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The Barn |
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Sod the gym. If you want a hot body and a raised heart beat get yourself to an indoor climbing wall. Jon Kirk, climber, news hound and former Chalk magazine editor, picks the best Click to view Top 5 British Climbing Walls.
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Best for Bouldering (The Barn, Bude, Cornwall) |
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 A Mecca for climbers in the South West. Set in a converted cow shed and grain silo on a working farm in Cornwall, The Barn has earned itself a formidable reputation as the home of hard, technical bouldering. Experts flock here by the dozen and, with a friendly atmosphere and cheap entrance fees, so should you. |
Back to Basics |
Yes, there’s cow shit outside, and yes, it’s cold in winter without any central heating. There’s no fancy café, changing rooms or showers either, and you share the ‘car park’ with a tractor. As you might have gathered, expect no frills here.
But that’s exactly what makes this place so popular. Unlike its more commercial competitors, which count on expensive aesthetics to draw in the crowds, The Barn needs rely on nothing more than the quality of its climbing.
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 It epitomises the athletic and hugely popular style of bouldering - a form of rock climbing at a safe height above mats, that removes the need for ropes and other safety equipment. Set in the heart of rural Cornwall, less than two miles from Bude town centre, The Barn’s principle attraction is its bouldering room in a converted cowshed. Measuring a cosy 150sq-metres, the onus here is on quality, rather than quantity. Regardless of ability, expect a warm welcome and some expert advice from the wall’s owner and professional climber, Simon Young.
Home to regular competitions, his plywood walls come in every conceivable angle and contain hundreds of routes, or "problems" – from the very easy, to the ridiculously hard.
Then, of course, there’s the infamous leading, or roped-climbing, area: a steep 45ft-high wall up the inside of a disused grain silo. No small feat of engineering, when you consider that Simon crafted it alone and by hand…
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Need to Know |
 After a long session, explore the nearby beaches, or take to the cliffs along the Culm Coast – home to some of Britain’s best climbing.
The Barn is open every day except Tuesdays, between 2pm and 10pm. Prices are £4.50 for adults, and £3 for under-16s.
To reach the wall, follow the A39 south from Bude and, directly opposite a turning for Marhamchurch, turn right towards “Woodland Tearooms”. Whalesborough Farm, and The Barn, is 100yds up the track on the left. For more information, contact Simon Young on 07944 002 563
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Pros -
Excellent 'problems' of all grades
Cheap entrance fees
Warm welcome
Cons -
Don't expect any fancy frills |
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