The Blue Cliff

The Blue Cliff is focused on the more aquatic sea cliff exploits, i.e. those where you stand a serious chance of getting wet, and the sea is by necessity engaged with, not just a pleasant backdrop to the action. So, it's mostly about sea-level traversing, sea stacks and, above all, deep water soloing.

This book takes you on a clockwise circumnavigation of the British coastline, starting from the chalk of the White Cliffs of Dover. Along the way, the book deals with some particular questions: Did Aleister Crowley invent sea-cliff climbing, and was he the best climber in the world in the 19th century? Did the St Kildan natives really evolve prehensile feet? What is the truth about the famous story of commandos watching Menlove Edwards deep water soloing and then drowning while trying to emulate him?

The chapters are structured by area. Most of the essays and images are previously unpublished but some have appeared before in books, magazines, or journals.