[sud]

Hi could anyone out there recomend any decent crags, rocks, boulders in the co.durham newcastle north east area for a novice. Any info much appreciated

[philo]

do some research
http://thenmc.org.uk/onlineguide/

[sud]

thanks philo for the link very helpfull

[moose]

Possible venues depend on how picky you are.  The nearest are likely places like Jesmond Dene (within Newcastle), Kepier Woods (outskirts of Durham), and Cleaden (Sunderland area).  However, they are pretty poor.  It you have gear for top roping there's Causey Quarry.

The nearest half-decent bouldering venue is probably Shaftoe.  It's lots of little craglets / boulders dispersed across moorland.  Pretty surroundings but it can be tricky to locate specific problems (well, it used to be, since I lived there a new guide's come out that might make it easier).  Rothley is similar but not quite so good.

After that, everything is at least an hour's drive away - Bowden, Back Bowden, and Kyloe are all very good venues in Northumberland but the climbing might be a bit taxing for beginers (a lot of it is high and fingery and the rock is easily eroded and might not appreciate damp weather scrabblings).  The Wainstones in North Yorkshire are pretty good for easy trad and I think the bouldering has reecently been developed. 

Alternatively, if you are Durham, rather than Newcastle based, Brimham Rocks in North Yorkshire might be nearer then the Northumbrian crags - ideal for beginers with a fantastic atmosphere (when it isn't crowded with litter dropping louts).

[dave]

Goldsborough is also co. Durham, barnard castle area, so a lot closer than brimham or slipstones.

Jesmond dene = shit. I turned right round and went to the berghaus wall.

[philo]

Possible venues depend on how picky you are.  The nearest are likely places like Jesmond Dene (within Newcastle), Kepier  and Cleaden (Sunderland area).  However, they are pretty poor. 

Cleadon will get you covered in dog shit and is awful, though brings back memories haha.  My mate harry got something on his cloth (for drying his boots) and sniffed it but got too close and ended up with dog shite on his nose 

[moose]

Cleadon will get you covered in dog shit and is awful, though brings back memories haha.  My mate harry got something on his cloth (for drying his boots) and sniffed it but got too close and ended up with dog shite on his nose 

During my ony visit, two eerily blond twin girls appeared at the top and started showering me with flowers (they seemed to think falling vegetation might help; there was a convoluted explanation involving my "magic dust"!).  I might have thought it was cute...  but I didn't have a mat and was high above a big patch of nettles and some abandoned ironmongery. 

To complete the set of crappy Co Durham venues I'd also recommend Marsden Cove!  If I'm ever feeling low about where my life is going, I just have to remind myself of life before I could afford a car...

[philo]

Hahahahaha this is an excellent thread.  Ive climbed there too, some other shite choss nearer shields too with equally poor quality of rock. 

[grimer]

What about Seaton Sluce