Home Photo Essay Big Climbs Small Trips

Big Climbs Small Trips

World-class rock closer to home

Feature type Photo Essay

Read time 6 min read

Published Jun 22, 2021

Author Lena Drapella

Photographer Lena Drapella

Lena Drapella
Lena Drapella A UK based commercial photographer, Lena can often be found climbing, skiing, surfing or glued to a screen with an editing software. She’s a passionate advocate for environmental progress from carbon offsetting to a circular economy.
If you’re after the remote and unknown that’s not so far away, the Tatra Mountains of southern Poland have a huge amount to offer. Here, Wojtek Radzik sticks a deadpoint move on the crux pitch of Metallica (IX/IX+) a stunning granite multi-pitch line in the Polish Tatras.

If you’re after the remote and unknown that’s not so far away, the Tatra Mountains of southern Poland have a huge amount to offer. Here, Wojtek Radzik sticks a deadpoint move on the crux pitch of Metallica (IX/IX+) a stunning granite multi-pitch line in the Polish Tatras.

The Pembrokeshire coast offers some of the best limestone trad climbing in the country, if not worldwide. Here, top Austrian climber Babsi Zangerl cranks out the headwall of Do you know where your children are? (E8 6c) in Huntsman’s Leap, a giant cleft in the cliff-line near Bosherston Head, so named due to the local legend that a huntsman once jumped across its narrowest point on horseback

The Pembrokeshire coast offers some of the best limestone trad climbing in the country, if not worldwide. Here, top Austrian climber Babsi Zangerl cranks out the headwall of Do you know where your children are? (E8 6c) in Huntsman’s Leap, a giant cleft in the cliff-line near Bosherston Head, so named due to the local legend that a huntsman once jumped across its narrowest point on horseback

Amie Horton pulls the ropes after topping out on Gone with the Wimp (VS) at Bosherston Head, Pembroke.

Amie Horton pulls the ropes after topping out on Gone with the Wimp (VS) at Bosherston Head, Pembroke.

The ‘never give up’ attitude is not unfamiliar to Svana Bjarnasson. After losing pretty much all the skin on her hands, she opted for Homeage a Catalunya - a tricky 7b+ slab at Abella de la Conca in Catalonia, Spain. The moves in the photo required no more than half a fingertip - all the skin she had left.

The ‘never give up’ attitude is not unfamiliar to Svana Bjarnasson. After losing pretty much all the skin on her hands, she opted for Homeage a Catalunya – a tricky 7b+ slab at Abella de la Conca in Catalonia, Spain. The moves in the photo required no more than half a fingertip – all the skin she had left.

Sometimes, sunrise missions can provide a magical change of perspective. Jan Krauss is captured here in full flow on Flying Flower (7c+/8a) at Abella de la Conca, Catalonia, Spain

Sometimes, sunrise missions can provide a magical change of perspective. Jan Krauss is captured here in full flow on Flying Flower (7c+/8a) at Abella de la Conca, Catalonia, Spain

Svana Bjarnasson finds a moment for reflection in between climbs on a winter’s evening in Catalonia, Spain.

Svana Bjarnasson finds a moment for reflection in between climbs on a winter’s evening in Catalonia, Spain.

Jamie Barclay on Sangfroid Direct (E2 5c) at Craig Y Forwyn in North Wales. With a long history of access issues, Craig y Forwyn was out of bounds to climbers for decades. Yet it has recently been opened up yet again; an opportunity to enjoy some of the best inland limestone in Britain, providing the delicate relations with the landowners remain respected.

Jamie Barclay on Sangfroid Direct (E2 5c) at Craig Y Forwyn in North Wales. With a long history of access issues, Craig y Forwyn was out of bounds to climbers for decades. Yet it has recently been opened up yet again; an opportunity to enjoy some of the best inland limestone in Britain, providing the delicate relations with the landowners remain respected.

The Pembrokeshire coast offers some of the best limestone trad climbing in the country, if not worldwide.

Jamie Barclay on Sangfroid Direct (E2 5c) at Craig Y Forwyn in North Wales. With a long history of access issues, Craig y Forwyn was out of bounds to climbers for decades. Yet it has recently been opened up yet again; an opportunity to enjoy some of the best inland limestone in Britain, providing the delicate relations with the landowners remain respected.

Jamie Barclay on Sangfroid Direct (E2 5c) at Craig Y Forwyn in North Wales. With a long history of access issues, Craig y Forwyn was out of bounds to climbers for decades. Yet it has recently been opened up yet again; an opportunity to enjoy some of the best inland limestone in Britain, providing the delicate relations with the landowners remain respected.

West Penwith, Cornwall, is home to some of the best granite trad climbing in the UK. Stefano De Boni makes the most of its wild geological features by soloing some of the easier lines at Sennen, one of the most popular crags in the region.

West Penwith, Cornwall, is home to some of the best granite trad climbing in the UK. Stefano De Boni makes the most of its wild geological features by soloing some of the easier lines at Sennen, one of the most popular crags in the region.

Top British sport climber Rhoslyn Frugtniet was pushing boundaries close to home in summer 2020. Sending Poppy, a notoriously bouldery, powerful and technical 8b+ at Ansteys Cove, Devon, was been one of her many achievements recently.

Top British sport climber Rhoslyn Frugtniet was pushing boundaries close to home in summer 2020. Sending Poppy, a notoriously bouldery, powerful and technical 8b+ at Ansteys Cove, Devon, was been one of her many achievements recently.

Lara Neumaier firing the awesome headwall of Point Blank (E8 6c) at Stennis Ford, Pembrokeshire. In between some big falls, she managed to send both Point Blank and Chupacabra (E9 6c) during her first ever trad climbing trip! [The first ascent of Point Blank was made in 2008 by the editor of BASE magazine, David Pickford]

Lara Neumaier firing the awesome headwall of Point Blank (E8 6c) at Stennis Ford, Pembrokeshire. In between some big falls, she managed to send both Point Blank and Chupacabra (E9 6c) during her first ever trad climbing trip! [The first ascent of Point Blank was made in 2008 by the editor of BASE magazine, David Pickford]

Gemma Powell and Benjamin Corbey celebrate Gemma’s scary but successful trad lead. ‘The climbing experience is rarely enriched by the grade as much as by the company. ‘ - Lena Drapella.

Gemma Powell and Benjamin Corbey celebrate Gemma’s scary but successful trad lead. ‘The climbing experience is rarely enriched by the grade as much as by the company. ‘ – Lena Drapella.

The climbing experience is rarely enriched by the grade as much as by the company

Emma Twyford, the first British woman to climb a 9a sport climb, sending one of the most iconic hard trad lines in the UK, The Big Issue (E9 6c) at Bosherston Head, Pembroke.

The Big Issue (E9 6c) at Bosherston Head, Pembroke. © Lena Drapella

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