Customer Reviews:
 great days out in the Lake District June 30, 2003
22 out of 22 found this review helpful
There are scrambling guides to the Lake district and rock climbing guides to the Lake district. If you want to move on rock, but are not interested in harder climbing and do not want to be overburdened with guidebooks, this small book, designed to be carried in rucksac or pocket, is ideal It lists 69 scrambles and easy climbs (up to V. Diff) in some of the most beautiful areas of the Lake District. They range from ghyll scrambles like Church beck, above the Sun Inn in Coniston to classic climbs, like Ash Tree slabs on Gimmer or Bowfell Butress on Bowfell, both in the magnificent Langdale valley.
A particularly attractive feature of the book, even for experienced scramblers, is the way the scrambles and climbs are grouped to form day long expeditions, such as the "Great Gable Crag Day", the "Scafell crag day" or the "Pavey Ark expedition". These link between two and five routes, giving estimates of individual timing for each section so it can be adapted to according to the time you have available (and also your general level of fitness!) Great for planning days out.
The book is organised into geographical sections. Each section starts with a map, general details about access by car or public transport, and local amenities (including locals recommendations such as the legendary Shepherds crag café in Borrowdale). The route descriptions are well organised and clear. They give much more practical detail than the average climbing guidebook, and are enlivened here and there by a light humour . Thus “Snap” (Diff) on Seathwaite buttress is started with the instruction “Do a Tarzan impression up the side of the oak tree” while Wall and Crack climb (V.Diff) merits a pitch description which starts “Depending on body mass, bravery and the ammount of green present, it may be both possible and exciting to ascend the crack” They are accompanied by useful, detailed drawings of locations and crags, and some are also illustrated with black and white photographs. Usually these enhance the text, but one or two are too dark.
Despite its pocket size, the book also manages to pack in some basic information on grading, learning to climb, climbing equipment ,safety and a glossary of climbing terms, all clearly written by experienced climbers. And if, contrary to all expectations otherwise, it dares to rain when you get there, the chapter on “What to do when it is raining” will sort you out!
Great Lake District Days out June 18, 2003
4 out of 6 found this review helpful
There are scrambling guides to the Lake district and there are rock climbing guides to the Lake district. If you want to move on rock, but are not so interested in harder climbing and do not want to be overburdened with guidebooks, this small book, designed to be carried in rucksac or pocket, is ideal. It lists 69 scrambles and easy climbs (up to V. Diff) in some of the most beautiful areas of the Lake District. They range from ghyll scrambles like Church beck, above the Sun Inn in Coniston to classic climbs, like Ash Tree slabs on Gimmer or Bowfell Butress on Bowfell, both in the magnificent Langdale valley.
A particularly attractive feature of the book, even for experienced scramblers, is the way the scrambles and climbs are grouped to form day long expeditions, such as the "Great Gable Crag Day", the "Scafell crag day" or the "Pavey Ark expedition". These link between two and five routes, giving estimates of individual timing for each section so it can be adapted to according to the time you have available (and also your general level of fitness!) Great for planning days out.
The book is organised into geographical sections. Each section starts with a map, general details about access by car or public transport, and local amenities (including locals recommendations such as the legendary Shepherds crag café in Borrowdale). The route descriptions are well organised and clear. They give much more practical detail than the average climbing guidebook, and are enlivened here and there by a light humour . Thus “Snap” (Diff) on Seathwaite buttress is started with the instruction “Do a Tarzan impression up the side of the oak tree” while Wall and Crack climb (V.Diff) merits a pitch description which starts “Depending on body mass, bravery and the ammount of green present, it may be both possible and exciting to ascend the crack” They are accompanied by useful, detailed drawings of locations and crags, and some are also illustrated with black and white photographs of crags and climbers. Usually the photographs enhance the text, but one or two are too dark.
Despite its pocket size, the book also manages to pack in some good, basic information on grading, learning to climb, climbing equipment ,safety and a glossary of climbing terms, all clearly written by experienced climbers. And if, contrary to all expectations otherwise, it dares to rain when you get there, the chapter on “What to do when it is raining” will sort you out!
|
