Lake District, 21st to 24th March 2008

Rob Lillywhite. Tel (home): 01926 499882. Email: trips@warwickclimbingclub.co.uk

Hollows Farm, Grange-in-Borrowdale, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 5UQ. Tel: 017687 77298.

The campsite is set in a quietly secluded part of the Borrowdale Valley. Hollows Farm itself is a 300-acre working hill farm, owned by the National Trust and is surrounded by some of the most stunning scenery, nestled at the foot of Maiden Moor and is hidden away behind the picturesque Grange village. Grange itself being one of several small hamlets in the beautiful Borrowdale valley, which is in the heart of the northern lakes.The campsite is set in an idyllic woodland location next to the River Derwent and cost is £5 per person per night for adults and £3 for children. The facilities include showers, toilets and running water.

There are a couple of cafe/tea rooms in Grange but no pubs! Going south, the nearest pub is the walkers and climber's bar at the Scafell Hotel in Rosthwaite, while going north, Keswick has all the pubs you could possibly want. Our favorites are The Dog and Gun and The George Hotel. Keswick also has endless shopping opportunities - for sound advice and deals try Needlesports and George Fishers for the biggest range in town.

M6 north-west. Leave the M6 at junction 40. Take the A66 heading west to Keswick. From Keswick take road to Borrowdale (the B5289) and after 3 miles turn right for Grange village at the double humpbacked bridge. After going over the bridge follow the road round for 200 metres, going past 2 cafes on your left hand side. Immediately after the 2nd cafe turn left down the lane, signposted Hollows Farm, for 1/2 mile. The distance from Warwick to Hollows Farm campsite is 212 miles. Map.

Borrowdale gives access to a wide range of crags and hills. If it's dry and warm, try these valley level crags.

Black Crag - Classic Borrowdale climbing! Over 100m high. Highlights include Shroud(VS), Vertigo(E2), Prana(E3), Mortician(HVS), Troutdale Pinnacle(S), Raindrop(E1), and many other worthwhile routes. The crag is a flatish 20 minute walk from the road just south of the Leathes Head Hotel.

Shepherds Crag - An easy 5 to 10 minute approach from the wonderful cafe, where it is traditional to have a cup of tea and piece of cake, both before and after climbing! The crag is up to about 50m high and has some climbs of great quality. Brown Slab Routes(D-VS), Finale(HVS), Aaros(E1), Ardus(MVS), Adam and Eve(VS), Kransic Crack(HVS), Fishers Folly(VS), Grasp(E1), Bludgeon(E1), Little Chamonix(VD), Derision Groove(MVS) are all worth doing.

If the weather is a little chilly or damp for the crags, Borrowdale gives easy access to the northern hills of Skiddaw and Blencathra, and to the southern hills around Glamara, Gable and Scafell. There is plenty of great walking and scrambling, and if you are feeling perverse, gill scrambling.

Should winter make a return, good snow and ice climbing can be found on Great End.

I suppose these days there has to be a disclaimer, so: Warwick Climbing Club recognises that climbing, mountaineering, mountain biking and the like are activities with a danger of personal injury or death. Participants in these activities should be aware of and accept these risks and be responsib le for their own actions and involvement.