A very early Radnorshire climbing guidebook breaks cover
A very early Radnorshire climbing guidebook breaks cover
A very early Radnorshire climbing guidebook breaks cover
The publication of the Central Wales - Elenydd guidebook has brought to light the existence of a much earlier guidebook to Creigiau Dolfolau in the Elan Valley. Privately published, probably sometime in the mid-1950s and unaccredited, the 12 page A Climbers' Guide to Radnorshire is thought to be the work of EH Lane, one of Radnorshire's early rock climbing pioneers.
A very early Radnorshire climbing guidebook breaks cover
A very early Radnorshire climbing guidebook breaks cover
Needless to say, this an exceptionally rare guidebook. There may only be one copy left in existence and we are extremely grateful to Brian Davis for bringing it to our attention. Compared to modern climbing guidebooks, it makes for some very contrasting and almost otherworldly reading; an absolutely fascinating insight into what was a very different world: ".....It is a 'rubber' cliff, for nails would quickly destroy the small holds, and clinkers, in particular, skid badly on the rather soapy surface....." and: ".....the slowest of cyclists will reach it in less than an hour from Rhyader (sic)".
Media
Emma Ransome pictured on the front cover of September 2018's Climber magazine, climbing the FA of her bold HVS direct finish to "Menace from the Deep", (VS 5a), Ynys Lochtyn, Ceredigion.
[©Don Sargeant]
Climber Magazine
To coincide with the new guidebook's publication, Climber, Britain's premier climbing magazine, featured two Destination Articles in consecutive issues. The first, UNDISCOVERED WALES PART 1 - THE RADNORSHIRE ENIGMA, describing what is on offer in Powys' Elan Valley, was in the July-August 2018 issue. The second, UNDISCOVERED WALES PART 2 - WAY OUT WEST, highlighting the very best climbing on Ceredigion's hard sandstone sea cliffs at Ynys Lochtyn and Pen Bilis, was published in the following September-October issue.
Written by Steep Stone's Dave Williams, both articles provide essential background reading, especially for the first-time visitor. For those who missed out on the hard copy print editions, digital back issues of both are currently available to purchase HERE.