'La Tube', Seynes. Copyright: T Glasby

The Ardeche is a big area with lots of different styles of crags with a massive grade range. It has been a popular place so consequently you do come across a lot of polish especially on some of the easier grades. It is probably too hot to climb in the Summer but great for Spring and Autumn. Climbing aside, it is a lovely place; great for a family holidays with lots of things to do such as canoeing down the river.

Seynes

Not far south of the Ardeche, is a striking crag on the side of a hill. Unfortunately, this means it pretty much faces south and gets any sun going. It was already too hot for us in April making it a very good Winter destination (you can even climb in the rain in places). If you like tufas or want to try them out, then Seynes is the place to go. The tufas really start in the high 6’s and go up to 8b. But there are lots of less steep crags to the sides with a big grade range.

St. Leger du Ventoux – One of the best sport climbing crags in the World!

Having decided not to compete at the first round of the 2006 World Cup, Lucy spent the remaining three weeks of her trip in April in the Buis Les Baronnies region of France.

The Buis Les Baronnies area of Provence boasts a ridiculous amount of rock, something like 40 crags just in that vicinity. Lucy climbed mainly at St. Leger du Ventoux, which has to be one of the best sport climbing crags in the world! Not much in the 6’s, but what it lacks in quantity, it makes up for in Quality. It starts getting better in the 7’s and when you hit the 8’s, the choice is never ending.

It has facets that face all directions so you can always get away from the sun except in mid Summer when it is almost certainly too hot (unless you were committed and started climbing at 6am)!

It was here that Lucy Creamer redpointed Abregenief, 8b in May 2006. For full report click here