Lower Wye Valley: v. 1: Climbers' Club Guides to the Wye Valley and Forest of Dean
Though labelled Volume One, this is the second to be published (Nov ) ong>ofong> a new series to the Wye Valley and Forest ong>ofong> Dean. "The Sandstone Outcrops ong>ofong> the Forest ong>ofong> Dean" by Martin Crocker appeared in , and a new Symonds Yat guide, including also the central Forest quarries and the Cotswolds, should follow in two or three years' time.The 432 pages are printed in full colour throughout in the new Climbers' Club guidebook design, and the book is generously illustrated with maps, photodiagrams, and a wide selection ong>ofong> action photos.The guide has been compiled by a mixed team ong>ofong> experienced Wye Valley hands and younger activists, and the work has incorporated not only a radical reassessment ong>ofong> virtually all the climbs but also substantial cleaning and regearing ong>ofong> all those considered worthwhile. This operation was spearheaded by the GO Wall Restoration Project undertaken by Martin Crocker in late (funded by the Access and Conservation Trust, and The Climbers' Club Colin Kirkus Guidebook Fund).The Lower Wye crags (Wynd Cliff, Wintour's Leap, Ban-y-gor, Tintern Quarry, Shorn Cliff) now ong>ofong>fer a huge variety ong>ofong> excellent climbing: trad routes in all grades from Moderate to E6 and sport climbs from F4 to F7c+. The sport climb descriptions are printed on a pale orange-coloured background for quick recognition, while the unrecommended and unrestored routes are set on a light grey background.A complete set ong>ofong> new path and crag-base maps for Wintour's Leap and Shorn Cliff has been surveyed by members ong>ofong> the team and redrawn inimitably by Don Sargeant. It is hoped that these will mitigate the notorious problems people sometimes experience locating the buttresses and climbs amongst the trees at these two crags.There is a brief historical overview in the usual slot after the Introduction, and there are a number ong>ofong> mini crag historicals printed on yellow panels throughout the book. However, the main and more detailed threads are woven into the first ascents list, now entitled Chronology (this latter may be a feature also in some future CC guides).The usual index ong>ofong> climbs is brightened up by the inclusion ong>ofong> thumbnail-type replicas ong>ofong> all the main action photos, and there is also an index ong>ofong> crags and crag features with replicas ong>ofong> the photodiagrams. Ad ID: Delivery Service Consumer Credit