Coed Brenin Enduro 2014

Coed Brenin Enduro 2014

Monday 25 May 2015

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.



Sunday 24 May 2015

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.


Sunday 10 May 2015

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