LAKE DISTRICT BOULDERING – INTRODUCTION
Introduction With varied landscapes, intricate geography, disparate beauty and diverse geology the Lake District and its surrounding area arguably offers up more variety than any other single bouldering area in the UK. This wondrous region plays host to an astonishing array of rock: an assortment of volcanic goodies scatter the central fells and valleys, sandwiched between the Triassic sandstone playgrounds of the north and the Carboniferous limestone gems hidden amongst the South Lakes bluebells. From excellent roadside venues such as Woodwell, the Langdale Boulders, the Bowderstone and Carrock Fell, to the adventure bouldering of the western fells and coastline, the Lake District has it all – and it’s all worth savouring. Despite its popularity as a honeypot tourist destination, as British bouldering destinations go, the Lakes is often portrayed as something of a backwater. In the main this is due to the area being relatively newly developed, with perhaps 80 per cent of the areas featured in this book being discovered or properly developed within the last 20 years, and many much more recently. On top of this, a number of the best, lesser-known areas are accessed via a complex and sometimes slow road system which can seem antiquated when compared to that in other parts of the UK. This should not put you off; to the contrary, it’s all part of the magic.
For me there’s something different about bouldering in the Lake District – a quiet calm that sets it apart from the more established destinations. Sure, the region contains the extensive, roadside venues required to be considered a truly great climbing destination, yet the hoards of babbling spotters and pre-chalked lines commonplace in parts the Peak District, Yorkshire and North Wales are for the most part absent here. In much of the Lakes, adventure and bouldering still walk hand in hand. Blue-sky days come and go, and you can have entire crags (even major ones!) to yourself. I’d like to think that the essence of bouldering in the Lakes is not just about getting the tick or the adulation of the crowd, but about enjoying the whole experience – the tremendous climbing, the winding roads, the incredible settings, the tranquillity, and even, dare I say, the walk-ins. To paraphrase Alfred Wainwright, no one ever came down from the Lakeland hills without feeling in some way refreshed, and the better for their experience … of course he never carried three crashpads up Scafell! Whether you choose to fully immerse yourself in the Lakes bouldering experience, seeking out the hidden treasures of the high fells, quieter valleys and smugglers’ coves, or simply dip in and out of the high-class, easily accessed mainstream venues, you won’t be disappointed. Greg Chapman Lancaster, March 2019
t THE AUTHOR ON THE FIRST ASCENT OF TRACI LORDS AT THE LAD STONES IN 2003 (PAGE 191) PHOTO: TOM BURNS
LAKE DISTRICT BOULDERING – INTRODUCTION
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