UKH

The Climbers Shop 60th Anniversary Celebrations

This year, The Climbers Shop turns 60. In 1959 Frank Davies opened the doors of The Climbers Shop in a small premises, tucked away on Millans Park, Ambleside. The Climbers Shop have some amazing events planned for this year to properly celebrate 60 years of retail heritage. So what's in the pipeline? Well there is certainly something for everyone, walkers, climbers and runners. Here is a taster of what's to come:

Hike: Since 1981 The Climbers Shop has hosted the log book for the Long Distance Walkers Association Cumbrian Centurion Challenge also known as The Trident Way. This is a high level route for experienced walkers but the beauty is that as long as your take in the three (Trident) peaks of Helvellyn, Blencathra and Scafell and cover 100 miles on the ground then whatever route you take is entirely up to you. If scrambling is your thing there are plenty of opportunities to make it a technical adventure, if not then there are plenty of footpaths that allow for keen walkers to complete the challenge around some of the most beautiful scenery the Lakes has to offer.

Full details are held on the LDWA website here so you can do your own thing or why not sign up to our Strava community to keep track on your progress and up to date on our special “Anniversary Walks” where you can join members of our staff team and some very special guests to chat about equipment and our passion for the hills. There will be exciting “Academy Days” too, where those wishing to venture into scrambling can tackle one of the more technical sections with a skilled Guide. Finally, there will be……PRIZES!!! Share your journey around the Cumbrian Centurion Challenge with us on social media using the hashtag #climbersshop60CCC for a chance to be entered in our prize draw for some fantastic kit.

So, use the winter evenings to get planning, put in some training, grab your pack and join The Climbers Shop community on our 60th Anniversary Cumbrian Centurion Challenge!

Climb: Rock climbing is at the very core of our business so this summer we want to share our passion for the vertical world of the Lake District in a unique treasure hunt where you can search for the “Nuts of Legends”. The Climbers Shop has teamed up with our good friends at DMM and UK Climbing to give away no fewer than 60 x DMM Torque nuts.  But these are not just any nuts, oh no, each nut is individually etched with “The climbers Shop 60 years” making them a limited edition and offering you the chance to own a little piece of climbing history.

You won’t find these for sale in our shops, you won’t find them available on our website, nor will you be able to simply click to enter this particular competition because in the spirit of our founders adventures, we have decided to make this competition a little more……..sporting.

Lakeland climbing legends such as Sir Chris Bonington and James McHaffie have added their favourite routes to those we know that Frank Davies and Joe Brown climbed back in the day. The list will be published in full in May offering a wide range of grades and routes spread across the Lakes. From May to September a host of climbing legends will be placing the Climbers Shop Anniversary Torque Nuts at either at the base or the top of a route on the list. Each nut will have a tag attached to it suggesting what you may want to do next…….

The sixty of you lucky enough to find one of our blue Nuts will be invited to send in a selfie along with the location you found it so that your details can then be entered in a grand draw. The prize will be something that money just can’t buy – a priceless piece of mountain heritage in the form of a framed image signed by those involved.

From 1st May through to the 31st September the hunt is on. Not all Blue Nuts will be in place at the same time so be sure to check routes that you return to. Hints are highly likely to be published on The Climbers Shop blog pages & social media in the interim.

Why not make this your summer of trad and take inspiration from some of the greatest British climbers of all time? Tackle some of the world’s greatest lines, climb in the footsteps of legends and learn a profound respect for route descriptions involving words such as “bold” and “intimidating”. Alternatively, visually appreciate the lines of the masters, acquire your blue Torque Nut (if you’re lucky) and climb something well within whatever grade you choose to enjoy the vertical world.

Grab a guidebook, get planning, get climbing and enjoy our wonderful sport, safely.

Run: Get your training plan together now and join us on a magnificent 60k trot around some of the finest scenery the Lake District has to offer. September the 8th will be the day of our Ambleside Trail 60 run expertly organised by local charity Brathay (organisers of the Windermere marathon etc) Our staff team have chosen a trail route that starts in Ambleside taking in spectacular views among the classic Loughrigg, Tarn Hows, Langdales but also taking in the lesser known Gibson Knott and Langstrath – so beautiful that it features in the opening credits of Countryfile. The run will be flagged and supported with four checkpoints before you return to Ambleside for a well-earned hot meal.

This run will be part of our Ultra Running weekend where suppliers will be on hand to answer kit questions as well as a host of free workshops run by local physio’s, running guides and navigation specialists. Best of all we are very excited to host a talk on Saturday evening by the fell running legend himself Mr Joss Naylor.

So, if you are thinking about having a go at your first ultra – this is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy a stride out in the fells with a host of friendly people out to enjoy the experience but don’t worry if you are a hardcore runner – our route setters have made sure there is plenty of technical fun in there for you too.

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