UK Summertime bouldering venues (Read 5612 times)

ziggytang · June 19, 2015, 11:38:41 am

Anyone got any recommendations for decent summertime UK bouldering areas? I went to the Pit in Milestone yesterday evening and forgot how much my skin hates small sharp crimps when it's warm...bad idea.

SA Chris · June 19, 2015, 11:46:22 am

roddersm · June 19, 2015, 11:50:36 am

Anyone tried Dumbarton?

SA Chris · June 19, 2015, 11:52:54 am

In general, or in Summertime?

Trick question, Scotland doesn't get a summertime!!

roddersm · June 19, 2015, 12:02:46 pm

Well both - looks like there is some really good stuff there, guessing its still climbable in the summer?

SA Chris · June 19, 2015, 01:11:40 pm

I've been in midsummer and it's never been roasting hot, but I think it would be too warm to try the harder stuff. Personally I wasn't crazy about the rock, but I think it's a place where you need to put the time in to get them most out of it.

tomtom · June 19, 2015, 01:20:09 pm

Give us a bit more to go on ZT - which bit of the UK?

ziggytang · June 19, 2015, 03:56:17 pm

Around the North West really. I'm North Wales based but just wondering if there are any go to locations around when it's a bit warm!

tomtom · June 19, 2015, 04:05:05 pm

Quote from: ziggytang on June 19, 2015, 03:56:17 pm

Around the North West really. I'm North Wales based but just wondering if there are any go to locations around when it's a bit warm!

Coast if theres a decent breeze and overcast (Ysgo?) - high up is normally cooler - or head to the Lime... Also the sandstone in Cheshire (Harmers/Helsby/Frodsham etc..)...

Richie Crouch · June 19, 2015, 09:04:57 pm

Angel bay and the little buttresses on the top of the little Orme are good in hot weather. Normal wisdom can be good and pillbox with the right breeze.

I'd recommend swerving the plas y brenin boulder and Pete's new prowess line up in the undergrowth... Midge nightmare today! Same with elephantitus and bustach obv.

Doylo · June 19, 2015, 10:17:24 pm

New Plas-y-Brenin stuff any good?

Richie Crouch · June 19, 2015, 10:41:09 pm

Yeah Prowess was good and well worth popping up to (spoiled a tad by the rock to the right but climbs well). Didn't look at the other bits as I was getting eaten alive despite copious amounts of smidge repellent.

Fiend · June 20, 2015, 10:12:00 am

Dumby can be quite good in the summer as many of the boulder faces get the shade and if there is a West-to-Northerly breeze it rakes across the crag and boulders, plus the rock is not coarse.

Generally I'd be looking for conditions (shade / cloud / breeze / low humidity) and rock type (big holds, big moves, not too rough) rather than specific venues.

ziggytang · June 20, 2015, 12:45:42 pm

Quote from: Richie Crouch on June 19, 2015, 09:04:57 pm

Angel bay and the little buttresses on the top of the little Orme are good in hot weather. Normal wisdom can be good and pillbox with the right breeze.

I'd recommend swerving the plas y brenin boulder and Pete's new prowess line up in the undergrowth... Midge nightmare today! Same with elephantitus and bustach obv.

Went to Angel Bay on Monday, it was so humid and greasy. Nice to repeat a few of the easier problems though. Pebble level was so low though, could hardly reach the first hold on the Limpet.

Doylo · June 20, 2015, 01:39:12 pm

Angel Bay is definitely not a hot weather crag. Need fresh conditions.

ducko · June 21, 2015, 10:59:41 pm

The Indy mate.

andymarshll · June 21, 2015, 11:38:09 pm

Get some midge repellent, citronella candles and some lanterns and go nocturnal, that's my plan anyway.

gme · June 22, 2015, 08:36:40 am

Plenty of places in the county. Queens, callerhues, simonside, ravensheugh all good 90% of the time, as long as its not raining obviously. Even bowden and kyloe stay ok other than in full sun.

Being near the coast usually keeps the humidity down.

Gus · June 22, 2015, 09:28:02 am

Churnet Valley innit!

Doylo · June 22, 2015, 10:09:06 am

It was mint in the hills yesterday. It's so changeable in the UK you can get good conditions any time.