Many of us fresh Cardiff Uni Mountaineering Club members are bitten quickly by the outdoor climbing bug and want to get out with the club as much as possible. The CUMC ticklist provides many great climbs at all grades but it can be hard to know where to look for good-quality lower-grade climbs! For that reason, Camilla (@camulv) and I have been working on this list of CUMC beginner classics (with recommendations, naturally) for some easily accessible climbing entertainment.
Stipulations:
- sport up to 6a
- trad lead up to S
- trad second up to HVS (much wider range available on main CUMC ticklist, these are mostly especially popular classics that are aspirational 2nd/3rd year leads and nice to be aware of)
- boulder up to f5
These are all grades accessible by the end of your first year of climbing with CUMC! Within each section, climbs are ordered by grade; within grade, rough distance from Cardiff.
*Note that some are not in the UK but from the fresher-accessible Fontainebleau bouldering trip (Easter) and El Chorro sport climbing trip (Christmas)
**For further Valleys sport, see "South Wales by Train (from Cardiff)" ticklist by training sec 15/16 @Rob McGurk
PLEASE ask if you are at all unsure about a technique - do not endanger yourself or others. This ranges from safely leading, lead-belaying, and abseiling to correctly lowering off or removing your trad leader's gear.
Happy climbing!
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User | Percentage | Latest Log | |
---|---|---|---|
1st | David Maddison | 71% | 2 Sep |
2nd | myrddinmuse | 60% | 19 Feb |
3rd | mikej | 46% | 30 Sep, 2015 |
4th | BHuthers | 43% | 22 May, 2021 |
4th | Lottie Grigg | 43% | 27 Aug, 2022 |
4th | John1458 | 43% | 25 Nov |
5th | GHawksworth | 42% | 6 Aug, 2021 |
6th | wnicholson | 37% | 4 Jun, 2022 |
7th | Danhan | 35% | 28 Jun, 2022 |
8th | rosatb | 34% | 1 May |
Note: Only showing summits, scrambles, winter routes, and low grade climbs
Little Chamonix
Chris Bonington still climbing at 78. Legend
© Paluchi
Sea Mist
Cardiff University Mountaineering Club enjoying the thrills of sea cliff climbing in Pembrokeshire
© Huw Mithan
Vertigo
Climbers on the Longstone Pinnacle, Symonds Yat
© JHC
Little Chamonix
"Katie, can you climb Little Chamonix in a dinosaur suit?" "You bet Jurassican!"
© Luke Briggs
Under Milk Wood
The despair felt on Under Milk Wood
© steve-grigg
Sea Mist
Tim Rolfe on Sea Mist, Saddle Head, Pembroke
© pencilled in
Idwal Squeeze
Upside down send
© LewisHobson
The Crack
© Chris Ellis
Little Chamonix
Will Birkett races up the top pitch of Little Chamonix as night falls, the final route of The Lakes Classic Rock Round.
© Tom McNally
Bosigran Ridge a.k.a Commando Ridge
Such a perfect day...
© Cusco
Bosigran Ridge a.k.a Commando Ridge
Soloing Commando Ridge
© Hamish Frost
Bosigran Ridge a.k.a Commando Ridge
Enjoying Commando Ridge
© BStar