South West Climbs Volume 2 review

The last weekend in May saw the launch of South West Climbs Volume 2 covering selected climbs in Devon, Cornwall and the granite isles (Lundy and Jersey). The book is the latest in the successful series by Pat Littlejohn, but is also a product of a more recent collaboration with publishers The Climbers’ Club.

The first incarnation of Littlejohn’s South West Climbs was published by Diadem in 1979 and proved so popular that it was reprinted in 1989 with a second edition being published in 1991; this second edition itself has been reprinted and revised numerous times, most recently in 2008. When the Climbers’ Club took on the title it was decided to split the coverage over two volumes and Volume 1, covering Gloucester, Somerset and Dorset, duly appeared in 2012.

The involvement of the Climbers’ Club has certainly added a new impetus to South West Climbs and their experience is evident throughout the book’s 412 pages. Authoring duties are shared with outstanding Bristol-based climber Martin Crocker and the artwork for this nicely-designed full-colour tome was done by Mark Davies and Don Sargeant.

Although a selected guide it’s worth noting that the book has the best coverage of the Exmoor Coast climbing currently available in print, while climbers in South East Cornwall might be interested to know that 20 routes from this area – at Cheesewring Quarry as well as Hawk’s, Trewortha, Kilmar and Helman Tors – are detailed in full.

South West Climbs Volume 2 by Pat Littlejohn, ISBN 978-0-901601-98-8, is published by The Climbers’ Club, priced £25.00, and can be purchased through their website, as well as through bookshops and outdoor retailers.