to Harlow with you than it is now - good sessions those. Not complaining mind you, there's very definitely more rock hereabouts!

In reply to Southern Man:

That Met Police Fishery thing you mention...

"went down today 19.07.08 and covered in glossy graffiti. very overgrown. would say it's not worth the effort even if you live next to it...."
http://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crag.php?id=3453

Now that leaves us with...erm, nothing! Looks like I'll be needing to go a little further afield

In reply to fruteborce:

Yeah the Met Police Fishery recommendations definitely need to be taken with a pinch of salt

The 'routes' were done mostly by me one very desperate winter - I hope the descriptions impart something of their, um, quality. I wouldn't want people wasting their petrol.

There is chalk around if that's your bag.

In reply to fruteborce: Have you thought of walking down here:
http://www.phaselswood.org.uk/climbingwall.html

In reply to Southern Man:

Climbing in Bedforshire? - Where, please tell me where?

In reply to Big Chris:

Chalk in Luton etc, never done any myself - don't imagine it's that great.

Sorry, I'm gonna leave this thread now and stop getting people's hopes up

In reply to Southern Man: I tried climbing in one of the chalk quarries near Ivinghoe back in the 70s, never went back...

In reply to Southern Man:
Chalk in Luton etc, never done any myself - don't imagine it's that great.

I'm thinking of having a quick look at the one you pointed out on google maps when I get back from France

In reply to Southern Man:
"There's a 15 foot outcrop of conglomerate near Hertford"

Is this the pile of sand/pebbles in Waterford marsh? The nature reserve that was once a quarry?

When I first saw it from a distance it looked climbable; I thought I had stumbled on some overhanging bouldering right on my doorstep, then I tried climbing on it and nearly pulled the whole thing down.

There are a few brick railway bridges in the same area that would make great DIY climbing walls like a mini version of the tunnel in Barcelona.

In reply to Reach>Talent:

Good lucky matey, let me know how it goes!

In reply to Tru:

Hi Tru, yes that's the one! That was my reaction as well, I was well near having spasms of delight as I approached - before the reality set in. Nice spot though