Easy routes in a hard mans paradise.

The name Portland conjures up images of long hard bolted routes, but if you look very carefully you can find routes that are actually quite easy. This was our mission for the day, to find and climb the easy routes. We started at the cuttings as we knew that the far right end contained routes of our standard. They toppled one by one as Derek, Nick and I took turns to lead each climb. Once we had exhausted the possibilities here we decided to move on .... To the beach to have a swim, this was before we learnt that the sea is probably at its coldest in May.

Suitably refreshed we headed for Blacknor, the plan was to have a go at Reptile Smile but that soon changed when we found that there were some bolted slabs down by the sea. We took totally the wrong route to them and found ourselves clambering over newly fallen boulders, not a good place to be. Eventually we got to the slab to find a series of wonderful climbs, plenty of holds, an easy angle and bolted, what more could you ask for? We climbed until late and on the way back to the car discovered another little crag with a few more sub E1 routes. By now it was too late to give them a go but they are on the list for next time. It made a change to do easy routes at Portland and its well worth hunting them out as they are really good fun.

Pete