Читать книгу Walks in Silverdale and Arnside. 21 easy walks exploring the AONB онлайн

20 страница из 38

The most popular climbing area is at Trowbarrow Quarry. There are several clean slabs, one of which, The Main Wall, attracts climbers from afar. Trowbarrow is now a Nature Reserve where climbing and conservation can co-exist harmoniously.

Another interesting cliff lies on the coast at Jack Scout Cove, known locally as Cow’s Mouth. Here is the nearest thing Lancashire possesses to a genuine sea cliff, indeed at high tide water washes the base of the crags and has resulted in some rock falls. Other short training crags are at Woodwell and Fairy Steps.

Farleton Crag is a steep band of cliffs hidden amongst the trees and barely visible from the M6 although the upper crag’s steep nose can be clearly seen. Hutton Roof Crags offer attractive little climbs especially on The Rakes, an intriguingly complex area. This is an ideal spot for experienced climbers to take novices.

Climbers enjoy The Rakes at Hutton Roof Crags

The climbs are documented in Lancashire Rock, published by the BMC. The party which makes the first ascent has the dubious honour of naming the climb, and the climbs thus named make fascinating reading, from the mundane ‘Original Route’ or descriptive ‘White Fright’ (very loose!) to the exotic ‘Essence of Giraffe’ (you need to stick your neck out to lead this one). Other interesting names are ‘Limestone Rain’, ‘Plastic Iceberg’, ‘The Onedin Line’ (a traverse at Jack Scout Cove) and ‘The Shriek of Baghdad’. They’re inventive, climbers!