Clougha Pike Bouldering

Sunday is forecast to be wet, so even though today I was very tired after a crazy week I decided to head out to Clougha Pike and check out the bouldering. Its a scenic spot with views out over Morecambe Bay and the South Lakes. The bouldering turned out to be great as well, not quite Fontainebleau but close....

Fontainebleau - le Bloc's

The final section of our trip was a few days in Font. Its over 10 years since I'd been to this magical area and I'd either forgotten how cosmopolitan the town is, or didn't notice previously. I nearly went shopping for pastel coloured trousers to enter the spirit of the place, but alas didn't have time.

Rounded pleasure....

The unique sandstone 'blocs' lie scattered in forests, in an area of 1200 square kilometres. Its thought that the area was discovered/first climbed in by the members of the French Alpine Club around 1874, and they used the boulders as training for alpine routes.

Felt high...

Abi stuck on a rock

This is why they painted/marked out a series of problems so that they could complete a circuit of say 40 boulder problems and it would equate to a much bigger climb. The painted circuits/rocks still stand today, which is very unique and for example would never be allowed in the UK.  I have to admit it was fun trying to follow a circuit, looking for the next numbered orange arrow.

Lovely problem

With classic finish...

We had a couple of sessions bouldering in the forest and it quickly became apparent how magical and unique the place and climbing is, even though I was following a circuit, you forget that and become absorbed in the beauty of the forest and rocks.

Orange 32, there you are....

I knew the grades/problems are harder/trickier than there grade may indicate and happily spent an afternoon climbing the whole orange circuit of 37 problems at Bois-Rond. The following day we went back to the same spot to climb some of the slightly harder blue problems. Abi did a great job of taking some pictures while I enjoyed the rounded sandstone, and I'm already thinking when I can return to this magical place.....

Now where is blue 23....

The French Jura (and beyond)

Its ages since I've been to France in summer so we decided to right this wrong. I've been to the Franche Comte area before and remember being impressed so we decided to explore it further. 

My favourite picture of the week (can't explain why!)

The beauty of the Jura region lies in a 300km arc of limestone hills along the border between France and Switzerland. The western french side which we stayed in is a series of creases, or hills that totter over a 1000m with spectacular valleys, wooded hills with waterfalls, lakes and dotted with medieval towns and villages. 

Abi at a fair lick...

The vibrant rich forest covers almost half of the region and even though we didn't see any is full of lynx, wild boar and deer. 

Distressed wooden shutters and flowers - beautiful..

Some of the local lakes that we rode around

The landscape, and roads are very quiet and make it an ideal base for cycling, walking or water sports. We'd taken our bikes and spent most of the week cycling around notching up a couple of hundred kilometres.

At the top of a local cat 2 climb. 10 km all up hill, great ride

On some rides we only saw 1 or 2 cars the whole day. We based ourselves at Clairvaux-les-Lacs (the Jura's lake district), which is a vibrant town and good base having a few bars, supermarket, lakes to swim in and a particularly fine organic pizza restaurant. 

Loved the light and reflections

The quiet, winding roads made road cycling an absolute joy, and our early summer visit corresponded with endless amazing wild flowering meadows. 

Captain Abi in our hired petit bleu bateau (boat!)

Wild flower/hay meadows everywhere

After a brilliant week here we headed over to the Auvergne to catch up with Kev, Sue and the cats. They have recently moved to lower ground from the high plateau. Their new house is in the beautiful medieval village of Chalus (Puy de Dome). The village, and house sit in an amazing position on a rounded hill (volcanic plug) with almost endless views across the lower hills and vineyards. We had a great time catching up and drinking wine.... now on to Fontainebleau.....

Heading back to Chalus - Kev and Sue's house sits just below the chateau perched on top of the hill

Kev surveying the flat lands from the gallery room

Fun on the limestone pavements

I didn't expect to be back at/passing Twistleton again so soon, but Jane tempted me back with a cunning bike route that I'd not been on since 2007! Not as warm and sunny as Saturday, but maybe more dramatic and brooding with the clouds hanging over Ingleborough and a hazy light.

From Kingsdale we headed up the tough climb onto Ewes Top and headed North East above Twistleton Scar/Crags on a brooding bridleway not seeing another soul until at its far end (great for a bank holiday Monday). It's a great spot to be, passing countless 'shake holes' that you wouldn't want to cycle/fall into.

At Ellerbeck we stopped for a snack and were discussing the solitude when about 8 other bikers zoomed past (the only others we saw today). We carried on to near Ribblehead before heading back down the quiet Oddie's Lane, sadly the 'butty van' was closed at the farm, strange with all of the 3 - Peaks people aimlessly trudging past.

It was interesting we saw a few and they all had that 1000 yard stare, like they weren't having fun. They didn't even notice us or say hello, so focused on their challenge! Back past Twistleton Hall and the top of the Ingleton waterfall walk and 500 people in the 500m section we shared with them. Fun times on the bike again.

Yorkshire limestone

Trying to pick a quieter spot for the bank holiday weekend (well quieter than the Lakes) we had a great half day at Twistleton climbing with Ben. It was fairly busy, but we climbed at the extreme left hand side and only bumped into 2 people.

Trying to spot 'the' line

Tobe on 'Little Plum my Redskin Chum' a nice VS

The routes are very compact, but less polished at this side of the crag, although we also found quite a bit of loose rock on them, but I do love the setting and views, looking across at the vast limestone landscape and the mighty Ingleborough.

Blowing a gale at Bamford Edge

The weather forecast was a tad squally this weekend, but Sunday looked to be nice and dry in the Peak District so I headed over with Ben on Sunday. We decided to check out Bamford Edge as we hoped it would be quieter than Stanage. It wasn't too busy, we should had to avoid a massive Uni climbing meet.

Sheltering from the wind admiring the views

It was pretty cold and windy most all day, at times we nearly got blown off the routes! But well worth it with great rock and a beautiful setting with views over looking the Lady Bower reservoir.

We climbed 7 routes, I particularly enjoyed Wrinkled Wall (VS, 4c), Bilberry Crack - a technical corner crack (VS, 5a), Quien Sabe (VS, 4c) - which I was enjoying until on the crux and someone rather loudly fell off another nearby route which slightly unsettled me (!) and the best route of all was Curving Crack (VS, 4c), which was a tough battle for the grade and I left a sample of my DNA (skin) behind on it!

Me on Wrinkled Wall

Looking unsuccessfully for more gear/protection

And I found some more crack booty, this time a nut key, in much better condition than mine! Two trips to the Peak, 2 pieces of gear. Great to be on the gritstone again.

My 'chewed' hand after Curving Crack

Last minute bike training = climbing!

Next weekend is the Dyfi Enduro, a 60km mountain bike event in mid Wales. I have neglected all training for this and planned to get out on a last ride this weekend...

Quiet at Stanage

George following up Retrovision

However when I heard that a few people were heading to the Peak District to climb on the grit stone, well I had to go!

George and Shaw on Wuthering a classic Stanage E2

Shaw fighting through the overhangs

A great day at Stanage in the sunshine climbing 8 routes ranging in grade from VD to E1. Lets just hope that my legs carry me round the Enduro next weekend.

Shaw on a very slippy/polished VS

Cath and Suki enjoying the sun