This new event is a chance to sample the crags of the area and explore the wild limestone features which can be found in the Dovedale area.
The aim of the South Peak Limestone Festival is to encourage climbers to explore beyond the gritstone edges of the Peak District and the slippery walls of Horseshoe Quarry and to show off the beauty of the area to hill walkers who may have just driven past on the way to more well-known venues.
The festival starts on Saturday 15 September – just turn up at The Royal Oak in Wetton for 9am (or the night before – camping avaialble) if you want some advice on crags to visit, or to rustle up a climbing partner.
On Saturday night Luke Barley from the National Trust will talk about the history and wildlife of the area, and Gary Gibson, the driving force behind a recent major clean-up of some of the area’s crags, will also give a presentation.
READ: Clean Climbing on Staffordshire Limestone in the January 2018 Peak Area Newsletter (page 11).
On Sunday, BMC Peak Area Hill Walking Volunteer Reps Peter Judd & Austin Knott will be leading a walk of around 9.5 miles in length, visiting Wetton Hill, the Sugar Loaf, Milldale, Dove Dale and Hall Dale (optionally Thor’s Cave too), with some excellent views and sights to see along the way.
More information about the hill walk
Camping
There is a campsite at the Royal Oak in Wetton – it costs £10 per person per night and that includes a pint in the pub!
Food
The Royal Oak also serves cooked meals.
Climbing Guidebook
The definitive guidebook for the area is Peak Limestone South, available from the BMC online shop.
Walking Map
The British Mountain Map of the White Peak, available from the BMC online shop.