Crag features

A huge crag a short distance from the small city of Pamplona in the Basque region of Spain. The climbing is characterised by vertical walls on small holds with the occasional tufa feature in places and catering for all abilities from 5a to 9a. 

The area is home to a multitude of Griffon Vultures that nest on the upper tier of the crag not far above some of the lower-offs. In winter there is often an inversion whereby the village is shrouded in a cold fog while the crag above basks in warm sunshine. A magical place.

Winter is the ideal season to climb at Etxauri if you are chasing the harder grades although it doesn't seem to stop many grade 6 climbers from climbing happily at other times of the year. Locals say that the crag has a micro climate that often enables it to escape nearby rain or cloud that may be forecast. The height of the crag, the aspect and the nature of rock means that routes stay dry in all but the most extreme conditions. Grades are on par with those in Britain and a little harder than the rest of Spain on the whole.