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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 Goathland circular walk.

A pleasant moorland, forest fields and river valley walk of just under nine miles, actually in the Cicerone guide to The N. Yorks Moors, but with some additions here caused by some changes due to the passage of time. At the south end of Goathland beyond the Inn take the left of two Bridleways going

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An Upper Swaledale round from Muker

This lovely 8 mile walk is best done in early to mid-June when the Muker meadows, and to a lesser extent the Ivelet to Muker meadows, are full of wildflowers. Starting in Muker, find the path through the village which leads onto the meadows. It is not signed so be careful. Go through the delightful

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Scafell Pike from Wasdale, without the crowds. (Mostly.)

A glorious friday in early June, the last weekday of the Whitsun holidays. I wanted to see what Piers Gill was like, as my late mother told me once that she had been cajoled by my father to take me and my one older and one younger brothers (aged maybe 3 to 7) up the Pike, but went wrong in bad

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