[i_a_coops]

www.yr.no/place/France/Provence-Alpes-C%C3%B4te_d%E2%80%99Azur/Buoux/long.html

Bit nervous about camping in sub zero temperatures. Les Calanques is the only warmer-looking alternative in France I can think of...

Am I being a massive pansy about Buoux or is it likely to be really grim?

Any suggestions for sunny sport climbing in France would be hugely appreciated.

Ian

[mrjonathanr]

I have climbed there at Christmas when it's cold, Bout du Monde/La Plage/Autoroute areas are suntraps at the right time of day.

Heading east and south:

 Volx is a sheltered suntrap.

Further down the road Chateavert can catch the sun nicely.

King of all winter venues is Cimaï. Too hot to climb out of winter months as a rule, south facing suntrap nr Toulon. Magnificent cliff,  massive, technical, fingery. Rubiconesque. Used to be a cheap guesthouse in nearby St Anne d'Evenos.

PS good steep crag at Luminy by Marseille uni prob nice in winter can't remember aspect, sorry.

[Doylo]

I've been to Cimai, reminded me of the lime on the Orme but yellow.

[fatdoc]

What mrJ said.

Equal knowledge, be flexible.

I never climbed 8a after march down there. It's worth putting up with potentially f*cking freezing nights. Go to the sun traps...

[duncan]

I asked my local representative the same question recently when contemplating a New Year trip. His first recommendation was Claret 'by far the best overall experience', followed by Seynes 'could get quite warm even in January', and Cimai.

[Palomides]

This might be a bit late (and just look like boasting - which it partly is...) but conditions at Russan are fabulous right now. Seynes, Collias, Claret and so on will be similar>

Photos from Friday:
 

[i_a_coops]

Thanks for the replies everyone - good to know Russan is nice at the minute, don't suppose you've noticed if the monster roof with Moi Vouloir Toit etc. is dry? 

I'll take multiple sleeping bags and punter you all if I get frostbite. 

[jwi]

It's really good in Buoux now

[jwi]

But yeah. Nights are cold

[Palomides]

Thanks for the replies everyone - good to know Russan is nice at the minute, don't suppose you've noticed if the monster roof with Moi Vouloir Toit etc. is dry? 

I'll take multiple sleeping bags and punter you all if I get frostbite. 

It's all dry. Maybe a few drops here and there but no wet streaks. The big roof looked dry from underneath.

But it's just got colder so you really need to shelter from the north wind.

[i_a_coops]

En route to Buoux again, anyone know of any cheap campsites that are open? Can't find a single one via google (Les Cedres doesn't open until 15 February)  . Free doss spot alternative suggestions would also be very welcome.