Northumberland : The Story of Climbing in the County

Celebrating over a century of rock climbing in one of Britain’s wildest landscapes, known to climbers simply as 'The County'. Now, for the first time, its full climbing history has been brought together in a richly illustrated and deeply researched new book: Northumberland – The Story of Climbing in the County.

Thisis a landmark, coffee-table book celebrating over a century of rock climbing inone of Britain’s wildest landscapes, known to climbers simply as 'The County'. Now,for the first time, its full climbing history has been brought together in arichly illustrated and deeply researched new book: Northumberland– The Story of Climbing in the County. Writtenby Steve Blake and John Spencer, and illustrated with photographs byaward winning photographer Mark Savage, thebook is both a comprehensive history and a love letter to a unique landscapeand the people who shaped it. The book explores not only the routes andachievements but also the traditions, community and understated spirit thatmake climbing in Northumberland unlike anywhere else. MarkSavage’s extraordinary photographs, taken over more than two decades, capturethe essence of climbing in Northumberland with rare intimacy and atmosphere. From bold ascents on remote sandstone outcrops to solitary moments of stillnessin the hills, his images reveal not just what climbing here looks like, butwhat it feels like to be there. Thebook takes you on a journey through Northumberland; eastwards along Hadrian'sWall, then up through the central crags until we get to the granite crags inthe Cheviot Hills and the sandstone outcrops scattered throughout the north. Thebook also contains chapters on the coastal crags, the geology of the area andthe archaeological  history of the rock.