Group Test: Peak District Bouldering Guidebooks
Not sure which bouldering guide to buy for the Peak District? We get into the nitty gritty to work out which book does what best…
Who are the BMC?
The BMC participation statements is on the wall in the climbing wall, their insurance is advertised in the magazines, they make the occasional comical viral video and they’re even talking about bank holiday congestion on the BBC. For many climbers, hillwalkers and scramblers, it can feel like that’s the extent of their relationship with the…
How to plan your rock climbing holiday
The excitement of the festive season has subsided, dry January is starting to wear you down and the days still feel all too short. How oh how do you make your way through the longest month of the year? Plan a rock climbing trip of course! Escape London, escape Manchester, escape your boss or escape…
Clothing and Equipment For Scottish Winter Walking and Mountaineering
This is a up-dated version of a post on clothing and equipment for Scottish winter walking and mountaineering first published in 2017. Not much has changed but some brands have some new kit that I have now included in this up-date. BootsPossibly your most important items of clothing and equipment for Scottish winter walking and…
Alex’s Top 5 Best Items of Gear in 2019
A review of the best gear I’ve used in 2019. All the items have been well tested in variety of tough conditions. Mountain Equipment Tupilak 45 I’ve owned a lot of packs over the years and the Mountain Equipment Tupilak is definitely one of my all time favourites. It fits all the criteria that I’ve…
Built to Send C1 Chalk Bag
There isn’t very much to say about chalk bags. You put chalk in, tie them round your waist and go climbing. a chalk bag is a simple item of equipment. However I found myself really liking this one and have felt compelled to write a few words. Built to Send are a small, UK based…
Preparing for Less Daylight
Preparing for Less Daylight Autumn is a fantastic time to be in the mountains. Colours erupt and flame across the landscape, light softens and shadows lengthen giving contrast and counterpoint to valleys and hollows brimming with mist. The onset of winter makes fleeting, shorter days like this seem all the more precious and an urgency…
Master the art of belaying
Climbers get all the glory. They stand on the podiums, feature in the climbing films and get the sponsorship deals. But don’t be fooled; the true art worth mastering is not climbing, it’s belaying. You know a good belayer when you climb with one. A good belayer is the kind of person who fills you…
Getting into Rock Climbing Outdoors Part 3
Pulling on You’ve checked RAD, packed your kit and walked to the crag, finally it’s time to get some real rock climbing done. Hang on, where are all the holds? Which ones do you use? Where are the crash pads and the permadraws? Rock climbing outdoors presents its own challenges and can be hard to…
Getting into Rock Climbing Outdoors Part 2
The law of the crag You’ve settled on your destination and you’re on the way to the crag. Sorted. But before you rock up and pull on, make sure your crag etiquette and behaviour is up to scratch. Stuff that’s perfectly acceptable at the climbing wall may not be good practice at crag. This is…
Getting into Rock Climbing Outdoors Part 1
Part 1: Couch to crag Rock Climbing outdoors is incredibly exciting and rewarding, and logistically-speaking there’s a little more to it than climbing at a purpose-built climbing wall. Working out where you’re going and how you’re getting there are good starting points, but there are loads of extra things you can do to ensure a…
Emergency Shelter Review
Emergency Shelter review The media loves a headline and “The bivy bag probably saved their lives” was a great one provided by Willie Anderson, leader of Cairngorm MRT, following a successful search for a couple who became benighted in the Cairngorms last year. Many people are however unaware of how to use a bivy bag…
