[Mestizo]

Coming from up north I have not climbed much on limestone much but aim to get done a bit more this year. As such was just wondering what peoples opinion on the best time for good conditions for limestone. Is it possible to climb through summer or does it get to hot? Likewise are spring/winter too cold? Am thinking of places such as rubicon, cheedale, the tor, malham, kilnsey etc etc

Thanks for any help!

 

[Andy F]

Depends on the Crag. From a Yorkshire point of view, Malham is fine at the minute, but get's far to hot in summer when your better of at Kilnsey/Goredale/any non-south facing crag, which are mostly freezing/gopping at the minute.

[The Sausage]

one of the many, many beautiful things about british limestone, is that there's always something in perfect nick:

Jan: minus 10 (always dry, conditions in inverse relationship with temperature)
Feb: rubicon (bring your wellies)
march: malham, rubicon, parts of the tor
april: as above (tor ought to be dry) plus kilnsey (hampered mainly by cold, north buttress often wet), cheedale starting to dry out (in an average year), high tor (cold if windy)
may: malham (on a cold/cloudy day), kilnsey, cheedale generally (cornice if you're lucky).
june, july, august: kilnsey, gordale, water cum jolly, cheedale cornice
september onwards: rewind the above.

don't forget that peak crags can suffer with condensation if a warm, wet air mass comes in following a period of cold, dry weather.

this is a very general overview. and only my opinion. and only of the major crags. for example malham can be boiling in february, freezing in may. anywhere can be wet or dry at any time of year.

[Mestizo]

Thanks that a very helpful post. I realise its very general but helps loads in regard to planning trips. Will need to print it out for future reference! Seems like there is little excuse for not getting something done, did n't realise limestone was so versitile 

 

[RopeBoy]

As a general rule of thumb limestone is a summer rock and God's own rock is for the winter!

J