A climber on the Black Wall, Llanymynech. Photo: Dave Croker CC-BY-SA-2.0

Fanatical rockclimbers are being asked to check their drawers for copies of rare guidebooks.

The compilers of a bibliography of rockclimbing in Britain and Ireland are seeking details of some of the more obscure pamphlets and books describing routes.

Information will be used to draw up what the authors hope will be a definitive list of guides.

In 1971 George Bridge produced a Bibliography of Rock Climbing Guidebooks in the British Isles and this was later updated by Jill Neate in 1986 within a Bibliography of Mountaineering Literature.

Alan Moss, in charge of the project, said: “Sadly though, there were many gaps and errors owing to information about rare pamphlet guidebooks being hard to track down.
“Some guidebooks were produced only for members of a club. Since then several dedicated guidebook collectors have diligently searched bookshops and websites in pursuit of rare items in order to enhance their collections.”

More recently the extensive project has been in operation to compile a definitive Bibliography of British and Irish Guidebooks which the British Mountaineering Council will soon publish.

Each page will show pictures of the front covers of nine guidebooks, accompanied by full details of each one. The book will be arranged by area.

Mr Moss said: “With the help of the major clubs so far over 1,000 guidebooks have been identified and even at this late stage new entries are still coming in.

“In Ireland alone with the enthusiastic help of local climbers the number of known guidebooks has nearly doubled to over 100. As this project is unlikely to be updated in the foreseeable future it is hoped that this publication will be as close to being definitive as humanly possible.”

Anyone with a rare guide is asked to send full details, including a front cover scan, dimensions, number of pages, photos and diagrams, to Alan Moss.

The authors also have a list of missing guidebooks for which they would like details.