[carlisle slapper]

Should be fine, wind is a straight southerly though so will likely only be rabbit stone catching a breeze (probs an advantage at this time of year), with 2 dry days it'd only be dewy-damp that could spoil things.

i might nip over myself if i can shift this cold.

[205Chris]

Anyone know what it's like up there at the moment? I'm supposed be to heading up for the week tomorrow but I'm keen to know if:

a. I'm likely to be able to get there by car?

b. Anything will be climbable?

Cheers.

[Nike Air]

I am currently in a hotel next to Newcastle airport, the sky is 100% cloud and ever so slightly damp drizzle in the air.
We ve just come via Goldsborough which as a total iceout, the mist/fog/drizzle had frozen directly onto the crag, the road was death...

Thankfully not like this up here. All major roads ok. Check Yr.no and look at the webcams, also at the bootom of your selected area should be web cams.
May go for a walk at shaftoe in a sec, can let you know after what it is like.
 

[205Chris]

Great info - cheers.

[Nike Air]

Ok never made it to shaftoe crag, got within a few miles and then low cloud turned to steady drizzle so we ducked into a cosy looking public house with a log fire. So i guess this does not really help..
I can let you know what its like when i wake up in the morning if you want.

[205Chris]

No worries. We'll probably head up anyway as got accommodation booked for the week.

Useful to know that the roads etc. are OK and we'll keep out fingers crossed for the crag. Thanks again.

[Fiend]

Good info Jordan. More reports would be welcome. Hope the log fire is nice, man I would like one in my flat right now.

[gme]

We have not had a flake of snow but its been pretty damp nasty weather. Not the best for the crags drying out.

I guess the usual suspects of kyloe and back bowden will give something. Its hovering about zero at the minute and forcast is ok, but not much wind.

[Nike Air]

The fire was awsome thanks. One them middle of the room jobbies with the chimney suspended above it. V cosy indeed. Can you imagine how good it would be to have that in your house!!
Anyway, dry in newcastle this morning, not too windy but total cloud cover up in the sky.

[Fiend]

Same today. Damp. Drove to Goat's Crag. Didn't even get out of the car. Ratho was dry. Perked up at the end of the day.

[rodma]

Most of Bowden was dry yesterday. The left hand end was too damp to bother with, but just about everything from working class along to the cave and on rightwards was dry

[Stabbsy]

Looks like the County has the best chance of a dry day tomorrow, but it's going to be a bit breezy (strong south-westerly). I'm assuming Bowden/Back Bowden will be a bit wild in the wind, so is Kyloe likely to be dry and more sheltered? Any other suggestions in the same area?

[SA Chris]

Bowden is very exposed to the wind, but Back Bowden is another story, gets a lot of shelter being just over the brow of a hill, and having the plantation in front of it. Best bet if you are in doubt is to park as for Back Bowden, have a quick trot down to Child's Play sort of area and if the wind is too brutal, head back over to Back Bowden.

[Stabbsy]

I thought a lot of the plantation had been cleared or was that just the trees close to the crag (sorry, haven't been to Back Bowden for years)?

[SA Chris]

Yeah, but not totally, only about 30ft (?) from the crag. still gets sun and light in, but is a good windbreak.

[Fiend]

Back Bowden is pretty open now and it it can be bloody wild in any form of westerly, if it's strong enough then it will just rake down the valley like my post-curry farts around my bawbag *.

Hepburn is the good option, Kyloe In should be mint too. There are a few more sheltered areas in Shaftoe (e.g. Southern bit) but a long way between them. There's a slight chance of Doveholes being okay but the wind can often sneak in the gap in the trees.

Very few other places as the only ones that don't face some direction of west are mostly routes-only (Jack Rock, Simonside (actually there is some non-westerly bouldering here but you'd get blown off the walk-in), Callaly, Thrunton, etc).



Edit: * - last third of this shows Back Bowden not being sheltered from Westerlies.

[SA Chris]

Looks like mint conditions! Depending which forecast you believe wind is only about 20 mph or so and W (or some say NW).

Apart from the stuff in the woods, isn't Hepburn pretty exposed? Was baltic last time we were up there.

[Stabbsy]

Met Office has 20mph with gusts up to 40mph. Either way, we're going to give it a try tomorrow morning - Bowden or Kyloe, I think. Thanks for the info.

[rodma]

Surely Kyloe

Unless you have tent pegs/guy-lines for your pads

[tomtom]

Looks like mint conditions! Depending which forecast you believe wind is only about 20 mph or so and W (or some say NW).

Apart from the stuff in the woods, isn't Hepburn pretty exposed? Was baltic last time we were up there.

I'm a complete County Novice, but when I was up there just after Xmas it was quite sheltered at Hepburn.. The woods below break up the wind... Well I could stand up there unlike at Bowden!

[dontfollowme]

Can any locals advise on current conditions? Forecast looks reasonable for tomorrow/Saturday...

[andy_e]

Currently a cool breeze and some lovely sunshine in Durham, don't know if that helps.

[LB1782]

Anywhere likely to be in nick tomorrow? BBC and met office seem to disagree about whether it rained this afternoon in Berwick or not

[SamT]

In bamburgh at the mo, and believe me... it rained.....all day!  Dry now though and very breezy so maybe the exposed venues will dry off. Will update first thing in morning.

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

[SamT]

Bright and sunny this am, very breezy, though looks to be a northerly. Tarmac drying off fast.

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk