Forget Glastonbury, this year’s must-not-miss festival is the Cornish Climbing Festival.
Following the success of the 2012 Cornish Climbing Festival in West Cornwall, the BMC’s team of volunteers in the South West has decided to host another weekend of climbing and socialising; this time the venue will be the North Cornwall / Devon border. Everyone is welcome, so head to the Culm Coast for the weekend of 6-8 September.
The festival will be based in Morwenstow, with reduced rate camping at the Woodview Campsite and evening activities at the Bush Inn
The nearby sea cliffs offer loads of great climbing, including the sunny and sheltered Compass Point, the ‘fintastic’ Lower Sharpnose, and the ‘XS’ horrors of Blackchurch.
Local pioneer and guidebook writer Iain Peters will give an evening talk. Iain is a long-time devotee of SW sea cliff climbing, having put up over 200 new routes in the region. He was the author of the 1988 edition of the Climbers’ Club guidebook to North Devon & Cornwall, and is currently working on a new edition.
On Saturday morning, you’ll awake to the sight, sounds and smells of the BMC Breakfast Bar, where you can pick up a free bacon and/or egg butty (with a compulsory donation to the RNLI). Local guidebook writers and activists will be on hand to advise you of the best places to go.
At the evening’s gathering, you can share tales of the day’s adventures and maybe win a raffle prize generously donated by local climbing wall The Barn, climbing equipment manufacturer Wild Country and outdoor retailer Cotswold Outdoor, who will also have a trade stand at the festival.
Visit the BMC South West Area Facebook page for updates on the festival.