[Monolith]

anyone know anything about the mysterious west derby railway cuttings bouldering venue in liverpool. Sounds promising but need to know more/see some topos.

[tubbs]

anyone know anything about the mysterious west derby railway cuttings bouldering venue in liverpool. Sounds promising but need to know more/see some topos.

Grim landing onto pavement.
In a housing estate and overlooked by tower blocks
Very highball
In Liverpool

And that's from 20 years back when I visited.

Go to Pex.

[fatneck]

Never been but am pretty sure it's shit or I would have been there. There's a topo in an old On The Edge and I'm sure there's a copy at Awesome Walls. I kind of thought it was more a toproping venue than bouldering.....?

Grim landing onto pavement.
In a housing estate and overlooked by tower blocks
Very highball
In Liverpool

  You could no doubt add "overgrown" and "green" to that list if I know Merseyside Sandstone!

Your description reminds me of an even shadier venue not far from Everton Valley.....

[Monolith]

sounds..........interesting. Reckon its gonna be one of those places that eventually gets the better of you and no matter how shit you're told it is, you still have to go and look. The story of much north west sandstone climbing really.

[fatneck]

sounds..........interesting. Reckon its gonna be one of those places that eventually gets the better of you and no matter how shit you're told it is, you still have to go and look. The story of much north west sandstone climbing really.

Indeed, have spent quite a bit of time wandering the Merseyside/Cheshire sandstone looking at possible lines of esoteric interest while I've been injured.

Was up at Frodsham today checking out a few lines off the beaten track with the kids (and enjoying the snow!)

[Monolith]

Grim landing onto pavement.
In a housing estate and overlooked by tower blocks
Very highball
In Liverpool

Does/did anyone ever have a topo? Heard there was a chap from the Lakes or Lancs who had made one and you could mail off to get one. Is this still the case?

[fatneck]

Tom, just re-found this thread!
Went for a walk with the kids last weekend along the old Loop Line train track around Old Swan and was intrigued to find a substantial amount of quality, quarried, good old Cheshire Sandstone! After which, I decided to organise a cycle trip with the kids along the entire length of the loop, five or six miles all told, and ending in the West Derby area. As soon as this happens I will let you know if I find anything worth going back for! (This may take some time!)

Recently re-checked the wall I mentioned earlier in the thread (in Everton Valley) and I think it probably wouldn't be worth the effort due to poor rock quality. Shame, as it's a decent height. Will show you it one day...

[Monolith]

I'm still convinced that WDC yields some decent bouldering. And as for the urban element - bring it on.
Wasn't it a guy from South Lakes that produced a topo for the venue? Tried emailing him a few months back but it appears his hotmail account is now inactive. I doubt anyone can shed any light on the place and are far from interested in it, but being from the North West, urban bouldering has become my raison d'etre!

[Monolith]

Finally have a copy of this elusive document. Lots of hard lines still to be done according to the author (who incidentally has said that this file may now be distributed for free).

If anyone in the NW is keen, let me know and I'll email it to you.

[Monolith]

O.K. Here's the topo for this place. I haven't been but intend to go this week. I'm going to ignore all the comments about anything to do with scallies, rapists, needles, radioactive waste etc as that's how many north west venues have been described to me, only to go there and find such descriptions to be a load of tripe.

If I do end up battered, raped, with a needle stuck in my foot and dosed up to the eyeballs with Plutonium, please feel free to say 'I told you so'.

Venture at your peril ( ) with this this topo...

P.S The topo is classic MS Word circa 95 so brace yourself for some 'interesting' artwork and drawings.

[BenF]

Hey, I said I'd come along didn't I?  However, I can't do this weekend, as I'm washing my hair.  And next weekend it's my turn to clean the car.

[Monolith]

Precisely  (can't stop wInking today)

The information is now there and the option is yours my friend..

[BenF]

Options...   Hmmmmm....   North Wales or West Derby?   I just cannot decide.

[fatneck]

Possibly got a couple of hours free tomorrow afternoon if anyone's keen for some exploring?

[Monolith]

Asking me if I want to go and explore the core of urban bouldering is like asking a child if they want candy. After I've been to see these Anthony Gormley figures in the morning, I'm game I'm pretty sure (need to OK with Jess). Good move Si.

[andy_e]

(can't stop wInking today)

I know what you mean. Some days I... wait a minute, that's an I!

[Monolith]

Finally started projecting some of the unclimbed lines here. Nice, tough 3 movers just the way I like it.
The rock is super compact sandstone and is very much like Pex (but in a nicer setting).

Some shots anyway:

Wank Away SDS



Some dodgy chap I came across. (Shot for scale really)




Current project that needs last "holds" brushing



Early move on Wank Away SDS



I'm going to produce an updated topo once appropriate additions have been completed. There's an excellent thin thin crack traverse with a dyno finish that needs to be done and some other obvious things that haven't been done or documented. In a really nice setting too by the way.

PM for info if desired (unlikely).

Not sure what Tubbs ever meant by grim landing onto a pavement in a housing estate? Think you must have been in Everton valley or something there.

P.S Jim, you will like this venue.

[Pantontino]

Looks good. Clean rock, friendly landing, and no graffitti - must be in a posh area!

What are the top outs like? Or do you jump back to the pads?

[fatneck]

You jump back on to pads. I managed a quick visit yesterday and managed to pull some holds off attempting to top it out, I won't be trying that again!



You really are too tall Tom, I had to get both feet really high and go with the right on that one. Sit start looks nails. Also, on your project wall (a little right of most of the (pitifull) holds you cleaned) is a T cut in the rock and I found it possible to pull on using this as a side pull and hit a thin break with an in situ fern at about 3/4 height, you'll piss it this way. The thin crack traverse shouldn't be that hard as the last move goes fairly static.

I did find the number of cyclists a bit unnerving, but will definately go back with a pair of gardening shears!

[BenF]

Alright, you win. 
I shall go down and check this place out now that the reconnaissance division has done its work.  It looks pretty good, but I'm still glad I went to Woodwell last night instead.

[chappers]

i cant see the pics?? and all your positive talk makes it sound good...is it?

[Andy F]

They do look good. If the weather stay's fine I may well head down there tonite. Tom, Ben, you fancy it?

[BenF]

If only Andy.  I've got a bloody post grad tutorial thingy tonight so will have to expend my excess energy running around the mean streets of Toxteth.  Was planning to go to Woodwell today, but realised my error and made the trip up there last night.  Was bloody lovely up at Woodwell actually.  Really peaceful and a true rural idyll.  Anyway, I digress... 

May be at the board on Thursday though. 

[Monolith]

Andy - I'm unlikely to go tonight as have to go back over the water late on.

Ben - Your bitch has done his work, I'm glad it pleases you  

Chappers - Not sure why you can't see the pictures? Perhaps due to a setting in your browser? As for making it sound good - I love compact sandstone in semi-urban areas. Whether or not you do remains to be seen! Come down and if you don't like it, we can find something else to do.

Pantontino - The landings are good, if a little muddy in places at the minute (they'll soon dry up). As Fatneck says, it's a jump back onto pad affair, although in the old topo the existing problems top out. I think they must have done a load of weeding back in the day.

Fatneck - I think you were looking at a different line as the engraved 'T' isn't on project x. I know where you mean though. I'll have to head down with you soon to show you what's been done and what's to go. Obviously there is so much potential for tougher numbers than currently exist. Brushes and secetares needed indeed! Also, I think we must have our wires crossed on the envisioned traverse/dyno finish. It's a big move where feet come off clean.

It's worth noting that there is a lot more rock along the loop line, but so far access has only been agreed with SusTrans to climb on the section documented in the old topo and shown in the photographs here. This could well change if anything further down looks cleanable and we write to Sustrans.

[BenF]

Ben - Your bitch has done his work, I'm glad it pleases you  

At least you know your place, ho.

Now you've got me keen, how many problems are there at this new Crag Y oh Y?  What's the grade spread?