I got to know the lovely folks in the Northumbrian Mountaineering Club when they invited me up to deliver a Slideshow to raise funds for CAC last year

CAC-ing it!

I had a really memorable evening, with tremendous hospitality and a strong sense of the thriving local climbing community in The County. I was therefore delighted to receive another invitation to venture north, this time with my BMC hat on, to help celebrate the club’s 80th Anniversary. The venue, in a microbrewery within walking distance of one of the area’s premier crags, made it an easy decision to juggle plans to say yes.

Heading up the day beforehand, we were also able to combine a visit to catch up with Bob and Ali – first at the the impressive ROF59 climbing wall (I believed the wrong forecast and sandbagged us into a steamy indoor session when it was glorious sunshine outside) and then at their lovely home on the moors.

We presumed that the next day’s planned gathering at Crag Lough would be a complete washout, as climbing on Northumberland’s famous sandstone in the wet is an absolute no no. We’d been recommended a visit to The Sill – The UK’s National Landscape Discovery Centre – as a rainy day excursion, where we sheepishly discovered that the crag is part of the Great Whin Sill – a tabular layer of the igneous rock dolerite. Doh!

We did get to enjoy the newly installed artwork formed from what’s left of the Sycamore Gap tree, before heading up to the crag for a group photo to recreate one taken at the NMC 50th Anniversary.

Plenty of hardy souls joined us…

… and a team even set foot to somewhat soggy rock (usually it’s me trying to salvage a YECTOYD).

A poignant visit to the other half of what’s left of the Sycamore Gap tree – though saplings are already sprouting…

Then off to the Twice Brewed pub/brewery for a great dinner, some very fine beers, and an evening of banter.

Great to bump into the parents of good friends of Jake and Leah. It really is a small world.

Plenty of support for CAC in evidence –  with club members kitted out in co-branded CAC – NMC Ts 🙂 Here’s President Colin and Membership Secretary Adrian, along with special guest and 8,000m peaks legend, Alan Hinks.

Totally different kettle of fish the following day at the campsite just up the road from the pub.

It’s a short walk to Peel Crag (the continuation of the Crag Lough Sill)…

… and there are a few teams already on the rock.

The routes are some of the tallest in the County, around 25m, on fine, blocky dolerite, giving strong corner and crack lines. Holds tend to be square-cut, and sometimes spacey, and gear is either bomber or absent.

Sunset, S 4a, is the classic of the crag. Getting off the ground is a bit of a struggle – especially if you are under 5ft10 – and then interest is maintained right to the top. Tough!

Ulysees, VDiff, is also worthwhile, and Blasphemy Wall, HVS 5a, is an absolute belter and worth at least a couple of stars (probably not a lot harder than Sunset – or rather Sunset isn’t much easier!)

Sadly, rain stopped play at that point in proceedings, but the trip was a timely reminder of the special climbing, landscapes and especially people in this part of the world – plenty of reasons for a return visit to The County before too long. Huge thanks to NMC for their hospitality and best wishes for the next 80 years!