UKH

I'm considering travelling (or basing myself somewhere) as a solo climber in the UK in a van, and wondering where the best spots to stay to meet climbers are? Other countries seem to have notorious climbing campsites, however I've not heard of any in the UK? Are there places I'd find myself surrounded in climbers and find it easy to meet people to climb with within a few days?

In reply to

Interesting. Off hand I can’t think of any Camp 4/La Palud/Snells field type campsites here. It’s more spread out. You may be better using the partners forums on here.

Simons Field in Bosherston, Pembroke? 

North Lees campsite has spaces for vans, used by climbers and a nice walk up to Stanage.

Beat me to it! Though last year it was rammed with triple axel motor homes, screaming kids and every OAP who wasn't allowed to go to Spain.

Port a Bhaigh Campsite at Reiff

You'd be unlucky not to meet a good few climbers at Glenbrittle on Skye: but if you're there in high summer they may all be hiding inside their tents trying to escape the midges! Probably best to aim for May/June and Sept/Oct. This has the advantage that if you can't hook up with anyone, you've got the greatest concentration of superb scrambling in the UK.

Eric Jones' place at Tremadog (right besides the cliffs) is a great campsite for climbers, but I don't think it is open at the moment, but perhaps this will change soon.

North Lees for Stanage, it's in walking distance of the pub and the crag, what more do you need?

Not sure about meeting other climbers  but I’m going to give a plug for the Fidden Farm campsite at Fionnphort on the island of Mull.
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g551865-d4290774-Reviews-Fidden_...

Just beside the ferry to Iona is an amazing site with lots of space and pitches right by the Sandy beaches. Lots of nice pink mull granite to climb on with plenty routes in the SMC Inner Hebrides guidebook

FTFY. It's now full of glamping pods and the like, and has got expensive.

And they don't like you using the toilet if you've only paid for car parking and not also bought a cake / coffee.

I think there has always been climbers at Eric Bynes when I've stayed (and in the pub) but I've never seen a campsite where climbers mix and sort out partners there and then etc. in the UK. 

https://www.peakdistrict.org/eric-byne-campsite/

I mean that often used to be the case anyway... but at least it wasn’t £20+ a night with enforced included breakfast

It would be up near the top of:

”Which campsites used to be climbing Mecca’s but are now 1. Overpriced 2. Not actually open”

Nant Peris is North Wales probably isn't a bad bet either, but as others have said, I don't think there is any 'one' campsite in the UK which is best

I'd have thought the pubs near the campsites might be better than the sites for meetingclimbers.  Vaynol, Nant Perris and the St Govans Inn spring to mind.

Lundy?

I wasn't too struck by the farmer there. He cleared us off the grass a half mile before the campsite, saying the (seasonal) campsite was closed. We pointed out that's why we weren't at the campsite, but to no avail.

The old Reiff campsite was underpriced and the best campsite in the world but is closed. The new one is overpriced and rubbish in comparison but open.

I'm not sure anywhere is that good for reliably finding climbing partners. As someone said above, probably better to post on here and see who's interested (a few days notice is often better than several weeks in advance).  

Yes, the only good thing about it is the close proximity of the pub.

That's why Nant Peris would still be one of the better choices. And there's always plenty of bouldering in the Pass, if you can't find anyone to climb with.

No, that is one of its detractions.