| Trips - Duddon Valley |
Rob Lillywhite. Tel (home): 01926 499882. Email: trips@warwickclimbingclub.co.uk
Turner Hall Farm Campsite, Seathwaite, Broughton-in-Furness, LA20 6EE. Tel: 01229 716420.
Situated in the heart of the Duddon Valley with breathtaking views of the fells, the site is on the doorstep of a labyrinth of footpaths, leading to a variety of Lakeland fells and villages. A few minutes' walk across the fields is the ancient Walna Scar track, taking you to Dow Crag and Coniston's classic peak, the Old Man, with views out across Coniston Water en route. Walkers and climbers alike will enjoy the site's closeness to Wallowbarrow gorge and crags.
The grassy site offers privacy through the natural craggy landscape, and provides toilet and showers. The excellent Newfield Inn is a pleasant 10-minute walk from the site, where good food and refreshment can be purchased.
M6 north-west. Leave the M6 at junction 36. Take the A590 through Newby Bridge, then the A5902 and A595 to Broughton in Furness. Briefly take the A593 north and then turn left onto minor roads into Seathwaite. The distance from Warwick to the Duddon Valley is 210 miles. Map.
Wallowbarrow Crag - Up to 60m high. Route spread over two main and two smaller buttresses. A very good mid grade crag. Western Wall(MVS), Malediction Direct(VS), Thomas(S), West Buttress Girdle(MVS), Nameless(MS), Digitation(MVS), Trinity Slabs(VD). Fairly easy walk in and handy for the Newfield Inn afterwards.
Dow Crag - Often referred to as one of the top ten crags in England. Mainly long routes, up to 100m, in a superb mountain setting. Classics include Arete Chimney and Crack(MS), Eliminate A (VS), Giants Crawl (D), Nimrod(E1), Catacomb (E1), Leopards Crawl (HVS), Murrays Direct (VS), Murrays Route(S), and Hopkinsons Crack (HS).Mountain crag with an hour walk in.
Hodge Close Quarry - For those of you that suffer from a slate perversion! Superb slate climbing but mainly extremes - a mixture of trad and sport routes. Beware the runouts on some of the 'sport' routes! Best routes include First Night Nerves(E5), Stage Fright(E6), Ten Years After(E4), Wicked Willie(E5), Great Expectations(E5), Limited Edition(E4), Behind the Lines(HVS), Malice in Wonderland(E4). There are no access restrictions, however be warned, the quarry has a tendency to collapse at fairly regular intervals so routes may change!
Weather and Climbing ConditionsLake District National Park Authority weather line Mountain Weather Information Service. Forecast for the Lake District |
GuidebooksUKC article on climbing in the Duddon Valley Dow, Duddon and Slate - FRCC (1994) Lake District Rock - Stephen Reid. (FRCC 2003) Lake District 100 Classic Climbs - Stephen Reid & Steve Ashton (Crowood 1989) |
MapsOS Explorer 6 - South-West Lakes OS Landranger 89 - West Cumbria BMC/Harvey - Lake District (1:40,000) (Has the crags identified on the map - recommended!) |