Skeleton Ridge - The Needles, Isle of Wight
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- Опубликовано: 29 июн 2016
- A short climbing video about a trip to the Isle of Wight for a sortie on one of the great UK Adventure Routes called "Skeleton Ridge" at the iconic Needles by Totland Bay. First climbed by the legendary Mick Fowler in November 1984, this 5 star HVS esoteric but "chalky delight" has gained cult classic status over the years and comprises about 160 metres of climbing over 6 pitches with some of the most outrageously face melting exposure you will find in the UK!
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Great video! Incredible scenery! Jaw-dropping views
Thanks a million for the positive vibes Chris and I'm delighted you enjoyed my wee video! Cheers Dave
That looks to be FAR less unpleasant than I was expecting! The rock looks to be more secure too, I was expecting it to be really crumbly and chossy, but it does seem fairly secure. The exposure must have been fairly intense in parts!! Excellent vid, thank You!
Thanks a million for the positive vibes and I was expecting the chalk to have the consistency of feta cheese! But it was surprisingly solid, the exposure was face melting and the route is one of the greatest "adventure" routes in the UK! Cheers Dave
This video has a lovely feel to it, well done guys, I really want to try this route one day after watching this
Hey Cameron big thanks for taking the time to post some positive feedback and I hope you get on Skeleton Ridge sometime soon! :-) Cheers Dave
awesome dave. bald eagle does it again. so well put together and with such military precision.
Hey Andy thanks a million for taking the time to post some kind feedback and glad you enjoyed the video mate! :-) Cheers Dave
On my things to do list before I die! Cheers for upload
+Miss ღ Mission ღ many thanks for your kind words and I hope you succeed in this mission! :-) Cheers Dave
Amazing place and astonishing footage!!!!
Heya Vicente and once again many thanks for posting your kind words as it is hugely appreciated! Warm greetings from Bristol in the UK! :-)
Cheers Dave
Nice one Dai! another class video.
Thanks Paul and I really appreciate your appreciation! :-) Cheers Dave
Hi Dave and Co, fantastic video, although my stomach lurched a few times looking at the steep drops !! Take care, Lynne, Stoats Farm xx
Hey Lynne delighted you enjoyed the film and a maa-hoosive thanks for all your kind hospitality when staying in your delightful cottage! I suspect Skeleton Ridge may become a more popular route so hopefully you well get a few more climbing customers coming your way... :-) Cheers Dave x
Great movie! Looks adventurous, would love to do it one day!
+Adam West Thanks a million for taking the time to post your kind feedback as it is greatly appreciated. And I hope you get on Skelly Ridge one day as it is a route you will always remember! :-) Cheers Dave
beautiful!
Hi laritouille many thanks for posting and glad you enjoyed my wee video! :-) Cheers Dave
Obviously wonderful as your shared joy openly testifies, the views confirm...
Photography is great and as a video breathtakingly exciting. In editing, you may, in giving more attention to audible rendering of the speech, convey the intended... :-)
I spent my time clambering at Southview, Rocken end (Southern tip of IoW) and heedless of much else. I had not thought to explore the possibility of doing as you have done. Never used ropes - I recognised the cold sweat on my feet, watching this...
It was lovely to see your share enjoyment. Lovely team so to see. Thankyou for sharing a very unique view.
+QaaUz Many thanks for taking the time to post your kind words as it is muchly appreciated. It looks like you are local to the lovely IoW so I hope you enjoyed the vicarious trip up the amazing Skeleton Ridge! :-) Cheers Dave
David Linnett for such a view,
least I could do!
Lovely film!
Hey David thanks a million and glad you enjoyed the video! :-) Cheers Dave
Wow,fair play!!
+Mark Brooker why thank you Mark and glad you enjoyed my wee video! :-) Cheers Dave
That looked like Trevor Hayward in "Telstar" taking a party out fishing passing in the background.
Trevor passed away in 2001.
Thanks for letting me know, I am now a Chelsea pensioner now,,, miss the I.o.W. I was on the Pilot boats.
That was cool. I once visited Scratchells Bay myself.
Many thanks Asmo and how on earth did you get to Scratchell Bay? By boat or 100 metre abseil?! :-) Cheers Dave
At certain times of year. When the tides are right. You can walk there. I went in July a few years ago at a 0.2 meter low tide. Set off from Alum Bay as the tide was going out. It is quite a difficult hike around the base of the cliff to get there. But well worth it for the adventurous types who know what they are doing.
Ha that's a good effort Asmo! Cheers Dave
Love this video. Great filming. Great to see the Needles up close and personal from the helmet camera. Had no idea you could do this. Did you need permission from someone? And well done to Rich for saying it was sensational and phenomenal. 99% of people would’ve just gone, “It was amaaazin.”
Heya Tim thanks a million for taking the time to post your kind words and I'm delighted you enjoyed my wee video! To climb on the "adventure classic" Skeleton Ridge at the Needles you must contact the Administrator at the Old Battery a few days in advance for permission, plus notify the Solent Coast Guard on the day of your climb. Both contacts are very helpful and the staff at the Battery could not have been more welcoming. As for the climb itself? It was amaaazin... ;-) Cheers Dave
@@chdslDave I won't be following in your footsteps but am out there most weeks via boats. I found an old image last night of the Needles when there actually used to be a needle shaped chalk stack. It collapsed in 1764 where that large gap now is. I live in Lymington.
Fyi The perched block that provides the seat for the photo op on the final ridge is no longer there. It fell off with my girlfriend sat on it. Bit of an ordeal as you can imagine but we managed to avoid an epic. Great route.
Blimey Julian that must have been a bit of a shocker for you and especially your girlfriend! I'm glad to hear you both lived to tell the tale... :-) Cheers Dave
Nice video! Do you have any advice on the equipment needed to do this climb? Thanks
Hi MrRussell and thanks for your kind words and the following is copy & paste of advice I wrote for any Skelly Ridge aspirants so good luck! Cheers Dave
For any parties interested in climbing Skeleton Ridge please note that you require advance permission from the National Trust Administrator on 01983 754772 at the Old Battery and also to notify the Solent Coastguard on 02392 552100 on the day of your climb, before and after so that a rescue is not mounted unnecessarily. Although the climb is technically not that hard or sustained, with the crux 3rd and 6th pitches graded at about 4c, it is a serious and committing adventure requiring a 90 metre abseil into Scratchell Bay and the start of route is extremely tidal so make sure you get down well before low tide or you will be in for a wade or worse. I would recommend leaving a 50 metre rope in-situ at the top of the route due to the lack of anchors whilst most of the belays have an assortment of pegs in varying states of rusting decay which need backing up. Be aware that it is a right faff just to get to the abseil stake in the corner of the battery moat and we did a 10m rap from a rusty fence post just to get to this stake. There is a large block with a big hole about 2 metres away from the stake which we threaded with a sling, to back it up. We all carried rope ascenders as insurance in case of retreat and used a lot of large slings plus a few hexes and nuts on the route itself. It would also be fair to say that chalk is definitely not required so leave the chalk bags at home...
Wow...
...and many thanks Massimo! :-) Cheers Dave
Also starring my 100m ab rope; about the closest I will ever come to climbing film glory :P
Ha ha Andrew and a majestic ab rope it was too so a huge thanks for the loan! Who knows if there is an exciting filming project in the future requiring a 100m ab then perhaps you can bring along your rope and join Captain Scarlet and I... :-) Cheers Dave
i guess you didnt need to reach for ths chalk bag much. ha ha
Ha ha the chalk bags were definitely left at home! :-) Cheers Dave
I'm pleased to hear that David and as it's in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a World Heritage Zone I'm assuming you sought permits. Would you clamber over the Taj Mahal?
You are quite correct in your assumption Paul as I notified and had a number of conversations beforehand with the Administrator at the Old Battery, plus the Solent Coast Guard to climb and film on Skeleton Ridge at the Needles. The team at the Old Battery were a pleasure to deal with and we were invited to have a recce the day before and we were made most welcome! :-)
Ps No I would not climb on the Taj Mahal as climbing is not allowed there, unlike Skeleton Ridge were climbing is allowed...
Perfect response, David.
Great film and ascent.
Thank you for sharing this.
Thanks a million StopwatchHospitality and I'm delighted you enjoyed my wee video! :-) Cheers Dave
No wonder it's crumbling into the sea.
Much to our surprise and delight Paul the chalk was remarkably hard and solid to climb! For chalk that is... :-)