Climbing book review: Classic Rock compiled by Ken Wilson

The laminated book of dreams! That’s the title that my brother David and I use to describe this climbing book. It’s not really laminated. We adopted the phrase coined by Bill Bailey, to describe the Argos catalogue, in a stand-up routine. We call it that because we use it like a weekend holiday brochure, to decide where our next mountain route adventure is going to be.

Classic Rock is the archetypal coffee table book, it’s big, hard-backed and is packed with simply jaw dropping photography. First published in 1978, the latest version features over 300 colour images. There are routes from all over the UK, divided into the following chapters:

• Peak and Pennine
• North Wales
• South-West England
• The Lake District
• Scotland

It’s important to note that this isn’t a guidebook. If you want to climb the routes featured, you will almost certainly need to get your hands on the relevant guidebook first. Instead, the routes are described from a much more personal perspective. You get a real sense of what it is to climb the routes; the drama, the exposure, the anxiety and the elation.

Like all climbing photography, the images featured in this book are designed to present the most dramatic views of the routes. If it wasn’t for the fact that we have now climbed quite a few of the routes featured, I would go so far as to say some of the images make them appear pretty daunting. With our limited time and resources, my brother David and I rarely manage to capture how big or dramatic the routes we climb are. It’s really nice to be able to show friends and family the pictures in the book and say “See where he is now? I’ve been in that position” and for the non-climbers, watch their shocked faces (they never thought we did anything quite so serious).

In addition to all the meaty route goodness, there’s also a good deal of interesting climbing history, and some classic images of the climbers of old (wearing hob-nail boots, a rope wrapped round their waist a pipe in’t mouth and no-runners – hardcore!).

I bought this book for my brother David for Christmas 09. It wasn’t the cheapest purchase, but we have both extracted every last drop of value from it (all the best presents are the one you want for yourself). We have climbed about half a dozen routes so far and we have an extensive wish list to get through!

I defy any outdoor rock climber with a sense of adventure, not to find the content of this book inspirational. If big, airy routes are your thing, get yourself a copy, or even better, buy your closest climbing friend one as a present then borrow it from them!

You can buy this wonderful climbing book, now from my brand new climbing book shop for £32.