Hard Rock is one of the absolute classic books of British rock climbing.
Ken Wilson’s first edition of Hard Rock was published in 1974 and quickly established itself as the definitive representation of British rock climbing. Ken’s vision for the book’s format – part guidebook, part literary celebration and part coffee table visual showcase – is one that has been much copied but never equalled.
This 4th edition features over fifty crags and sixty-nine routes in England, Scotland and Wales, it epitomises all that is great about traditional climbing in Great Britain. Editor Ian Parnell has ensured Hard Rock continues to honour Ken’s original concept, in particular keeping the route, not the climber, centre stage. While the activity of climbing has undergone myriad changes since 1974 – sticky rubber, camming devices, and the rise of sport climbing and indoor climbing walls – many climbers are still drawn to the drama and challenge of traditionally protected climbing. And this is why Hard Rock is still as relevant now as it was in 1974.
Stretching across the Scottish Highlands and Islands, the Lake District, the Pennines and the Peak District, North and South Wales and down to South-West England, the routes tackle big mountain walls, gritstone outcrops and epic sea cliff adventures. Focusing on the trad connoisseur’s grade range of VS to E2, with additional routes at E3 and E4, the featured climbs are within reach of a majority of climbers. Timeless classics include The Bat on Ben Nevis, the Old Man of Hoy, the Central Buttress of Scafell, Cenotaph Corner on Dinas Cromlech in the Llanberis Pass, Vector at Tremadog, Right Unconquerable at Stanage Edge and Suicide Wall at Bosigran on the Cornish coast.
Spoiler alert - some old favourites (or not) like The Scoop and Kilnsey Main Overhang are no longer present on the rather dubious grounds that they are now free climbs, other fallen down routes - North Crag Eliminate and Deer Bield Buttress have been replaced, and some new crags are included. Here's a full list of the new routes in the book:
Angel Face, Beinn Eighe.
Vulcan Wall, Isle of Skye.
Prophecy of Drowning, Pabbay.
Totalitarian, Raven Crag.
Nimrod, Dow Crag.
Plane Sailing, Stackpole Head.
Heart of Darkness/New Morning, Mowing Word.
Rock Idol & Zeppelin, Mother Carey’s Kitchen.
Double Diamond & Quatermass, Lundy.
Mars & Soul Sacrifice, Swanage.
Alongside many of the original essays, written by a formidable cast of climbers including Pete Crew, Ed Drummond, Royal Robbins, Chris Bonington, Hamish MacInnes and Al Alvarez, this new edition features extra pieces by Eleanor Fuller, Stephen Reid, Kevin Howett, David Pickford, Paul Harrison, John Lawrence Holden, Martin Moran, Paul Donnithorne and Emma Alsford. It is illustrated with all-new colour photography throughout.
Hard Rock’s timeless collection is sure to inspire for generations to come.
Edited by Ian Parnell
Hardback, 31.5cm x 25cm, 288 pages.
ISBN: 978-1-912560-29-5.