UKC

Next month, w’re visiting northern England, or perhaps Scotland, with the kids. We’d like to do some climbing, but are not experienced enough to climb trad. (Climbing levels between 4 and 6a French)

Our original plan was coming to the lakes, thinking Tilberthwaite Quarry is a bolted area. But now we heard that only some hard routes are bolted here.

Are there any crags in the lakes with nice bolted routes in the lower grades? Or should we better change our plans and go, for instance, to the Yorkshire Dales?

Thanks,
Josje

In reply to Josje:

AFAIK the Dales would be better, or you could look at top rope options of which there are loads in the Lakes. Climbing in Lakes quarries is an aquired taste !

In reply to Josje:

Perthshire, Scotland is a nice place to visit.

This low grade sport crag is in the area.
http://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crag.php?id=1958

In reply to Josje:

There are some easy sport routes in Scotland,check out the SMC guide to Scottish sport climbing!
http://www.cordee.co.uk/SCOTTISH-SPORT-CLIMBS-det-0-0-0-9025.html

In reply to Josje:

Giggleswick, near Settle in the Yorkshire dales has plenty of low grade routes I believe.

In reply to Josje:

Where are you coming from?
How long are you coming for?
Do you have any trad gear at all?
Can you set up a top rope using trad gear?

In reply to Josje:

Hi,
Thanks for your reactions so far.

@tlm: We're from the Netherlands, we're in England (or maybe Scotland) for a week.
I think I understand how to build a top rope using trad gear, but I have never done it. So without any proper instruction in don't think that's clever to do. We don't have any trad gear (yet).

In reply to Josje:

How big a part of your trip do you want climbing to be, and what other stuff were you thinking of doing?

In reply to Ramblin dave:

More questions...
About three days climbing, depending of the weather of course. We'll be camping, hiking, making campfires, a bit of easy scrambling. Our youngest is five years old. So much depends on how brave en safe she will be...

In reply to Josje:

heh - the thing is, all the most fantastic climbing in those grades in the uk is trad.

Maybe someone off here might fancy going climbing with you when you are over here?

In reply to tlm:
eerr, in that case I need to fill in the picture some more: we have five kids to bring along .
Would be nice, though. We arrive April the 26th and leave May the 4th.

In reply to Josje:

There are a couple of good articles on here;
http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=5175
http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=6052
The Scottish one looks better and more inspiring especially http://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crag.php?id=3457 although I haven't managed to visit any of these places so cant say how good an impression they give.

In reply to Josje:

Nothing to do with climbing, but the Crannoch Centre near Kenmore, at Loch Tay is a brilliant thing to visit with kids of any age. You WILL be able to make a fire without matches after that.

In reply to Josje:

I would agree with JLS that Benny Beg in Scotland is a very good area for lower grade sport climbing. and there is a soft play area 100 metres away.

In reply to SUColdo:

+1 for Benny Beg - reasonable range of short climbs where tinies can be managed safely. Great little cafe nearby as well.

Have a look at Church Crag in the Lake District. Not bolted routes, but there are some belay bolts in place at the top. Short easy routes which may suit a family outing.

http://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crag.php?id=16853

David