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the shizzle => bouldering => Topic started by: Nigel Poustie on February 26, 2012, 10:01:46 am

Title: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: Nigel Poustie on February 26, 2012, 10:01:46 am
I've been to Font loads and loads of times before and obviously visited all the usual areas a number of times.
We going again in late March and we now have another baby, I'm looking for some new places to try.
They would need to have a short walk in and a spread of grades from 5 through to 8, all close together.
Any ideas?
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: Jingo on February 27, 2012, 03:47:12 am
Just printing a new guidebook to Font called Fontainebleau Fun Bloc which should be in the shops in a few weeks time. It has 17 kids circuits fully detailed, which are all the ones currently painted up. Should be of help to you. Plus all the best buggy approach routes.  Also has over 1000 grade 7 and 8 probs.
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: T_B on February 27, 2012, 09:12:02 am
Depends what you mean by obvious areas?

Potala is good for kids, though not that many 7s - a good 7a+, roofy 7b+ and a v obvious 8  ;)  Plus class 7a+ at Cathedrale 5 mins walk away. Can combine with Guichot.
Beauvais is also good en famille. One amazing 7b+, one OK 7b+ with a better 7c start.
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: Nigel Poustie on February 27, 2012, 09:26:31 am
Cheers.

Can you make an advanced order of the guide on the web? Sounds interesting!

By obvious I meant: Cuvier, Canon, Isatis, Cuisiniere, Elephant, Buthiers, Sabots, Gorge aux chats. Thoses seem to be areas we go quite alot.
I've never been to the areas you meantion so thanks alot, i'll check them out on bleau.info.

Anyone ever been to Rocher d' Avon sounds like it might fit the bill, nothing really hard there though but sounds like it's a short walk and low/mid 7s next easier stuff.
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: T_B on February 27, 2012, 09:37:32 am
Folk on here have been to Rocher Avon, but from a kids perspective, I'd heard from a mate with kids who checked it out that it's a bit spread out  :-\
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: dave on February 27, 2012, 09:44:55 am
Wouldn't have thought avon was great for binlids.

Cancha aux merciers would be good for kids, assuming they don't set off any of the blank rounds lying around.
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: T_B on February 27, 2012, 09:58:41 am
Yeah canche is good, though I've never found much to do there unless u like horizontal dynos. This looks cool, though has a bit of a bad landing http://bleau.info/canche/1754.html (http://bleau.info/canche/1754.html)
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: Nigel Poustie on February 27, 2012, 10:00:13 am
Oh right....Thats the trouble you have so little time to yourself you don't want to spend it looking for boulders!

Anyone been to Mont Ussy? Any good?

Also what would the Alien roof at Rocher Caillaud (JA Martin) be like for easier problems? Whats the walk in like, you appoarch differently to the rest of JA Martin right?
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: Nigel Poustie on February 27, 2012, 10:03:50 am
Canche aux Merciers had crossed my mind but I was worried the dyno was the only thing to go at - not usually my thing!
Cheers all.
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: Bonjoy on February 27, 2012, 10:17:56 am
The Alien roof is about a ten min walk in along a decent (strurdy pushchairable) track. Nothing really there below 7a+, but JA Martin itself is pretty child friendly if mostly a bit dull.

Buthiers is a good bet, all areas close to the car, mostly with a flat approach and loads of brilliant probs of all grades (the best stuff tends to be high).

Petit Bois is a good choice. Compact flat based crag, close to car, good mix of grades inc some classic harder things.
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: Nigel Poustie on February 27, 2012, 10:35:54 am
Cheers Bonjoy

Yeah Buthiers is awesome! and so is Petite Bois, was thinking of going back to get Baleine - always found that hard!

We don't have a push chair, just slings. Eric ic three now so can walk a fair way just a bit slow hence short walk-ins.
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: dave on February 27, 2012, 10:56:43 am
Alien roof is great for climbing but fuckall else there bar that block and a vertical warmup wall. We took ours there when he was 18months but it wouldn't be my first choice. Mont ussy I walked round in the rain once, some good looking stuff, not sure about binlid friendlyness.
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: Jingo on February 27, 2012, 11:17:21 am
The copies come to the UK and go directly to Cordee in Leicester. They have a website and are set up for very quick despatch. Avon is good when kids are 12 upwards, plenty then but not really before. You will be quite surprised at how much has been developed in the forest. New book has 7000+ probs in just 24 areas.
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: Bonjoy on February 27, 2012, 11:42:12 am
Cassepot was another place we went to with the little one. A bit spread out but not too bad and otherwise child friendly
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: T_B on February 27, 2012, 11:51:48 am
Bois Rond?

Anyone been there? I seem to recall doing a great red circuit there, but it was 10+ years ago so can't remember much about it.
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 27, 2012, 11:53:34 am
Bois Rond has an easy enough walk in (4 yr old rode his bike there and back when we went) plus decent flat areas once you're there.

There's not a lot 7A and above but what there is looks good. I didn't attempt to climb any of them as we went on the last day when I was totally destroyed but the red and blue circuits have some very nice problems on them.

Cassepot was another place we went to with the little one. A bit spread out but not too bad and otherwise child friendly

 :agree:

EDIT - Wrote this before you posted T_B !
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: tommytwotone on February 27, 2012, 01:30:45 pm
Manoury looks interesting - decent concentration of Blues / Reds close together, and a fair selection of harder stuff including that impressive / terrifying looking Irreversible (7c).

There's even two handy downloadable topos for the blue / red circuits and the 7a - 8a stuff (the latter of which I'm sure is fine once you get past the Comic Sans useage):

http://bleau.info/maunoury/ (http://bleau.info/maunoury/)

It says 300m from the parking which I'd assume is OK for a walk-in?
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: SA Chris on February 27, 2012, 01:59:08 pm
Bois Rond?


I was going to run that up the flagpole too; as JS says not a lot in the higher grades though, but is it Drei Zinnen just across the way where there are a few quality harder probs?
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: Bonjoy on February 27, 2012, 03:49:14 pm
La Bombe Humaine assis 7a+ at Bois Rond is good. A lot of the other 7s seem to be eliminate in some way or other
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: ghisino on February 27, 2012, 03:56:04 pm
Anyone been to Mont Ussy? Any good?

a cool looking 7c (l'etre have) and couple of very highball 6b/c, plus orange and red circuits and a virtual blue (no painted arrows, only exists on pdf).
Next to it you have roche d'Hercule, a big approachless chunk of pocketed sandstone with some very cool, highballish problems from 5 to 7a+.
A few more 7's 300 meters away.


Nice quiet area overall, oddly it seems more popular with fontainebleau people having a walk in the woods than with climbers.
The only reason i can see is that the harder stuff is either uninteresting or highball, otherwise it's quite good.
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: T_B on February 27, 2012, 04:05:31 pm
Manoury looks interesting - decent concentration of Blues / Reds close together, and a fair selection of harder stuff including that impressive / terrifying looking Irreversible (7c).

Yeah, I thought that. Went there en famille last yr. I wouldn't recommend it. It's hard to find, spread out and not particularly child friendly. The blues/reds are disappointing. I would only go back for Irreversible (+ an amazing angular highball arete that's not in the 7s&8s guide (what is this?)) and maybe Oasis.
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: Nigel Poustie on February 27, 2012, 04:19:14 pm
Yeah, from what I have seen off Manoury I looks like quite broken up lots of gullys etc lots of boulders you dont climb on a la Apremont! Which is no good for finding things

I think the arete your thinking of is Rababoum 7a 5 star apparently looks ace but perhaps not a area for a group with 4 / 5 kids!
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 27, 2012, 04:36:23 pm
Was looking at that problem earlier. It does look stunning.

http://bleau.info/maunoury/19065.html (http://bleau.info/maunoury/19065.html)
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: T_B on February 27, 2012, 04:43:30 pm
Ah yes, that's the one. Looks bigger in the flesh, with a boulder choke landing from what I can recall.

Take a team, not a toddler  ;)
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 27, 2012, 04:46:18 pm
 :agree:

There's a video of the sit start which shows the landing. As you say, looks like a chasm full of boulders filled in with a load of pads.
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: fried on February 27, 2012, 04:47:34 pm
Bois rond dries slowly so is a good choice if it's warm (possible in March), if it's damp simply cross the road to the quick drying canche aux merciers. I wouldn't recommend Drei zinnen to anyone with a push chair (or anyone at all really!).

Beauvais Telegraph always goes down well with mixed groups and kids.
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: Nigel Poustie on February 27, 2012, 04:58:36 pm
I've been it Bois Rond and I thought it was the worst area I've been too! There isn't enough to go at if your opperating in the 7s and above. Your right though it would be good with kids.

Anyone been to Montrouget there is a awesome looking 7c roof crack there and looks like a short walk-in.
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: fried on February 27, 2012, 05:12:34 pm
Roche qui torne  and Montignotte are even closer to the car, although the parking is an adventure. Looks like some good highball slabs (too hard for me).

You're right taht there's not much in the 7's at Bois Rond, but it's easy to keep the kids encircled :yes:
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: Andy B on February 27, 2012, 11:04:51 pm
Montrouget would be a mission with a pram, and there's not stacks there. The 7c roof crack (Zone Interdit) was wet when we were there but didn't look amazing in the flesh.

I would recommend Roche aux Oiseaux as an easy access, compact area with open flat spaces to play in and a good range of quality problems. Maybe also Apremont Bizons if you have slightly older kids, easy access for most things, and reasonable range of problems and a good kids circuit. Rocher Fin is a long but mostly flat walk in on big tracks and once you're there it has a good open central sandpit to play in and, again, quite a few excellent problems. We've been there with young kids.
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: dave on February 27, 2012, 11:09:54 pm
Good call on Oiseaux, I forgot I'd been there with minidave, no bother.
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: fried on February 28, 2012, 06:55:51 am
Quiet too, even when the crappy, polished Sabots is full of Belgians!
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: Nigel Poustie on February 28, 2012, 08:25:28 am
from maps on bleau.info it looks like a fair walk in to Roche aux Oiseaux compared to Sabots?
Prams aren't a issue, we use slings. A short walk-in and concentrated once your there is the critria.

Would Roche qui Tourne any good then, Pagota 8a looks good and very do-able? All the areas here abouts look very close to the main path which is good.
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: Bonjoy on February 28, 2012, 09:53:09 am
I haven’t been but I suspect Rocher Greau might meet those criteria. Certainly looks to have some good harder things in a compact area close to parking.
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: Andy B on February 28, 2012, 10:26:36 am
The main area at Rocher Qui Tourne is in an old quarry amongst rubble slopes. I didn't think there was masses of quality there, but a few good problems. When we were there (October) the walk had increased as they had barriered the road at the parking for the next area down (Gorge a Veron I think). Pagota is pretty much on its own about 10-15 minutes walk up hill from the main area.

The Oiseaux walk in is about 5 minutes on the flat.

Bonjoy's right about Rocher Greau.
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: fatdoc on February 28, 2012, 11:57:14 am
The Alien roof is about a ten min walk in along a decent (strurdy pushchairable) track. Nothing really there below 7a+, but JA Martin itself is pretty child friendly if mostly a bit dull.

Buthiers is a good bet, all areas close to the car, mostly with a flat approach and loads of brilliant probs of all grades (the best stuff tends to be high).

Petit Bois is a good choice. Compact flat based crag, close to car, good mix of grades inc some classic harder things.

I agree.

Merciers is a family fav! Just have an easy day on the reds.
Buthiers is ideal, but keep them away from the road.
Most of the stuff in vallee de mee is Ok
You will have to at least let them play at elephant.
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: fried on February 28, 2012, 05:10:16 pm
Worth repeating that for Roche qui torne/ Montignotte etc, the parking is still as for gorge à Veron. It is incorrectly marked on google.maps and hence bleau.info. The parking is at the end of chemin de la gorge bois feuille, so just continue straight on from the parking (or take the very pretty back way in). This will save hours wandering about lost!
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: joeb on March 03, 2012, 11:22:42 am
Rocher greau also has a play park where you park. Its worth noting that as a venue it gets very little sun and can be freeeezing.
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: T_B on April 16, 2012, 12:35:13 pm
I wouldn't recommend Drei zinnen to anyone with a push chair (or anyone at all really!).

Resurrecting this thread as just back from Font and remembered this comment. I'd previously avoided Drei Zinnen because of the noise (motorway) and what looked like few inspiring 7s, but we had a good day there.

There is a really good lowball blue circuit, it's excellent for little kids (some good flat spots), has a v short walk in and does actually have some decent 7a-7c problems.
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: fried on April 16, 2012, 06:30:44 pm
I have to confess that I've only been there on damp days when I all I can hear is the motorway (anyone that complains about the noise at Canche should pay a visit), the ambience of the place doesn't inspire me, (what does when it's damp).

I'll visit again when it's more clement.
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: T_B on March 01, 2016, 08:56:13 am
Thread resurrection!

Any new comments on quieter venues? Going at Easter with a 5yr old, 3yr old and psyched wife. She wants to try something at Apremont Envers.

Also, any top tips on kids stuff for parent looking after them? Best kids circuits (they both like climbing), playgrounds (I only know the one at Rocher Greau), swimming pools?
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: dave on March 01, 2016, 10:02:41 am
Last time with the kids we went to the following:

Apremont Bizons - the flat on the right of the path bit before you get to the main bit has a good kids circuit, nice spot but not much for adults. You could always nip up the hill to Shoot etc. Lack of adults stuff means not liekly to get super busy, despite short walk-in.

Sabots - really good kids circuit, plenty of stuff for adults. Can get busy.

Elephant - decent kids circuit in the area just before you get to the main elephant boulder. Obvs main area can be busy but the kids bit is out of the way a bit.

JA Martin - this was a surprise to me, really great kids circuit close to the parking at JA Martin, before you get into the main huge sprawling part of the area. Nice ambience, seemed a bit quieter than the other areas. Also some adult circuit stuff, nothing hard but enough for a potter around.

Think there's one or two kids circuits at Rocher Canon, I'll probably go there this time. Supposed to be good kids stuff at Beauvais too. Also I think there's one at Mont Ussy or Rocher de Hercules, one of those small areas near Font town.
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: T_B on March 01, 2016, 10:16:37 am
JA Martin - this was a surprise to me, really great kids circuit close to the parking at JA Martin, before you get into the main huge sprawling part of the area. Nice ambience, seemed a bit quieter than the other areas. Also some adult circuit stuff, nothing hard but enough for a potter around.

Good knowledge. Super short walk in plus sand pit action near the parking. Oh, and a certain 7B+ arete with left hand crimp for me to 'finish off'.

Think there's one or two kids circuits at Rocher Canon, I'll probably go there this time. Supposed to be good kids stuff at Beauvais too. Also I think there's one at Mont Ussy or Rocher de Hercules, one of those small areas near Font town.

Yeah Canon is v child friendly but not much for Dad's? Went to Beauvais when Leo was 1. It's kid friendly and there's another similarly named nemesis for me to 'finish off'.
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: dave on March 01, 2016, 10:20:15 am
Should be plenty of stuff at Canon - 36.15 power, chasseur sitter, the Mare stuff, Nuts, Baleine, Orca, etc etc.
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: lagerstarfish on March 01, 2016, 11:08:20 am
Also, any top tips on kids stuff for parent looking after them?

Parc Animalier de l'Emprunt at Souppes-sur-Loing

http://www.ccgvl77.fr/Parc-animalier-de-l-Emprunt-a.html

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g1945706-d6561564-Reviews-Parc_Animalier_de_l_Emprunt-Souppes_sur_Loing_Seine_et_Marne_Ile_de_France.html

get to see wild boar and deer up close

rabbits and goats wandering around all over the place

playground, cafe

don't think it was much money to get in (a few years since I last went)

usual ethical issues about cheap animal attractions abroad
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: T_B on March 01, 2016, 11:38:31 am
C'est parfait!
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: SA Chris on March 01, 2016, 11:57:30 am
Good shout, added to the list!
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: duncan on March 01, 2016, 12:04:37 pm
The lad (4) enjoyed the Sabots children's circuit but had at least as much fun just following his dad around the main area and climbing any lump of rock that took his fancy.

Swimming in the Loing river at Grez is lovely in summer (but possibly not Easter...). We thought the narrow gauge train (http://www.tacot-des-lacs.com/) near Grez was great but it might be a little boy's thing.

Off again in May, so keep the suggestions coming.
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: cofe on March 01, 2016, 01:13:05 pm
We thought the narrow gauge train (http://www.tacot-des-lacs.com/) near Grez was great but it might be a little boy's thing.

Like the sound of that. The kids might do too.
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: lagerstarfish on March 01, 2016, 01:40:17 pm
weirdest thing we experienced was a travelling shark show that was parked in a supermarket car park (near Nemours, I think?)

big trailers with tanks full of live sharks and recorded commentary blasting over the sound system 

proper Victorian vibe
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: T_B on March 01, 2016, 01:44:17 pm
Bring. It. On. I might not even bother climbing.  ;D

Any indoor wet weather option knowledge? Ours are still of a indoor play age...
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: lagerstarfish on March 01, 2016, 02:51:56 pm
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"

http://vimeo.com/157285595
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: fried on March 01, 2016, 04:38:49 pm
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
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: Duma on March 01, 2016, 05:12:45 pm
Great name!
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: slackline on March 02, 2016, 09:23:50 am
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.
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: bagger on March 02, 2016, 01:49:50 pm
I came across this website recently.

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

I have never been, so not sure what it is like in real life!
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: lagerstarfish on March 27, 2016, 07:30:32 am
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
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: lagerstarfish on March 27, 2016, 09:45:37 am
opening times/dates

http://www.atoutbranches.com/downloads/calendrieratoutbranches.pdf
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: tomtom on March 27, 2016, 10:28:21 am
pas du "Allez Ape"?
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: lagerstarfish on November 21, 2016, 10:36:19 pm
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

https://vimeo.com/192535312
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: SA Chris on November 22, 2016, 01:02:23 pm
Takes you even longer to edit a vid than me. Looks great though.
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: lagerstarfish on April 06, 2018, 09:14:41 am
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)
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: taliadrew on April 06, 2018, 10:31:42 pm
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 :)
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: Will Hunt on January 15, 2020, 12:42:08 pm
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?
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: dunnyg on January 15, 2020, 01:00:06 pm
Did she downgrade that classic too?
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: Will Hunt on January 15, 2020, 01:05:19 pm
Did she downgrade that classic too?

It was actually a first ascent so I had to downgrade it after I repeated it.
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: dunnyg on January 15, 2020, 01:13:54 pm
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.
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: Ballsofcottonwool on January 15, 2020, 01:34:01 pm
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


Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: Will Hunt on January 15, 2020, 02:17:58 pm
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.
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: sheavi on January 15, 2020, 02:19:54 pm
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.




Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: sheavi on January 15, 2020, 02:22:02 pm
This might be useful.

https://heason.7thwave.io/blog/1260
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: duncan on January 15, 2020, 05:20:31 pm
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).
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: Will Hunt on January 15, 2020, 06:33:10 pm
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"?
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: lagerstarfish on January 15, 2020, 09:56:00 pm
 Sabot and Canche are great for little kids and a pram approach. Plenty of space to run around. Plenty of shade if needed.
Title: Re: New child friendly crags in Font with grades 5-8!
Post by: SA Chris on January 21, 2020, 11:15:27 am
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?
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