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Broadrick’s route direct, Dow Crag.

By Hugh Stewart July 22, 2018 Leave a Comment

Broadrick’s route was put up in 1899. We should have known better: such vintage climbs graded Hard Severe are always harder, and the first pitch of the direct is the same as its parent. (RW Broadrick was killed on a rope of four in 1903 on Scafell, there being no proper belays then) My guide of 1993 gives the first pitch no grade, so I led off, not really understanding where it went, and after some hesitations and messing about I found a good belay somewhere above. 4a probably. Ian then ignored the steep groove above, probably the direct, and wandered off to the right , out of sight. This turned out to be the original route. We think. And hard enough. It is likely that a nasty V groove with little handholds which followed was the third guidebook pitch, now updated to 4c, and added today to the second, and the last pitch could be anywhere, but I didn’t lead it, mumblings of benighting were heard, but instead took the rope for a 30m scramble to the top. Still, this was after work, an improvement on the last three years, and a rapid descent down the grassy area  below the tarn, now drier than ever known, got us the last pint in the Sun, after much begging, bowing and scraping. I paid, again, possibly as punishment, the route being my idea.

Ian pleased to finish possibly pitch 1
Deep gully side of A buttress
Ian summiting

Filed Under: climbing

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Hillwalks from the Settle to Carlisle Railway Stations

24 walks into the hills surrounding the historic and iconic Settle to Carlisle railway, based on the stations between Settle and Appleby. The area has some of the finest walking of the north Pennines: the Craven district around Settle; the Three Peaks area; Dentdale, and Mallerstang and the upper Eden valley.

£12.95 (P&P may apply)

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Mountain Biking Adventures: Multi-day Routes in Northern Britain

Over the last two decades, mountain biking has developed enormously as a “sport”. We greatly admire the technical and athletic capabilities of modern day mountain bikers and recognise that many excellent guides have been written and custom-built trails set up. In this guide we try to reopen a sense of adventure and wilderness to mountain biking, providing multi-day routes with a remoteness, continuity and “arc” missing from many modern guides with their focus on day and half day outings.

UK £13.95 ( inc. P&P)

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Settle to Carlisle – Hill Walk with Return by Classic Train Route

With over 22,000 ft of ascent in 105 miles set out over 8 days, this walk sets out from Settle, taking in the classic summits of the North Yorkshire Dales, Howgills, Eastern and Northern Lakeland Fells, to arrive at Carlisle. The return journey to Settle by one of the classic train journeys. Illustrated with photographs and route maps.

£12.95 (P&P may apply)

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A River Lune “five bridges “walk. Caton to Halton circular.

From Brookhouse to Halton and back via five bridges, Lawson's Meadow and Gray's Seat makes a pleasant nine mile outing with plenty of interest. From the Black Bull head to the Lune down Holme Lane, across the main road and by track and path to the Waterworks bridge. This, Bridge 1 for you, carries

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Watendlath and Borrowdale circular

A suitable pre-Theatre by the Lake evening production, when the cloud level is low and you don't fancy walking with no views in the damp. It comes to just under 9 miles with 2100ft of ascent. From the Lodore Wood car park up the Watendlath road, take the road south till an obvious track leads off

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Addition to the book of Trespass: Warcop.

This is an 8 mile walk over Little Fell and down and along the side of Scordale. A wild, lonely, and in places rough walk, with 2100ft of climbing. The trespass refers to the fact that most of the walk is in the MOD's land, with access granted by them on 12 weekends per year and other odd days. The

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