Classic Rock

Classic Rock is a companion volume to Hard Rock. It covers easier routes - from Difficult to Hard Severe, though some of them have subsequently been upgraded to VS.

Classic Rock Routes List

First Edition of Classic Rock published 1978 (Granada)

Reprinted 1979
Reprinted 1981
Reprinted 1985

Second Edition of Classic Rock published 1989 with same dust jacket (Diadem)

The cover shows climbers on Pendulum Chimney (S), Chairladder
Photo: Ken Wilson

Third Edition of Classic Rock published 1997 (Bâton Wicks)

The cover shows Dave Bradney on Pegasus (HS), Chairladder
Photo: Ken Wilson

Fourth Edition of Classic Rock published 2007
(Bâton Wicks)

The cover shows climbers on Napes Needle (S), and Needle Ridge (D), Great Gable
Photo: Ken Wilson

Classic Rock Articles

Race Against Time All the Lakeland Classic Rock routes in one day and on foot in between - Dave Willis's inspiring story of perseverance, determination and a very early start.
Cycling Classic Rock Jamie Fisher's amazing tale of climbing all bar one of the routes and cycling in between them.

Classic Rock Compleaters

We do not know of many Classic Rock "Compleaters", but there must be quite a few of you out there, so let us know!

The following are known Classic Rock "Compleaters":

Late '80s to Late '90s Ian McMillan and Steve Thompson from South Devon MC.

1997 Jamie Fisher - an outstanding tick, cycling in between each climb! Although he was unable to climb one route due to a bird ban, he had already done it previously.

1999 Chris Lane - can't remember when he started but finished ca 1999 with Climbers' Club Ordinary.

2010 Carl McKeating and Rachel Crolla - Started with Gillercombe Buttress in June 2007 and finished with The Long Climb in June 2010.

2012 Roger Grimshaw – Started with Flying Buttress in 1963!

2018 Ben Pearce – Started with the Cumming-Crofton Route and Squareface on 20th June 1992 and finished with The Devil's Slide on 23rd September 2018 .

2019 Oli Warlow – repeated his late friend Jamie Fisher's feat of cycling in between every climb. Unfortunately there was a bird nesting on one climb but he did one of the alternatives mentioned in Classic Rock. You can read all about Oli's amazing achievement on UK Climbing.

2019 John and Linda Biggar – started with Labyrinth on Arran on 2nd May 1993 and finished with The Long Climb on Ben Nevis on 1st September 2022. You can read all about their experiences on JohnBiggar.com.

2023 Tim Deakin of the Mynydd Climbing Club – started with Main Wall on Cyrn Las in 1974 and completed his final route, Clachaig Gully in Glencoe, on 31st May 2023.

The 1992 Relay: A note should be made here of a group climbers who completed all the routes as a relay during a 12 day 15 hour period in June 1992. Fell runners and drivers carried a baton between teams. For example one team was waiting at the foot of Cioch Nose (Applecross) when the baton was coming off the Cuillin Ridge. When they topped out they handed the baton over to be taken to the Cairngorms (for Talisman, Savage Slit and Clean Sweep). They then made their way to Ben Nevis (for Long Climb and Tower Ridge) where they waited for the baton to arrive. Thanks to the RAF they later got on and off Arran (Souwester Slabs and Labyrinth) in 3 hours! Although none of the climbers involved did all the routes in Classic Rock, it was still quite some achievement and raised £12,000 for a Motor Neurone Disease charity. The team consisted of: Chris Schiller, Graham Rowe, Gavin Robertson, Bryn Roberts, John Stockdale, Mark Sinclair and Neil Maine (the latter two both tragically killed on Lochnagar in 1995) with Ross Robertson acting as coordinator.

Have you completed all the Classic Rock routes, or do you know anyone who has? Or have you just got some comments? If so please let us know!

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