Baggy Point

John came down for his 4th visit to the south west and we went to Baggy Point. Excellent weather and some great climbing. John climbed 3 great routes and has become a very competent leader. The weather was great a the crag was quiet except for a few friends from the Mill climbing wall.

John on the main slab at Baggy Point

Commando Ridge Julia Bradbury

BBC TV

I expect everyone saw the BBC programme last Friday where Julia Bradbury climbed Commando ridge, Crackstone Rib and the Old Man of Stoer with Tim Emmett - well I have had loads of enquiries since then. If anyone wants to do this climb in October/November or even make a booking for Easter then get in touch. Unfortunately most of September is already booked.

Bosigran

Alan and Mat came down for a days climbing. Both were very keen as they are intending to go to the Alps later in the summer. Did plenty of climbing and finished off on 'Ding' a great route with plenty of interesting moves.

Bosigran

Climbing at Bosigran on Friday and Saturday.


On Friday I met up with Paul and Becky for their first taste of climbing, it was unusual to meet people who had never climbed before even on an indoor wall but they made great progress. Routes climbed Alisons Rib (D), Big Top (VD) and a combination of Black Slab and Red Slab. The weather was excellent and Bosigran is the perfect location.

Photo 1 At the top of Black slab
Photo 2 Paul exiting the v-groove of Red slab

Hay Tor

A quick trip out to Hay Tor with Rob. Routes climbed included Raven Wing (VS) Very sunny afternoon followed by a cream tea!

Chudleigh

A hot sunny afternoon at Chudleigh with Duncan.

Berry Head

Deep water soloing and traversing around the cliff at Swashbuckler buttress with Rob.

Dewerstone

Another great day at the Dewerstone in the sunshine. Jo and David came down from London having climbed indoors but not outside. Both made great progress and Jo remained very calm on the top pitch of needle arete even though it was a little difficult. The picture shows David belaying from the top of needle arete.







I bumped into old friend Barry Donovan who was also working at the crag - good to see you Baz.
Photo show climbers on Route B

Sheeps Tor

Laura and Alan teamed up for a day at Sheepstor. Alan was preparing for a trip to the Alps and Laura an instructors course. The weather was kind up until the end of the afternoon when the rain returned so we were pretty lucky!

Leading course Dartmoor

Tim and Sophie came down for a leading course on Saturday. After all the rain we have had recently we were very lucky and had a warm dry day (is this the start of the summer?) By the end of the day both were confidently leading easy routes and building their own belays.

A wet summer and teambuilding

The weather over most of the UK has been very wet and as a result I have had to reshedule many rock climbing clients so that we can climb in dryer (hopefully) weather.

During the week Jason brought down 8 work colleagues from Ernst and Young and they had a great time coasteering ( a great actvity for wet weather) and another day on Dartmoor, everyone had a good time .

Chudleigh and Hay Tor

A very hot day on Saturday climbing with Jolyon. In the morning we sampled the limestone of Chudleigh but in the afternoon we went to Hay Tor and Low Man for some more grippy granite.

SPA training

A busy weekend working with Mike Timson in South Wales on an SPA taining course.
Day 1 - was personal climbing and gear placements at Symonds Yat followed by an evening visit to a climbing wall.
Day 2 - setting up bottom roping and top roping systems and group abseils.
As always Mike organised a packed course which kept everyone busy. An excellent weekend.

Sunny day on Dartmoor

A sunny Easter weekend. Spent bank holiday Monday climbing at the Dewerstone with Barry. He was climbing really well for someone who has never climbed before. The Dewerstone was busy with people climbing in shorts and T-shirts - and its only April!

SPA Jersey

Simon went back to Jersey this weekend to do an SPA assessment. Weather was better than the training course he ran.

Look at the web site for other SPA training and assessment dates on Dartmoor.

Baby

No paddling for me this weekend because our son Edward was born this weekend. Both are doing well.

Walkham/Tavy

After some heavy rain we did the Lower Walkham and Tavy a good grade 3- run which was as good as the Dart Loop.

Kayaking

Plenty of rain this week so the rivers have been full, did trips on the Dart loop, Teign and Tavy all within 20 mins drive from home - great!

Looking forward to some (hopefully) drier weather over Easter so that I can get out rock climbing again.

SPA in Jersey 10/11 Feb

Simon went over to Jersey to run an SPA training course for the local climbing club. The course went well but the weather was terrible, a really change from the sun of last weekend.

We are taking bookings for more SPA training and Assessments over the summer. Only 3 places left for May5/6.

Scotland

A very wet and windy weekend in Scotland. After a good soaking on Saturday we retreated to the ice factor in Kinlochleven on Sunday and did eight pitches of hard ice climbing! Members of our party had been to Cogne and La Grave this year and found no ice. Perhaps global warming has made ice climbing and indoor sport?

Scotland

Hopefully the Bristol Airport runway saga will be resolved by Friday, because I am off to Scotland. Just hoping for some cold weather to consolidated all that wet snow.

Kayaking

A wet November and December has produced plenty of good water for kayaking trips on the Exe and Dart have been done in variety of water conditions.

Baggy Point

Took Chris and Steve to Baggy Point and after a cold start it turned into a warm sunny day. We took advantage of the low tide and did Kinky Boots starting right from the beach (Cirus Minor) followed by some routes on the slab. Steve even did his first lead.

Dewerstone

Another great day at the Dewerstone with Richard. Hope this sunny weather continues!

Dewerstone

A great autumn day at the Dewerstone. Chris and Steve had got the climbing bug on an alpine climbing course and wanted to try it again. They both progressed well and seconded some multi-pitch routes.

Kayaking

Its October and the rivers are open again. Took Garry on his first white water trip on the River Exe a great introductory trip and he only fell in once!

SPA training

Last weekend Simon ran an SPA training course for the Adventures club.

Baggy Point

A lovely sunny day on Saturday, Baggy Point was crowded perhaps becuase the surf was non-existent! The tide was low enabling us to do Kinky Boots VS right from the beach, later Simon did his first lead (Marion) on the slab.

Alps

Paul on the approach to the Covercle Refuge.

A mixed week in the Alps lots of rain at the start of the work produced lots of fresh snow making routes like Mont Blanc de Tacul hard work.

Alps

Off to the Alps tomorrow, its a busy life!

Cornwall

After a few days on holiday near Sennen I met up with John for a few days at Bosigran. This is the third year in a row that I have worked with John and in that time he has gone from a begineer to being a very competent second on multi-pitch routes and now also being able to lead many of the pitches. Its great to see someone of 50 developing these skills and getting very fit!

Routes included Big Top (VD), Ledge Route, (VD), Doorway (S) and Ding (HS). The picture shows John on the top pitch of Doorway at Bosigran.

Court Fields School

Three days of activites for the students at my oown school started with a trip to Dartmoor. Temperatures reached 90F for our session at Bone Hill rocks. This year I have been assisted by Baz Donovan a highly experienced instructor from Bristol.

A day at the coast on Thursday was a welcome relief from the heat. The students really enjoyed the coasteering, especially the jumping in! They all want to have another go so we be running this activity again!














Another trip to Dartmoor for some climbing and abseiling at Hay Tor finished off the week. The weather was perfect and the students were all up for the challenge. Thanks to Sue for delivering them every day by mini bus.

SPA Assessment

Spent the weekend working with Simon on an SPA assessment course. We used Sheeps Tor, Hay Tor and Chudleigh. The weather was hot (too hot!). Contact me for more course dates. We have a training course planned for the Autumn and an assessment in Jersey in October.

Lead climbing course

Working with the Jackob family again developing their leading skills. The lads have made great progress since last year. Over the weekend they climbed routes at the Dewerstone (Mucky Gully, Needle Arete and Fly on the Wall), Hound Tor and Hay Tor (Wobbling Wall and Raven Gully)

SPA training

A busy day at Hay Tor, Simon was running another SPA training course. We have an assessment on July 15/16. Please call if you need a place

Hay Tor Hen Party

A busy day working with Karen and all her friends doing an abseiling day for her Hen Party. The weather was excellent. I hope the girls had a great time in the evening!

Kayaking

Have been doing Kayaking trips on the River Avon (S Devon) the last two weekends. A nice scenic estuary paddle that ends up at the beautiful beach at Bantham.

Summer at last

After a wet start to the week the summer has arrived. This week I have been climbing at The Cheesewring Quarry on Bodmin Moor, Wreckers Slab on the North Devon coast (400ft VS) and Baggy Point. Its nice to pack the sun tan lotion after a cold and wet start to May.

Sheeps Tor

A wet day at Sheeps Tor on 27 May with Daniel and Chris. Did lots of gear placement and belay building practice to help make them independent climbers. Hope the summer arrives soon!

Went to Swanage with friends Ben and Paul. Another sunny Swanage day. The photo shows me just below the belay of pitch one on Quality St (HVS) at Cormorant Ledge.

Climbing and scrambling skills

It hasn't rained for weeks, but today it was very wet on the moor as we used the rocky outcrops for teaching ropework and scrambling skills.
Check the weather using this web cam

I am looking forward to using the new climbing walls in Devon. One at South Molton and the other on the Haldon Hills.

Italy -ice climbing

Just back from a week in Cogne in Italy, lots of steep ice and reliable conditions (unlike Scotland!) The picture on the right is of Baz on Mur de Patri in Valnontey, it was snowing heavily that day. Make sure you have some snow chains with you if you are in a hire car we have needed them every time we come to this region in February. The area around Cogne is also good for cross country skiing.

Swanage

An early start to the season, still only January but you can always find some winter sunshine at Swanage! Spent the day with Brian and Sally at Cattle Troughs doing some of the easy routes. Needed our shades in the middle of the day - can't be bad!

Scotland

Spent a few days doing some winter hill walking in Scotland over the new year. Lots of snow and good conditions but thawing quickly on Jan 1st.

Spain

Its now the Kayaking season and the weather is less reliable - so I am off to Spain to visit my old mate Rob and clip some bolts
This is one of the short routes on the Puig Campana just 6 pitches!

Lead climbing

The Jackob family came down from Kent for two days of lead climbing at the Dewerstone and Sheeps Tor. By the end of the second day all the guys were building belays with confidence and leading routes.

Dewerstone

Introduced James to the joys of climbing, a bit safer than his previous hobby of motorcycle racing!

Gower

A great weekend on the Gower climbing at Falls Bay and 3 cliffs. Lovely beaches and very few people - great place.

Gull Rock

Dodged the showers today and did some routes on Gull Rock North Devon. Beautiful scenery and a great cream tea at Morwenstow!

Low Man

A great day on Low Man (Hay Tor) with Jon who has improved greatly since last year. Did some good multi-pitch routes including Raven Gully, Levitation and Honeymoon Corner. We had the crag to ourselves and the weather was windy but warm.