Boulder Britain is a highly ambitious guidebook that sets out to cover all the best bouldering in England, Scotland and Wales. It is beautifully illustrated, clearly laid out and deeply researched and will become an essential reference for anyone who loves to climb in the UK. It details over 3500 of the best problems at 205 venues. When Boulder Britain first appeared in 2012 there was nothing else like it; eight years on, there still isn't.
While the UK now has a good selection of guides to many local areas, both in print and online, there is nothing that covers the entire country. Boulder Britain changes that. The book gives selected coverage of the top problems at the best venues in the most popular areas. However it also goes far off the beaten track to seek out the obscure and the unknown, finding bouldering in unlikely locations.
Boulder Britain is relevant to anyone who climbs or boulders in the UK. For those new to the sport it will show where the best places to visit are. With these people in mind the problem coverage is perhaps the most beginner-friendly of any bouldering guide yet produced. For climbers looking for a quick hit at the end of a day on the crags it shows where the nearest bouldering is. For advanced climbers looking for the country's best problems to test themselves on it will lead straight to them. For people who travel the country it will show where to find some sport close to major cities. For families on holidays it will point out relaxing venues nearby. With 25 exciting new venues, lots of new problems, updated info and a great selection of new photos to reflect the fabulous sport that bouldering is today.
The book is laid out with clarity and inspiration in mind. Hundreds of maps will take the strain out of finding a venue for the first time. Clear photo-topos show every problem making location a breeze. Notes on the general character, conditions, approach and climbing style let the reader know what to expect. Stunning action photos reveal areas in their true glory.
Contents include:
The honeypot gritstone of the Pennines: Stanage, Burbage, Almscliffe and Caley.
Wild wave-washed weirdness on the Atlantic coast: Hartland Quay, Clodgy, Godrevy and Lynmouth.
Bulging limestone powerfests: Raven Tor, Parisella's Cave, Pantymwyn and Dinas Rock.
Welsh favourites on the flanks of Snowdon: Cromlech Boulders, Sheep Pen, Wavelength and Elephantitus.
The rough beauty of south-west granite: Bonehill Rocks, Hound Tor, Carn Brea and Helman Tor.
Overhanging testpieces on all corners of the land: Dumbarton Rock, Forest Rock, The Bowderstone and Craig-y-Longridge.
Beginner's delights in the prettiest locations: Burbage South, RAC Boulders, Dovehole, Stone Farm.
Classic coastal destinations: St Bees, Portland, Porth Ysgo and Portlethen.
Feel the quality of the country's best sandstone: Torridon, Queens Crag, High Rocks and Frodsham.
Holiday gems in the mountains of the Lake District: Carrock Fell, Fisherground, Langdale Boulders and Badger Rock.
Remote and unspoiled quality in the breathtaking Scottish Highlands: Applecross, Glen Nevis, Loch Katrine and Reiff in the Woods.
Author, Niall Grimes, has many years of climbing, writing and guidebook experience under his belt. He began climbing in 1986 and has been constantly active since then in all aspects of the sport. For the last 15 years he has been a climbing writer, contributing to magazines both at home and abroad and in 2009 won the internationally-acclaimed Banff Festival's Grand Prize for his book Revelations, co-written with Jerry Moffatt. For the past ten years he has been producing guidebooks for the British Mountaineering Council.
Card cover, 21cm x 15cm, 512 pages.
Published 2020.
ISBN: 978-0-957057-82-1.