[lagerstarfish]

we went to the animal park on a rainy day and still had fun

(also features the travelling freak shark show after 15:40)

best line is at 14:54 whilst watching a badger for the first time -  "I didn't know they would look so much like a badger"

[fried]

If you're in Apremont worth having a look here as it's newly opened and currently polish-free. I have no idea for higher level stuff, but the blue circuit was fine. It's a bit  slow drying, so a dry weather option and right near the kids circuit at Apremont bizons.

https://bleau.info/butteauxdames

[Duma]

Great name!

[slackline]

This is from the UKB Wiki section on Font, I made a copy a while back before the Wiki was taken off line, figured it might be useful to add into this thread as the Wiki isn't currently available...

Sector	Parking	Details
Beauvais Nainville	D75	Excellent for kids and mixed groups, there are two white circuits, one suitable for ages 6+, the other a bit older. There is also a yellow and an orange that follow the same route through the forest. The climbing starts at the car park, the rock is rough and the problems are low with many traverses. Ideal for a mixed ability/ age group. Shady, though not too humid, good for hot summer days.
Beauvais Telegraph		Good childrens spot, 2 childrens circuits, one for very small ones, one for 10+, next to the carpark with picnic tables in situe. Little for adults except the beginning of the blue circuit.
Canche aux Merciers		Two white circuit, one of which can be combined with the the yellow, both end near the start of the blue/red circuits. The childrens circuits can easily be including with blue/red circuits, a good mixed group choice. The rock is quick to dry (although some say a little greasy). The boulders are low with flat landings. The walk in is about 5 minutes. Maybe avoid on Wednesdays in term time, as this is a favourie destination for school groups from the local area.
Roche aux Sabots		Nice childrens circuit, close to the car park (on the right before the beginning of yellow/blue/red circuits. Unfortunately this means that there is little to occupy adults as the yellow/blue/red circuits are not run on the same boulders.
Rocher des Potets	Croix Saint-Jerome	Fairly short walk in, There are no childrens circuits but an easy yellow/orange on low boulders. Friendly rock, with safe landings. Ideal for beginners and older children.
J.A Martin		White circuit plus a yellow/ orange that start close to the car park. The other circuits in this area are not easily combined. To be avoided on Hot days.
Rocher Canon		White children circuit starts from the car park. Easy to mix with the yellow/ orange and some blue/red problems. Good choice for a mixed group.
Apremonts Bizons		A Short walk in finds a small area of low boulders located away from the other circuits. Ideal picnic area and kids are virtually unloseable. A firm favourite. There are some off-cicuit problems, although the rock is a little sandy on some of the problems.
Franchard Isatis		Short walk in, flat area of lowish boulders at the start make an ideal location for parents wanting to do the blue/red/white plus off-circuit problems. Usually plenty of families picnicking and playing on slacklines. Not a great choice for beginners due to lack of easy circuits.
Petit Bois		A low yellow circuit will entertain competent kids and beginners. Right next to the car park, although without a map you might end up lost. Probably the dampest place in the forest, ideal in hot condition althogh it can sometimes be too muggy. Easy to combine with a trip to Lidl in Nemours.
L'Elephant		A white and yellow circuit start in the low boulders near the car park although they soon go in completely different directions. The white continues into the main area with the other circuits. The rock is full of holes and pockets and on flat sand. Family groups with beginners may find the problems in this area a little high for comfort, although the yellow circuit that goes up onto a plateau to the right of the main area may well be suitable.

[bagger]

I came across this website recently.

http://www.buthiers.iledeloisirs.fr/

I have never been, so not sure what it is like in real life!

[lagerstarfish]

Also, any top tips on kids stuff for parent looking after them?

yesterday morning we took the kids here

http://www.atoutbranches.com/

only us and another family there. Our little kids, 6 and 4, had a great time on the Ouistiti circuit and the mini tyroleans underneath it. 13 Euros each seemed a lot, but they were very entertained for over 2 hours. They also enjoyed racing each other round the Piccolo circuit after they'd taken their harness and helmets off.

The website didn't make it clear that even though the 6 yr old is well above the height requirement, she was not considered old enough to go on some of the other circuits.

Then we went to Canche aux Merciers to climb more trees and rocks

[lagerstarfish]

opening times/dates

http://www.atoutbranches.com/downloads/calendrieratoutbranches.pdf

[tomtom]

pas du "Allez Ape"?

[lagerstarfish]

Also, any top tips on kids stuff for parent looking after them?

yesterday morning we took the kids here

http://www.atoutbranches.com/

video from that morning

[SA Chris]

Takes you even longer to edit a vid than me. Looks great though.

[lagerstarfish]

we had a good play on the kids circuit at Buthiers Canard - much smaller boulders than the main area and climbing starts next to the parking

the kids and Mrs Starfish then chilled in the restaurant while I scared myself stupid on the big rocks

the big discovery was the frisbee golf course on the plateau above the climbing - fortunately we had a frisbee in the car - top fun (and free)

[taliadrew]

Went to Canche Aux Merciers a couple of weeks ago and they have a fairly diverse purple kids circuit! Would recommend for adult climbs as well as it has a good range.  The walk in is also really short which is a bonus

[Will Hunt]

I'm wondering about doing a trip in September. The kids at that time would be 9 months and 3 years and 4 months.

The youngest will be crawling and probably ferried around in a pram, though might use a sling. The eldest does do a little bit of climbing and will hopefully still like it by the time we go! This is currently the pinnacle of her outdoor climbing (filmed at age 2-and-a-bit) and hopefully I will take her out a few times over the spring/summer when it warms up a bit.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3QMUqPjcAr/

Would anyone care to list the crags with this quite specific criteria:
1. A kid's circuit that a 3-and-a-bit year old can enjoy AND which isn't too far from a few good low-mid 7s.
2. Has a short walk-in. If it can be done with a pram then even better.
3. Isn't a complete shithole. Sand is probably a good thing though not essential. No rubbers hanging from trees.

I'm not hell bent on the idea of going. My wife isn't a climber so the chances are that in a week's holiday we'd probably go climbing on 3/4 days, and some of the days might be half-days. In your experience would it be worth just waiting until the kids are a couple of years older?

[dunnyg]

Did she downgrade that classic too?

[Will Hunt]

Did she downgrade that classic too?

It was actually a first ascent so I had to downgrade it after I repeated it.

[dunnyg]

It must be disappointing that one of your own is a grade inflater. Maybe intervention at this early age can curb the horrible habit. Does she watch many youtube bouldering videos? She must have picked up the habit somewhere.

[Ballsofcottonwool]

This is a great circuit for really small kids at Rocher du Télégraphe, its like one of the old alpine circuits where you follow the painted marks, up, over around, through ( a tunnel) the boulders, without the polish and highballs, for little people.

Its marked out with pink love hearts if your kids like that sort of thing.

https://cosiroc.fr/index.php/trois-pignons/feuillardiere

[Will Hunt]

This is a great circuit for really small kids at Rocher du Télégraphe, its like one of the old alpine circuits where you follow the painted marks, up, over around, through ( a tunnel) the boulders, without the polish and highballs, for little people.

Its marked out with pink love hearts if your kids like that sort of thing.

https://cosiroc.fr/index.php/trois-pignons/feuillardiere

Thanks, that's a brilliant recommendation.

[sheavi]

Off the top of my head I've taken a pram and also toddlers climbing to the following venues that also have good harder stuff -

https://bleau.info/sabots?locale=en

https://bleau.info/canche?locale=en

https://bleau.info/plaines?locale=en

https://bleau.info/elephant?locale=en


Kids love Font - just a great big playground for them.

[sheavi]

This might be useful.

https://heason.7thwave.io/blog/1260

[duncan]

Off the top of my head I've taken a pram and also toddlers climbing to the following venues that also have good harder stuff -

https://bleau.info/sabots?locale=en

https://bleau.info/canche?locale=en

https://bleau.info/plaines?locale=en

https://bleau.info/elephant?locale=en


Kids love Font - just a great big playground for them.

The first two are ideal in every way. The lad started climbing here aged 2.5 and has agitated to return every year (result!). Interestingly, he’s much less psyched by indoor bouldering.

I don’t remember L’Elephant’s kids circuit as being quite as friendly but is a giant sandpit and what’s not to love about a giant stone elephant? (Off-limits to climbing in 2019 but still a cool feature).

[Will Hunt]

You know, reading the last few posts has made me realise that I've no concern about being able to entertain the children in Font.

Start a new thread called "Non-climbing partner friendly crags in Font"?

[lagerstarfish]

 Sabot and Canche are great for little kids and a pram approach. Plenty of space to run around. Plenty of shade if needed.

[SA Chris]

I could probably find out with a bit of google translate, but does anyone know off the top of their head when the pool at Buthiers opens?