Sunday, 11 July 2021

Duddon Days - Climbing and Swimming in the Valley

In an attempt to avoid any potential busy areas, we had a little explore of some of the lesser known crags in the Duddon Valley. Matt had lent us the newly published guidebook, which is full of all kinds of hidden outcrops off the beaten track. We started off at Seathwaite Crag, which has a few nice lines, but the bottom halves were a bit spoilt by being sheltered by the trees. This has made them a bit green and damp (i.e very slippery to climb after a wet night!), but the top sections provided some good sport and more fine views.


We did a few of the starred routes, then swiftly moved on having discovered some unwelcome ticks trying to latch onto us.


I was just peering into the river, dipping my toes in to check the temperature, when Clare sprinted past me and launched herself of the rocks with a yee-ha and a dive bomb!


We fell about laughing at the un-announced entrance to the water, then both had a few more jumps, simple because it was fun to do so.


We both had snorkels and masks this time, so spent quite a while in the river looking at the fish and the mesmerising way that bubbles pour underwater from the rapids upstream or diving deep and looking up towards the mirror light of the underside of the waters surface.


We had our sights on going to Yew Barrow Crag, but on noticing the time, we opted once again for our current favourite crag, thanks to it's much shorter walk in. A final route here rounded off a great day out and got us home just in time for the football final of Euro 2020.


Seathwaite Crag Climbs:
- Brunch Arete, HS (4a)
- Full English VS (4c)
- Snap, V.Diff**

Stonestar Crag Climbs:
- The Great Escape, VS (4c)*

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