So what is the Culm Coast? - it's North Devon from Bude to Bideford (Culm is the type of rock - baked shales) featuring superb coastal scenery (the fins of Lower Sharpnose just have to seen & climbed), beautiful quiet countryside and the home of "adventure" climbing. As a favourite haunt from a London base, I can point out a lot of the area's best; Blackchurch (***E2), Gull Rock (Easier routes, **E2 needing inventive belaying), Lower Sharpnose (long HVS's and large Es), Compass Pt, (Wrecker's Slab) and many solitary gems...

Don't believe all the stories of the area, most of it is slab climbing (perhaps because the rock doesn't support overhangs for long) on compact rock (but don't look over the back!) and there are plenty of stars to collect. There's always a Devon Cream Tea instead! This is one area where the saying " the rock will always be there" might not be true so come along now for something different (and "it's too far" won't be accepted as an excuse as there are fast roads to Bideford, though Birmingham could usefully be obliterated). The trip will involve camping near Clovelly (details later).