Any one who’s listened to me going on about it or read my bits in the newsletters about it will know I’m just a little bit enthusiastic about an area of Morocco known as The Anti Atlas Mountains. Myself and Alan Blackburn have now been there three times. On at least one of each trip we were accompanied by Robin Andrews, Steve Wrigley, Ali Welsh and Dave Wood. I know they share my keenness on the area and it’s adventure climbing.

FYLDE CRAG, Central Section

On each of our last two visits we’ve been responsible for a new route on a previously unclimbed crag. These have been named “Sez Les” (100m; VS) and “Woody Sez” (110m; E1). “Sez Les” appeared (as the first route in the book, no less!) in a new guide book to the Northern part of the Anti-Atlas published late last year. The crag, in the absence of any further information at the time, was named (or rather, not named) Anonymous Wall).

Woody leading pitch 1 on 1st ascent of Woody Sez

In submitting the photos and description for this year’s new route on this crag, “Woody Sez”, to the author of the on-line guide currently in preparation, Ben Wintringham, I suggested the name “Fylde Crag” and so it‘s going to be in the on-line definitive guide. The routes added so far to this “work in progress” can be seen at www.tafraoute-climbing.com (registration required). The routes are on the wall in the photo above – “Sez Les” is the big black and orange corner in the centre. “Woody Sez” climbs the wall to the left in 3 pitches, finishing up the easier angled slabby groove in the top left of the picture.