The sun's been out and climbing has seemed like a sensible option. Good thing then that I had two days booked to take Sandra and daughter Antonia out, to sample the climbing delights of the Wye valley. Wintour's Leap was my favourite local crag when I lived in Bristol, the peaceful setting combined with the wealth of quality routes drew me back time after time. We climbed at Wintour's the first day climbing the multi pitch classic Central Rib Route and then Joe's Route, Psychotic and a rope ascent of "The Easy Way Down" to finish. That done, and after saying good bye to Sandra and Antonia until the following day, I met up with Adam, an old friend from The Warehouse Climbing Centre in Gloucester and headed back down into Wintour's and Woodcroft Quarry, where Adam and another old mate Gavin had been "excavating" new routes. For anyone who knows Woodcroft Quarry, they'll know that the routes can't realistically been referred to as "quality", but for the select few that have enjoyed/frightened there way through days climbing there, it holds an intense, subversive interest. Adam and Gavin have long had a relationship with this place (as I have), but they have been putting up new routes with an adventurous "XS" bent for a while. Having an unshakable interest in the "XS" myself, I was keen to check out some of their new routes. First I headed out on Adam's My Friend Goo, a HVS, technically straight forward but with a whole load of other stuff going on... Then I was pointed toward Man From Uncle, an E2 put up by Gavin recently. After climbing through the the lower loose section, the upper harder part was protected by two pegs. The moves were hard to read and after a few attempts I took a rest on the top peg. Reaching the top I brought up Adam. A cool route, with a good section of moves on dodgy rock, a three star Woodcoft addition! Well done Adam and Gavin for your efforts...
The following day I met back up with Sandra and Antonia at Wydn Cliff and walked up to the left hand crag. The sun was out again and the atmosphere lovely. We climbed a couple of routes as multi pitch's, with big abseils back down to our bags on the ground and finished with a cheeky groove climb. Great to get out with you guys and thanks for the friendship bracelet Antonia!! All the best with your future climbing. x
