I was going to write an entertaining trip report about our adventure at Henhole last night, but every time I tried the site crashed on me

Now I'm at work and naturally more grumpy, but nevertheless here's an account of last Sunday.

It was a cracking day when Anna and I set off for Henhole. We picked up the pre arranged permit from under the door mat of the College Valley estate office in Wooler and arrived at Mounthooly farm to find a beautiful sunny day. Not only the prospect of good climbing in a stunning location, but of a suntan at the same time. I’d even brought shorts. What more could you want from a day out?!?

We were warned about adders by some walkers on the way in. Being stuck in the ‘middle of nowhere’, without mobile phone reception and with a snake bite wasn’t very appealing, but we ventured on. We got to the crag after a pleasant hour walk in to find our first ‘obstacle’. Some crazy bird was running havoc at the bottom of the crag as we were trying to ascend the treacherous scree slope. It was flying in a figure of eight, squeaking, and descending lower and lower as if preparing for the inevitable attack. Now I hate birds at the best of times, but getting my eyes picked out by one was really not an appealing option. Luckily the bird calmed down as we ascended further, and so did we.

Anna then started on The Chicken, which turned out had a decent sized hollow block and a very loose flake one third up the route. I could picture the newspaper article: Two climbers were found at Henhole this morning. They had been hit by a boulder that had come off the crag and were stuck underneath it, at the same time fighting off the local birds and snakes. Needless to say we backed off and did College Grooves instead, a pleasant 30 meter HS 4b ***, and a good introduction to the rock. I then led Right Hand Rib, a nice and straightforward VD.

Just as we were getting into the swing of things we noticed a man near us. A weird man. By himself. In the middle of nowhere. In a tracksuit and trainers, scrambling around on the rock next to us, and without saying a word. A quick look at each other and we knew we could whack him over the head with a big hex, poke him with the walking poles and tie him up with the rope if he was going to get weird on us. But he didn’t. He was probably the nerdy kind who is too scared to talk to women and that’s why he didn’t say a word. Probably. But at least we had a battle plan.

Luckily we didn’t have to worry about the weird man much longer, as support unexpectedly arrived in the form of Jon and Amanda, Mike and Carolyn and Lewis and Pete. He was now definitely outnumbered and soon retreated. The others had come in via Cheviot, a three hour walk in! Everybody climbed a variety of good routes of various levels in the next few hours, staying well away from that crazy bird and enjoying the last bit of sunshine, before it was time again to head back. It was decided, democratically, that Amanda and Carolyn would come back with Anna and I. Of course it had nothing to do with the length of the walkouts

All in all we had a cracking day. I can certainly recommend it for a ‘day out’. Good climbing, beautiful location. I didn’t see any fairies though. I think deep down I knew I wouldn’t.

EvaDiva wrote:

QUOTE:
I.Some crazy bird was running havoc at the bottom of the crag as we were trying to ascend the treacherous scree slope. It was flying in a figure of eight, squeaking, and descending lower and lower as if preparing for the inevitable attack. Now I hate birds at the best of times, but getting my eyes picked out by one was really not an appealing option. Luckily the bird calmed down as we ascended further, and so did we.

Hmmm, sounds like a bird warning you that you're getting near it's nest. It didn't sound like a seagull, did it? Because what you describe is Peregrine behaviour. Did anyone do Cannonhole Buttress ? (I think the bird nested in the cannonhole when it was stumbled on last time)

QUOTE:
...Just as we were getting into the swing of things we noticed a man near us. A weird man. By himself. In the middle of nowhere. In a tracksuit and trainers, scrambling around on the rock next to us, and without saying a word. A quick look at each other and we knew we could whack him over the head with a big hex, poke him with the walking poles and tie him up with the rope if he was going to get weird on us. But he didn’t. He was probably the nerdy kind who is too scared to talk to women and that’s why he didn’t say a word. Probably. But at least we had a battle plan.
..

It wasn't me, I was in the Lakes, I have witnesses and paperwork to prove it!

Glad you all enjoyed it though, let's hope the nest is ok.

John,

Don't worry about the nest, no one went anywhere near that bloody thing! Everybody stayed on the left hand side of the crag, and the bird came out of a hole on the right hand side somewhere. It calmed down and disappeared wherever it came from when we traversed left.

I'm not sure what kind it was, I can't tell these things apart, it could well have been a Peregrine, although it looked to me more like some nasty big man eating beast!

Ah, that explains the confusion. So there is a Peregrine in Henhole but not on the bit we climb on, well not on the bit sensible people climb on. There are routes on the other side but they are DIRE in summer.

ps note to Eva - do NOT go to the New Inn in Longramlington. There is an irritating Mynah bird which mouths off the entire time.

Two went to Whitestone Cliffe on Saturday with jungle bashing experience reminding me of Hong Kong, and then it was only two. I don't anyone has been there for decades. Kinda fun. Check with Piotr for fun photos. Some excellent testing routes if you know where to find. Most difficult access to a crag I've been on in the British Isles. Take a machete if you'd like to go. It looks cool with one anyhow.