This year’s Crag AttaK, the 4th Open Climbing Festival, takes place on Sunday 16 May. It’s part of a much larger celebration of outdoor activities in Cheddar Gorge, featuring climbing, cycling and running.
Crag AttaK activities are free to enter and include:
Open climbing on all Summer Season Routes: All climbers are welcome.*
Open Climbing on High Rock and Pinnacle Bay: These legendary routes such as Coronation Street, Crow, Castles Made of Sand and Heaven and Earth Show are normally restricted to Winter Climbing. All climbers are welcome.* Watch out for Ian Parsons as he forces a new 4-pitch climb all the way to the top of High Rock.
Speed Climbing: A fun speed-climbing competition on Cheddar Caves’ RockSport wall. Big holds and big audiences = a high octane performance! Fastest climbers win a prize from our sponsors Taunton Leisure.*
Cheddar Gorge Tyrolean: Continuing our tradition of creating Britain’s most famous Tyroleans, this is the longest yet, an 82m crossing spanning the mouth of the Gorge near Gough’s Cave. Places limited; register in advance.*
BMC International Meet: Following a week on gritty Cornish granite, international guests and their hosts will recuperate on smooth, technical Cheddar Gorge limestone. Classics such as Paradise Lost, Brainbiter, Ahimsa, SkyScrape and Valley of the Blind will no doubt fall. Pat Littlejohn will be reliving Crow 40 years after he made the first ascent.
Sunday evening get-together: With drinks and a free meal at the Explorer’s Café-Bar, Gough’s Cave, as part of the BMC International Meet. Crag AttaK helpers, participants and winners can collect an entry voucher for this get-together on the day from Martin Crocker on a first-come first-served basis.
* Access and Participation Conditions
All the climbing events are free to enter, but all climbers taking part in Crag AttaK are subject to the following conditions, as laid out in the Cheddar Caves & Gorge and The British Mountaineering Council’s Climbing Access Agreement:
‘Climbing and participating in Crag AttaK on Cheddar Caves & Gorge land are subject to the conditions of the access agreement between Cheddar Caves & Gorge and The British Mountaineering Council. Outside Winter, access is available to specific, identified parts of the Gorge during off-peak periods. 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, or if otherwise insured must have lodged a copy of their insurance document with Cheddar Caves & Gorge before climbing.’
Non-climbing festival activities
As well as Crag AttaK you can take part in the following events:
85km Cyclo Sportive Killer Climbs (contact Sue Moore on 07831 609977)
13km X-Country Run Cheddar Chase (contact Elly Milln on 01934 742343).
Crag AttaK general information
Meeting place: To participate in any organised Crag AttaK event, meet at the Cheddar Caves’ RockSport Wall (100m up Gorge from Gough’s Cave on the same side) from 10.00am to 4.00pm.
Parking: Parking is restricted, so all climbers please park in Priest Rock car park (next car park up-Gorge from High Rock) or in any car parking area further up-Gorge (apart from beneath Horseshoe Bend Buttress). A road closure will be in force between The Reservoir and Coopers Hole from 9.00am to 5.00pm.
Sponsors and supporters: Crag AttaK acknowledges the generous help of Cheddar Caves & Gorge, The National Trust, Taunton Leisure, The British Mountaineering Council, the Avon & Somerset Search & Rescue Team, Lyon.
Further information and registration: The Crag AttaK Organiser is Martin Crocker, Cheddar Caves & Gorge. For further information, to register for the Tyrolean or to receive an accommodation list, ring 01934 742343 or 07855 618620 or email elly@cheddarcaves.co.uk
Help for Heroes
Crag AttaK is a free open climbing festival. Cheddar Caves & Gorge invite climbers attending the festival to give generously to support the rehabilitation of our men and women in the Armed Forces who have been injured in the service of their country.
www.helpforheroes.org.uk
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