[tomtom]

Hello,
I'm off to Glenridding for a week and was wondering what decent bouldering spots were near(ish) to there? I've been to Badger Rock, Langdale boulders & Chapel Style before, but not that far north... Somewhere accessible and pleasant to be would help (as I'm with the fairer half who does not climb) and with a good range of 6's and the odd low 7 to work on would be excellent... any recommendations?
Also, to save putting this on another thread, I was toying with heading out on the bikes for a day and wondered if there were any easyish trails around there? (not too many hills as Mrs TT spends most of her life flying a desk or lying on the sofa.... hope she doesnt read this!).
Thanks,
Tom

[SA Chris]

http://www.lakesbloc.co.uk/23.html Useful for starters.

[Johnny Brown]

Carrock Fell is ok.

[andyh]

There's plenty of smallish boulders on the far side of Ullswater with pretty views and would work in combo with bikes as there's a flattish path all the way along. Also scattered round the hillside on the way up Hellvellyn and Grisedale.

All are a fun exploring day out, but no really concentrated circuits.

Gowbarrow crag 5 minutes drive down Ullswater has a great rising traverse and some easy soloing with a lovely outlook from the top for the missus, and is effectively roadside. Again not a lot to go at though.

Closest developed area is probably Carrock Fell. Maybe 30 hour drive if you take shortcuts to the Keswick road.

[slackline]

Sod Carrock Fell if its a 30 hour drive 

For non-climbing activities if you and Mrs TT haven't done it Striding Ridge up to Helvellyn is good fun.  Walked it for the fits time myself a few weeks ago in "gale force" winds (according to the forecast we'd looked at before hand!).

[tomtom]

Thanks for the replies - Carrock fell looks great and Kentmere is only 30-40 hours  away as well (looking at the map). I'm tempted by a play on the Bowderstone, but suspect I could probably only do a couple of the problems there and would get more from a visit elsewhere... though I'd like to have a gander for future inspiration!

Slackers, unfortunately I shall have to hide that picture from the fairer halfs attention, as good a picture that it is. Because, I suspect I've more chance of stopping her following strictly come dancing than getting her to go along that! I've still got a bruised heel from falling between mats last wed, so if that doesnt clear up I may have a rather sedentary week..

Have you tried Sharp edge? Great fun, esp in winter 

PS by sedentary I mean 

[SA Chris]

From a biking point of view the lakes is not a great place for cycling with "not too many hills", due to the large number of hills! you could probably find a flat track round a lake somewhere though.

I went and had a play on Bowderstone recently, and nice to be able to play on some steep moves, but pretty hardcore place. I managed to do some of Picnic Sarcastic though.

[andyh]

Probably closer to an hour to Kentmere.

Rolling rock is another fairly close bet, 30-45 min gentle walk in, really pretty spot, and loads of scattered boulders as well as the main boulder. Again more of an explorey place than a set circuit though, topo on lakesbloc. The V3 up the angular holds is class.

If you get a really hot day then there's a beck with loads of little pools to sit in and drink beck-chilled wine, tis lovely.

[Stabbsy]

It's not north east Lakes and it's a bit more of a drive than some of the other suggestions, but I'd head to St. Bees. Probably an hour's drive but worth it. However, given the Striding Edge comments, you might struggle to persuade Mrs TT to descend the frayed, knotted ropes to get there.

Bowderstone is worth a visit even if you can only do a couple of problems, The Crack and Crack Direct are classics and Picnic Sarcastic is OK up to the moves left.

Carrock is OK, but best to go with some knowledge, otherwise you end up slogging around the hillside in waist-deep bracken. The Northern Group (where Rouse's Wall and Boardman's Arete are) has a good selection of problems, not too far from the road and not too spread out.

[SA Chris]

you might struggle to persuade Mrs TT to descend the frayed, knotted ropes to get there.

Esp bearing Fiend's story in mind!

[tomtom]

I've always wanted to go to St Bees - but given the time we're there I probably wont head over to the west unless the weathers crap...
Cheers for the beta on the Bowderstone.. I was thinking of just going there for an hour or so and pulling on a few things. Mind you, I said the same about Parasillas and ended up there for 3 hours!

[robertostallioni]

Will be in the lakes myself from tomorrow night till sunday and will be at one of the above mentioned hotspots on Friday or Saturday. Having never bouldered at all in the lakes (barring an evening at Brant Fell and a bit at Langdale) would be keen to see somebody else falling off stuff first. The Mrs will be present as will the fruit of my loins. Bowderstone may be a little 'tasty' but she's keen, but maybe Kentmere is more family friendly for our heady mix of pulling talent. Maybe see you there.

[tomtom]

Will be in the lakes myself from tomorrow night till sunday and will be at one of the above mentioned hotspots on Friday or Saturday. Having never bouldered at all in the lakes (barring an evening at Brant Fell and a bit at Langdale) would be keen to see somebody else falling off stuff first. The Mrs will be present as will the fruit of my loins. Bowderstone may be a little 'tasty' but she's keen, but maybe Kentmere is more family friendly for our heady mix of pulling talent. Maybe see you there.

Ach, we're heading up friday night, then going to a wedding on Saturday (pre wedding boat trip) and Sunday... so I'm not going to get the opportunity to get out on rock until monday (unless I am willing to take the risk of having my testicles removed with a blunt rusty knife)... Thats a shame, as would be good to meet up there..

Kentmere is good (from my previous experience) lots of nice stuff on Badger Rock...

[tomtom]

Just heading off - thanks for the beta all round, Carrock Fell and a flying visit to the Bowderstone seem to be in order!
Cheers,
T

[Mike Tyson]

TT and Stallion, let me know when your heading to the Bowderstone and I will gladly meet up with you to give you a tour if you want. Same applies if your heading elsewhere, I'll try and hook up if possible. 

[robertostallioni]

Just read your post Golt. Would have been good to have some numbers up at the Stone. Walked up Bowfell with a 4 year old on my back on Friday from Langdale, then hit the Langdale boulders like a hobbling whirlwind. Finished the night with a bottle of red and some Pesto bread/cheddar from Booths. I think a gorilla must have broken into the bedroom overnight and knocked the fuck out of me, before taking a shit in my mouth, because when I woke up on Saturday I didn't feel like the "planned" routemarch round Buttermere. Fotunately on Saturday junior walked most of the way, we saw the rescue chopper land, walked past it, round it, round it again and then watched it take off. Then off to Bowderstone for a shame inducing chat with the National Trust Nazi's followed by a bit of a boulder. Didn't expect this to be so good for the kids.....but it is, lots of small blocs abouts - and a slab. Sunday morning was all about match of the day rerun ( I always sleep through the last half of the original) and then Nina and the Neurons - Touch, taste, sniff, scratch, smell, or something.
On the way home to Yarkshar we spent the entire afternoon/evening in Kentmere, Badger/Little font. Nice.

Next time we'll make it a date.

[tomtom]

TT and Stallion, let me know when your heading to the Bowderstone and I will gladly meet up with you to give you a tour if you want. Same applies if your heading elsewhere, I'll try and hook up if possible.

Hi Golt, just got back and missed your post before I set off...  had a good week, but not much climbing... the weekend was a wedding (which was great..) then the weather crapped out... Managed to get out for a toddle around Ullswater in and out of mist on tuesday. By wed I was getting withdrawal symptoms so thought I'd check out the S Lakes and see if the clag was different there... So headed to Kentmere and the clag started about 1/2 way between Stavely and Kentmere!! Surprisingly a couple of faces of badger rock were (ahem) OK (they were dank, but vaguly dry) so pulled on there for 40 mins or so until the clag turned into driving horizontal drizzle type clag! Thursday great weather - so we spent the day up and down Helvellyn (clear, almost no wind at the top great...)... Weather was turd again on friday (yesterday) so in between packing up the cottage and mooching/.reading paper I snuck off to check out the Bowderstone.
Its quite a place! But it was pissing down. The warm up crack on the left was pretty dank - and my visit was more of a look/pull on the odd hold... IIRC 7a's the easiest thing on the face yes? feeling the need of a warm up and the general crapness of the falling rain all around I skulked off a few mins later...
I'm up in the Lakes every now and then (as folks now live in Kendal) so definately want to check out the Bowderstone more - so if the offer still stands some time in the future?
THanks,
Tom