Free Climbing FestivalWeekend July 4-5th July

Crag AttaK and The Climbers’ Club Meet Cheddar Gorge

All Weekend

Open climbing: to summer season routes; all climbers welcome*.
Open climbing on High Rock: cast aside your thermals - but don your helmet - for legendary routes like Coronation Street and Crow that are normally restricted to the winter season. All climbers welcome*.
The Climbers’ Club meet, Cheddar Gorge. Members of one of Great Britain’s foremost mountaineering clubs will be arriving from all corners of the country to participate in their first-ever Meet in Cheddar Gorge.
RockSport: Cheddar Caves & Gorge’s RockSport team will be at hand to give customers (min. age 11yrs) a taste of abseiling, climbing, and adventure caving. All equipment provided.
Top Tips: stop to chat with resident West Country climbing experts for the latest beta on the climbs and access. They’ll show you around the climbing areas if you like. An inexhaustible snack wagon opposite High Rock will help maintain calorie and fluid levels.
New Routes & Open projects including the Landslip Boulder: we’ll point anyone interested at some open projects that have repulsed all efforts from top climbers to date. Or you can join a first ascent team and have your name recorded against a new route. You might earn a prize too!
The Great Guidebook Sale: with a new, fully up-dated and larger Cheddar Gorge climbing guidebook due out in September, author Martin Crocker will be selling individual copies of the current edition for £3.00 each. All proceeds from the weekend’s one-off sale will go towards the costs of replacing the remaining decaying fixed gear in the Gorge

Saturday

Max-E-points: turn up with your partner, grab a score-sheet, and cruise as many trad or sport climbs to obtain the highest possible number of E points in a day. The winning team wins prizes from sponsor Taunton Leisure.
Speed Climbing: beat 2007 and 2008 records, and – if you’re the fastest on the day - win a prize from sponsor Taunton Leisure.
Saturday evening: there will be a get-together and free meal in the Cox’s Mill Hotel for everyone taking part. Collect a voucher on the day from Martin Crocker (while they last!).

Sunday

The Sunset String Quintet: a quintet of talented musicians from Bristol Cathedral Choir School will complement summer’s ambience with works by composers including Vivaldi and Bach. The quintet will be playing opposite High Rock on Sunday afternoon, in aid of Children’s Hospice South West.
High Rock Tyrolean: we are re-establishing the Cheddar Man Marathon tyrolean of 2007: a breathtaking 60m line across The Amphitheatre to the top of High Rock. According to 2007 competitor, Adam Mulholland, it’s ‘absolutely awesome’ All tyroleaners must register with the organiser in advance.
Guided Walk: meet at 10.30 a.m. in Landslip Quarry. A National Trust warden will take you around (note that a small charge will apply).

Meeting Place
Landslip Quarry (opposite High Rock) From: 10.00a.m. Saturday 4 July

Parking
Will climbers please park in Priest Rock car-park (the next car-park up-road from High Rock), or in any car-parking area further up the Gorge (apart from beneath Horseshoe Bend Buttress).

Sponsors and Supporters
Cheddar Caves & Gorge, Taunton Leisure, The Climbers’ Club, British Mountaineering Council, The National Trust, Lyon Equipment Ltd, Avon &Somerset Search & Rescue Team, Undercover Rock.

Crag AttaK Organiser: Martin Crocker and Cheddar Caves & Gorge
Contact Martin on:

For further information and registering for the tyrolean, booking a place on the guided walk, and to receive an accommodation list:

* Subject to the conditions of the access agreement between Cheddar Caves & Gorge and the British Mountaineering Council. In short, outside winter, access is available to specific, identified parts of the Gorge during off-peak periods, and – when climbing on Cheddar Caves & Gorge land (south side) – climbers must hold civil liability insurance (e.g. as BMC or MCofS members or affiliated members in either case) or, if otherwise insured, have lodged a copy of their insurance document with Cheddar Caves & Gorge before climbing.

© 2009