North Wales Limestone
The Definitive Guide for Rock Climbers

Andy Boorman

Author

Andy Boorman became obsessed with climbing in 1965. Epic hitchhikes to Kent outcrops and fabulous North Wales ensued. He escaped London in ’68 to spend more time in Wales and somehow gained a terrific Welsh wife and a teaching degree. In ‘78 Andy landed at Prestatyn High School. A climbing club and rising star emerged: 14-year-old Andy Pollitt teamed up with Andy B and pupil soon became mentor! Inspired by Edwards’ Climbs on North Wales Limestone (1976) the pair set about routes on superb crags such as Craig y Forwyn and Castell y Gywnt. New climbs were crafted, links were forged with local climbers, and updated North Wales Limestone editions were published in ‘81 and ’87, both authored by Pollitt. The talented Andy P shot to fame as a professional climber; Andy B stayed in North Wales and developed a fruitful climbing partnership with Pete Bailey. By 2010 much of the old fixed gear was rotten and the area desperately needed a new guidebook. Harrison, Parkin and Boorman began a mission to update this gear and produce a definitive guidebook to fund further materials. All revenue from the 2014 North Wales Limestone book was donated to The North Wales Bolt Fund, as will revenue from this book. See you on the crag! Photo: Andy Boorman and Andy Pollitt, Melbourne 2019

Ian Carr

Author

Ian Carr started climbing in the late ‘70s on his local Chew Valley grit- stone. Progressing quickly though the grades, he has climbed extensively around the UK, Europe and North America. Always interested in Guidebooks, Ian worked for a considerable time as volunteer Chair of the BMC’s Guidebook committee. In 2012, alongside Niall Grimes and a group of likeminded climbers, he completed the 5 book Peak District Gritstone series with Over the Moors. This was followed by Peak Northern and Southern Limestone with Gary Gibson in 2015 and 2017. Ian and Niall also assisted in the concept, design and creation of the Wired Group of Guidebook writers, then completed Wired Peak District Gritstone in 2020. Latterly, during the development of the Hornby area, Ian offered his assistance to update the 2014 North Wales Limestone guide. Perhaps this is the last one, but you never know! Photo: Ian Carr on Sheep Drop 6c

Niall Grimes

Book Design, Layout and Typesetting

Nigel Tuckley

Web and App interface development

Bev Hull

Web and App interface development

Paul Ingram

Photo Editing and technical support

Barbara Murray

Design, Layout and Typesetting

Pete Harrison

Original concept and design

Emyr Davies

Welsh Translation

John Redhead

Illustrations

Egon Larcher

Vertical Life digital app content

Local Activists

Roger Bennion, Matt Burson, Martin Doyle, Dave Evans, Pete Johnson, Barbara Jones, Matt Jones, Mick Lovatt, Dave Lyon, Tim Neill, Chris Parkin, Libby Peter, Pete Robins, Tony Shelmerdine, Ally Smith, Harold Walmsley, Bill Wayman. Pete Harrison deserves a special mention for the inspiration and huge amount of input that made the 2014 Edition become a reality.

Checkers and Proof Readers

Geoff Bennett, Martin Doyle, Bev Hull, Pete Johnson, Dave Lyon, Tim Neill, Nigel Tuckley.

Miscellaneous valuable inputters

Chris & Claudie Addy, Mike Bailey, Pete Bailey, Sue Boardman, Ann Boorman, Nigel Bonnett, Nick Buckley, Nick Bullock, Chris Calow, Tom Carrick, Rab Carrington, Steve Challoner, Norman Clacher, Phil Davidson, Sion Dafis, Nick Dixon, Chris Doyle, Mike Doyle, John Dunne, Chris Forrest, Kieran Forrest, Gary Gibson, Liz Goulding, Mike Hammill, Chris Hardy, Davey Howard Jones, Vic Hitchins, Adam Hodgson, Pete Hodgson, Dave Hollows, Mark Hounslea, Antony Ingham, Elfyn Jones, Ian Jones, Steve Long, Alex Mason, Ryan McConnell, John Orr, Luke Owens, Simon Panton, Tony Pearson, Sally Pidcock, Mike Pycroft, Jon Ratcliffe, Lee Roberts, Phil Robins, John Stringfellow, Colin Struthers, Matthew Thompson, Nigel Treachy, Simon Witcher, Dave & Sue Walsh. Apologies to anyone we missed off the list !

Photographers

John Beatty, Phil Black, Owen Davies, John Dunne, Ian Ford, Rob Gillespie, Rob Greenwood, Niall Grimes, Pete Harrison, Paul Ingram, Pete Johnson, Jim Jones, Jethro Kiernan, Dan Lane, Al Leary, Tim Neill, Ben Roberts, Lee Roberts, Keith Sharples, Molly Shepherd, Nigel Shepherd, David Simmo- nite, Ally Smith, Karl Smith, Kevin Stephens, Aeron Thomas, Ffion Thomas, Dave Turnbull, George Ullrich, Daniel Winterburn, Jake Webb, Ray Wood. Others submitted fine photographs that we just couldn’t squeeze in. Some may be on view @ www.northwaleslimestone.co.uk. Thanks also to Tom Harding, Paul Ingram and James Peak for the great aerial photos and John Redhead for his illustrations.

The BMC

Providing advertising and financial support to help print the book

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Vertical Life

Digital Smartphone App and digitisation of content

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Richard Wheeldon @ Cordee

Guidance and support in the publishing and retail sectors

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Local Businesses

Beacon Climbing Wall, Boardroom Climbing Wall, Boathouse Climbing Wall, Climbing Hut Climbing Walls, DMM, Great Orme Vertical, Ground Up Climbing Media, Joe Brown Climbing Shops, Parthian Climbing, Plas y Brenin National Outdoor Centre, Vertical Life, V12 Climbing Shop.