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Craig Matheson cuts loose on The Wasdale Roof (E3), The Napes (Photo: Al Phizacklea)

Craig Matheson cuts loose on The Wasdale Roof (E3), The Napes (Photo: Al Phizacklea)

The FRCC published its first climbing guide in 1922, and its Guide Book Committee has been producing definitive guides to Lakeland rock climbing ever since. The Guidebooks page show the latest volumes in this ever evolving series. 

Recording New Routes & Comments
The FRCC is very reliant on the comments of all climbers of whatever ability in helping to improve its guides and your opinions are most welcome.

To view the latest new routes in the order recorded please see our Latest Climbs page. New routes can also be viewed in guidebook and crag order and print-out of new climbs on any particular crag obtained - simply click on the relevant link on the left and follow your nose.

To submit new routes etc: you will need to Log In with a log in name and a password. This is simple; all you need is the name of a famous Lakeland pinnacle (all one word, lower case) and the password which is the year of the first ascent of Napes Needle (hint!) (if you don't know this date it shouldn't take you long to find it out - in fact try the archive section of this site). We regret this inconvenience but it is essential to prevent spam. Rest assured that your details will never be passed on to a third party.

To submit a new route: Check if your crag is already on the database. If it isn't, then add it. If it is an existing crag in the guide then give the guidebook page number. If it is a new crag the give the grid reference (in the form NY 123 456). Having located/created the crag, go to that crag (in cyberspace) and add your new route.

To comment on an existing route: first locate/create the crag as above, then locate/create the route (selecting Existing Route in the drop down box), then go to the route and add your comment, stars etc.

Buttresses can only be added by the Editor which he will do if things get a bit crowded. If your buttress is not already on the database please include its name in the description and it may get added.

Your route may not appear in the correct order on the crag initially but this should be corrected by the Editor.

Archived Routes: Full descriptions of some routes have been omitted from the current guidebook, either because the climb could not be located, or because it is overgown, dangerous, or of very poor quality - and in some cases all three. For each crag there is now an Archived Routes section that can be selected. The descriptions given are unlikely to have been checked and are recorded for historical interest only. Anyone hoping to climb these routes should exercise extreme caution. In most cases, the approximate location of the route is mentioned in the current guide. Some of the older climbs are measured in feet; 1 foot (') = 0.3048 metres.

Copyright: The information contained in these pages is copyright the FRCC and is provided free for non-commercial use. Commercial users, or those wishing to distribute any of this information, should contact the FRCC Guidebooks Secretary for permission - this requirement is waived for those writing routes reports and similar articles for the climbing press.

Disclaimer: Climbing is a dangerous pastime that can seriously damage your health! Details of climbs recorded in these webpages, together with their grades, reference to in-situ or natural protection, and locations, are made in good faith having been compiled from first ascent descriptions. Very few of them have been checked for accuracy, and descriptions, grades, and, above all, stars, should be treated with extreme caution. Unfortunately climbs can change; holds fall off, rock becomes dirty, in-situ gear deteriorates or disappears. Even a minor alteration can have a dramatic effect on the grade or seriousness of a route. It is therefore essential that climbers judge the condition of any route before committing themselves. The contents of this website are believed to be correct. However, neither the FRCC nor its members and their friends involved with its production, can be held responsible for any omissions or mistakes, nor liable for any personal or third party injuries or damage, howsoever caused, arising from its use. In this claims-conscious age, climbers are recommended to obtain suitable insurance cover. The BMC now provides third party liability cover for members and members of affiliated clubs.

This is a very new system and it would be surprising if there were not a few gremlins lurking in it somewhere. If you have any problems using it please email the Climbs Editor.

Please note that these pages are only for recording new routes and commenting on existing ones and other aspects of the FRCC's guidebooks. They are not for any other sort of enquiry or general chat for which we would recommend the forums at UK Climbing.