[granticus]

It's coming to that time of year again...

Exmoor Coast - Bouldering Meet is on again...  Saturday 25th April... Meeting at 11.30 am and going all afternoon.  Weather permitting!  It is likely to be Lynmouth again and there will be nice big spring tides. 

Some guff from last year can be found here...

http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,8903.20.html

More details to come.... Or PM for the gen...

[Obi-Wan is lost...]

Are you guys still planning on getting out tomorrow? Hoping to head over. Sent you a PM for details.

[granticus]

Doh! Was actually in Lynmouth for a surf yesterday (the 25th) having arrived slightly too late for the tide. Nevermind.

Where's the bouldering there?

g

You were in Lynmouth for a surf on Saturday??? 
It wasn't the tide you missed it was an appropriately sized swell (several weeks have passed without this) and the correct wind direction you missed!  Lynmouth is a rare and fickle wave...  Wind must be from the South and swell must be big enough for it to be 5ft+ on the Atlantic Beaches for the Lyndaka to even get a sniff of a wave.  Rips are very strong and there are plenty of hazards like entry and exit from the water.  Last time we were bouldering down there, we witnessed some inexperienced surfers get dragged by the rip across towards Foreland Point on an incoming spring tide.  It got to the stage where they were gonna get cut off and stuck against the cliffs.  They needed to get in and had to get in over the rocks way down the beach beyond where the break works.  Their spangly new boards, bodies and pride took a beating.  They skulked past us looking sheepish.  Take care out there if you do get a wave there anytime!

Bouldering can be located to the east and west of Lynmouth on the beaches, mostly tidal, search on this forum you should find more info..  Best to head east on your first visit, walk along the beach, boulders galore, don't get cut off by the extremely large tides!

BTW We sacked the meet due to crap weather..

[Obi-Wan is lost...]

We did go down to Lynmouth on Saturday but with alternative plans to bouldering as the weather was mixed to say the least! I had a mooch East (between the showers) along the beach to the first set of boulders, looks good, not much had a chance to dry between the showers. Good to know where it is now so next time we are down at my Gran's place (Winsford) we can head over. It wasn't a wasted trip as family Obi made the most of the 'sights' of Lynton and Lynmouth checking out a decent cafe for lunch, the cliff railway (Mini-Obi was a BIG fan!) and up to Watersmeet for tea (and Pooh sticks).

[granticus]

Obi - Apologies for the guff weather but glad to hear you and the fam still had a good weekend.  Beyond the bouldering and the surfing, Exmoor still has loads to offer. 

Lots of hidden valleys and amazing walks to be had.  A favourite is to walk up to Watersmeet from Lynmouth when the river is in flood and watch the kayakers bombing down the river, then hack right to the top of the valley for some amazing views down into it, across the moor top to Countisbury and a pint/grub in the pub, then (if the tides right) drop down the 'zig zag' path onto Sillery Sands and back along the beach to Lynmouth (checking the boulders as you go). 

Will probably try for a new date later in the year..

[Obi-Wan is lost...]

drop down the 'zig zag' path onto Sillery Sands and back along the beach to Lynmouth (checking the boulders as you go). 

We've been going down to Sillery sands (known in our family as 'Shussss', as in the sound you make to tell someone to be quiet, or when you don't want someone to tell everyone about an uncrowded beach,  ) since I was about Mini-Obi's age (18months), it's great fun revisiting these places with a different agenda.

[granticus]

  Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! 

This is a local break for local people! Like I said and all the guidebooks say... 5+ on the Atlantic Coast is what is required to make it truly fire.  What you discovered is a high tide peak which is not widely known and doesn't accomodate a crowd.  5 people was probably to many, was probably fairly inconsistent at the weekend with long waits between sets and more like waist high (taking into account that the wave jacks up on the peak).. No?  You should got in straight away as soon as the tide backs it sucks the life outta any swell, particularly if it's an ickle one.

When you've surfed it head high, at low tide, peeling right (well left actually!) across the bay, with machine precision, one wave after another, you'll understand that it was NOT working on Saturday!  Minute long rides are possible when it's properly on. 

[KH]

Grant,  is there a guide available for Exmoor?

[ben]

Like I said and all the guidebooks say... 5+ on the Atlantic Coast is what is required to make it truly fire. 

agreed for a SW swell, but if the swell is westerly then it can work when main beaches are 3-4ft.. assuming the wind is kind of course, non?

have had some epic days there in winter

[granticus]

Grant,  is there a guide available for Exmoor?

Bouldering wise... Nope!  There is a climbing guide to Exmoor which is probably nigh on impossible to get your hands on.  Once upon a time Exmoor was part of the North Devon and Cornwall CC Guidebook area but it was dropped...  It is a climbing backwater but there is quality to be found.  I have almost completed a guide for bouldering near Lynmouth which I will make all aware of.  In the meantime google 'exmoor climbing' and you should find the legendary Terry Cheek's website which gives plenty of info. on routes including the epic Exmoor Coast Traverse which hasn't been repeated for time!

agreed for a SW swell, but if the swell is westerly then it can work when main beaches are 3-4ft.. assuming the wind is kind of course, non?

Oui! Would suggest taking this to the surfing thread but.....This is local knowledge for local people  Truth is it works a lot more than folks think and it would be good to keep it that way..  The afore mentioned break at high tide will kick up a wave, more so than the low tide main breaks that everyone is aware of, better on the push (can disappear on the backing tide if the swell is small) and on tides of a certain height...  Can be too high or too low and that you'll have to work out.  It is mainly a left with floppy rights (not to be confused with the river mouth rights which can be epic on bigger swells).  This is a nice little break but still when compared to the epic possibilities of low tide, going off big stylee, it is what it is...  Be respectful don't bring a crowd and you should be right.. 

[granticus]

We've been going down to Sillery sands (known in our family as 'Shussss', as in the sound you make to tell someone to be quiet, or when you don't want someone to tell everyone about an uncrowded beach,  ) since I was about Mini-Obi's age (18months), it's great fun revisiting these places with a different agenda.

Obi...  Sillery or 'Shussss' is well worth visiting with bouldering in mind...  (I particularly like the ' Nudists Beach' sign painted crudely on the rocks towards Foreland Point, cheeky getts think they own the beach!!)  It is locals policy to keep this area for discovery and not to record details of problems etc..  Which is totally in keeping with the 'Shusss' policy your family has.  Anyone who can be arsed to get down there, will find total seclusion some good problems and a truly beautiful place left for your discovery.  Will never get crowded because of the mission to get there and back!  There are LOTS of other spots along this coast which offer the same seclusion, beauty and bouldering combo.

[Durbs]

Bit of a bump - heading down to Lynton tonight for a couple of nights.

Has there been any progress on the guide/topos?