Where to go climbing this autumn

John Thornton (Go Vertical Athlet)

There’s fresh snow on the mountain tops and the trees are beginning to turn golden yellow; Winter is on the doorstep but the friction on rock is amazing and you’re motivated for more climbing. Where to visit this Autumn?

Whilst perhaps the trend is to board a flight to a certain Greek island, there are other options available that maybe, offer even more variety of climbing.

St. Legér, France

One of my absolute favourite areas to visit in Autumn is St. Legér, France. A well known sport climbing area of France with high-quality limestone and plenty of sectors hosting hundreds of routes. It offers most value to those climbing 7a and above, with a multitude of routes from 8a to even 9b. The sectors vary both in orientation and style; from steep roofs, to tufas or crimpy tech climbs from 10-40m in length.

In the Autumn months the sun is low and the sky often blue. What makes it one of my favourite destinations, simply put, is the quality of climbing. The routes can be long, but they can also be short and bouldery. Yet almost always very homogenous. Movements flow nicely from one to the other allowing for sustained and enjoyable sequences of climbing. Although I’m a sucker for projecting hard routes, some of my absolute favourite climbs have been in the upper 7th grade range.

For those who are operating in the 8th grade, there are an abundance of incredible climbs to keep you busy for a lifetime. The approaches are never too long or demanding. Additionally, the many closely connected sectors have different orientations allowing you to change routes depending on the temperature…or your wish to soak up the last of the Autumn sunshine.

There are many options for accommodation from Air BnB’s in the surrounding towns to camping at the Jardin Singulier. It can however be cold in the mornings and evenings, so depending on your budget and desire of comfort, that is something to take into consideration. Guidebooks are easy to find and can also be purchase on site at the Jardin Sungulier.

If you haven’t tried it yet, maybe this Autumn is the time to enjoy some of the best French Limestone…and maybe a croissant or several.

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