[Johnny Brown]

The ban came about mainly due to a change of ownership. Daughter returned from city to live in her childhood home to bring up her kids, sudden panic when she discovers the scrubby hilltop near the house is now popular with topless young men. Classic NIMBYism, that's about the size of it, the thing about her finding shit became the turning point because its obviously unreasonable. The point I'm trying to make is that for ten years her Dad had no major issues with boulderers.

[grimer]

I have some sympathy with the landowner. And, as the title implies, she does own the land, and does live very close. I think it's very nice of someone to tolerate ever-growing groups of strangers mooching about on your property, even if there is no obvious cost to it. But once there starts to be very obvious and tangiable downsides to this tolerance, eg, your kid coming home smeared in human shit, if i remember and understand correctly, it's fairly understandable to get fed up.

Imagine looking out your back window to see someone cutting one off in your yard?

Sometimes the need for respect is more important than the right of access.

[Johnny Brown]

I've got sympathy with the landowner too, and none with the folk who shit here. But this

Imagine looking out your back window to see someone cutting one off in your yard?

is bollocks. You can't see the crag from the house nor the house from the crag. It's not their garden or in view like bits of Ramshaw or Hugencroft.

[grimer]

Right then! I've been munching down on cabbage, tomato skins and peanut butter now for three days without a single movement. I'm going to drink 2 cups of coffee and smoke four fags and I'll be round in 20 minutes. Open your back window and get your flashlight ready, I'm IN UR YARD AN CUTTIN 1 OF

Contact Simon Jacques about datttt!!!

[Johnny Brown]

Nevermind the flashlight, I've got multiple cordless speedlights AN A BIG CAMERA!! I'll paper the city with your spotty irish arse.

[nik at work]

It's not their garden or in view like bits of Ramshaw or Hugencroft.

I've only been a couple of times and not for ages but it is their garden isn't it? I mean okay it's not all raised beds and planters with some decking and a barbeque but it is still their garden. They let us complete strangers use it for a period of time, we collectively took the piss and they decided to stop access. End of. Any further use of the venue is just antagonising them, not establishing a precedent of access. The fact that it is out of sight of the house is completely irrelevant. Several parts of my garden can't be seen by looking out of my windows, that doesn't mean I'm happy for people to crap there. It's a shame that this venue has become banned but rather than trying to paint the landowner as some unreasonable townie who has moved from the city we should take a look at our own actions which are the real problem.

[account_inactive]

Imagine looking out your back window to see someone cutting one off in your yard?

Reminds me of living in Hackney........

[Paz]

Just because someone anonymous on a forum says it's O.K doesn't make it so....

Yeah for example, fixed fishing lines are illegal, even if you are after ducks.

[Johnny Brown]

It's not their garden or in view like bits of Ramshaw or Hugencroft.

I've only been a couple of times and not for ages but it is their garden isn't it? I mean okay it's not all raised beds and planters with some decking and a barbeque but it is still their garden.

BOLLOCKS! It really isn't. Please stop perpetuating this myth. Its their land, yes, its adjacent to  their house, yes, is it their garden, no. Several paths weave through it, none go to or from the house, they go to or from elsewhere.

More importantly perhaps, the type of land is that of a small moor, it has never been cultivated, lies in a national park and really should be open access under CROW. I think the reason it isn't is that its too small, not high enough or was just overlooked.

[a dense loner]

i read that post paz. the world opens up new oppurtunities when you speak english

[Jim]

BOLLOCKS! It really isn't. Please stop perpetuating this myth. Its their land, yes, its adjacent to  their house, yes, is it their garden, no. Several paths weave through it, none go to or from the house, they go to or from elsewhere.

More importantly perhaps, the type of land is that of a small moor, it has never been cultivated, lies in a national park and really should be open access under CROW. I think the reason it isn't is that its too small, not high enough or was just overlooked.

Strongly agree with JB on this one

[nik at work]

Calm down dear, it's just a bouldering area.

Like I said I've not been much, and every time I've approached past the house. This has perhaps clouded my judgement. Hey-ho.

Anyway garden-shmarden the main point is the bit below that about collectively facing up to our failings rather than rolling out the old miserable-cunt-just-been-awkward stuff. Yes some people are miserable cunts (eatswood farmer been a point in case) but that doesn't excuse poor behaviour by us.

As mother says "two wrongs don't make a right, unless you're going to eatswood..."

[Fiend]

I never approached Eagle Tor from anywhere other than the Cratcliffe parking - I was highly surprised to hear there is an alternate route.

My view corresponds to 75% dave and 25% JB. I wouldn't recommend drinking it.

[Jerry Morefat]

BOLLOCKS! It really isn't. Please stop perpetuating this myth. Its their land, yes, its adjacent to  their house, yes, is it their garden, no. Several paths weave through it, none go to or from the house, they go to or from elsewhere.

More importantly perhaps, the type of land is that of a small moor, it has never been cultivated, lies in a national park and really should be open access under CROW. I think the reason it isn't is that its too small, not high enough or was just overlooked.

Think you're spot on here. If I was but a mere ukbouldering nipper I would be sending some Karma your way. Surely somewhere like eagle tor which provides lots of enjoyment to climbers and walkers should be enjoyed by all and not just by the person who happens to own the land; in the same way great works of art should be displayed in public galleries for all to enjoy and not in someone's private collection. After all, "property is theft" and all that malarkey.

[nik at work]

BOLLOCKS! It really isn't. Please stop perpetuating this myth. Its their land, yes, its adjacent to  their house, yes, is it their garden, no. Several paths weave through it, none go to or from the house, they go to or from elsewhere.

I'm not sure what the relevance of the paths is? Of course there are paths, the owner previously allowed access. And very nice of them it was to.

More importantly perhaps, the type of land is that of a small moor, it has never been cultivated, lies in a national park and really should be open access under CROW. I think the reason it isn't is that its too small, not high enough or was just overlooked.

Quite possibly, but then surely there is a way of submitting it to be included in CROW. Maybe we should be concentrating our energies on doing this?

[account_inactive]

I never approached Eagle Tor from anywhere other than the Cratcliffe parking - I was highly surprised to hear there is an alternate route.

My view corresponds to 75% dave and 25% JB. I wouldn't recommend drinking it.

Likewise.  I've only been once and was surprised to hear there was a house.

Unfortunately I took Sharma and some of his mates.  The 'whoops' and 'kill it' noises might have travelled...........

[Fj]

I think its a real shame to lose access as what the problems lack in quantity they make up with quality.
How about the BMC trying to buy the land the boulders are on.
If their kids are young enough to come home smeared in shite should they really be playing in woods out of sight? 

[Dave Westlake]

Hi everyone,

While we're on the topic of eatswood, could someone give me directions ?  (from Nottingham if poss)

Also, what are conditions like for river of live ? i.e. after a long period of rain does it seep? does it dry quick etc?

Also...is there a topo for eatswood anywhere on the net?

Thanks in advance!

Dave

[r-man]

River of Life isn't at eatswood, though it isn't far away.

ROL is at Turningstone - there's a topo here: http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,7095.msg103573.html#msg103573

And a map on the next page.

eatswood is very roughly here (ukc map link): http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=436050&y=363350&z=3&sv=SK360633&st=5

From Ashover, drive uphill and turn left. Park on the G in Grange (obvious parking) and walk back round corner and downhill to the woods. Cross the wall at a small layby and follow the path through the woods till you reach the crag. Most of the problems are on or around the same bit of rock, the impressive steep wave of grit.

[Andy B]

River of Life seeps, and I think James had a bit of bother finding it dry when he was doing it, but it had been raining and snowing for days before Bonjoy and myself went to do it, and it was bone dry. Maybe we were lucky. One of the flakes at the back of the roof seems very likely to snap with abuse so be careful trying it if it's damp.

eatswood is in Ru's guide and everything except the stuff described above is in there.

Hope this is some help.

[Dave Westlake]

Thanks r-man and Andy,

I knew ROL was at turningstone really, it was late last night and i got it mixed up with eatswood!   

cheers for the pointers!

dave

[dpb]

[

Think you're spot on here. If I was but a mere ukbouldering nipper I would be sending some Karma your way. Surely somewhere like eagle tor which provides lots of enjoyment to climbers and walkers should be enjoyed by all and not just by the person who happens to own the land; in the same way great works of art should be displayed in public galleries for all to enjoy and not in someone's private collection. After all, "property is theft" and all that malarkey.

Reckon you might find that if people shat on The Mona Lisa she would be whipped off the wall n put in safe pretty sharpish.

Right to roam n all that is great but surely the landowners deserve to have their land respected?  If climbers don't respect other peoples land how the hell can we think we have the God given right to be on it?

[Jerry Morefat]

Reckon you might find that if people shat on The Mona Lisa she would be whipped off the wall n put in safe pretty sharpish.

Fair enough, but I think that is a separate issue. Obviously climbers should make an effort to keep the crags in a decent condition, but my original point was made with regards to the rights people have to the crags in the first place. Because Eagle Tor holds so much significance with so many climbers as well as walkers and eagle tor isn't in anyone's 'back garden', then these climbers and walkers should have the right to use and enjoy it. I think this is essentially the logic behind CROW, which gives climbers and walkers the right to access privately owned land.

[Jacqusie]

Right then! I've been munching down on cabbage, tomato skins and peanut butter now for three days without a single movement. I'm going to drink 2 cups of coffee and smoke four fags and I'll be round in 20 minutes. Open your back window and get your flashlight ready, I'm IN UR YARD AN CUTTIN 1 OF

Contact Simon Jacques about datttt!!!

...err - thanks Grimer - but I'll probably be busy that day with Nesting Ring Greckels & red faced Game keepers after that...

(are you quite sure that was in the constitution?!)