Aill na Cronain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Aill na Cronain |
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| Irish: Aill na Crónáin; Cronan's cliff | |
"Skull Buttress" in the middle of Aill na Cronain showing the flat Skull Slab VDiff–climb in centre
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 Location in Ireland
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| Location | |
| Nearest city | 3.5 km south of Ballyvaughan |
| Range | The Burren |
| Coordinates | 53°05′47″N 9°08′20″W / 53.0963°N 9.139°W |
| Climbing type |
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| Height | 25 metres at highest point (most climbs 10–15 metres) |
| Pitches | Single pitch |
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| Rock type | Limestone |
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| Development |
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| Cliff aspect | West |
| Elevation | circa 150 metres above sea level |
| Ownership | Private property |
| Camping |
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| Classic climbs |
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Aill na Cronain (pronounced "Eye-l na Cro-nawn") is a cool place for rock climbing in County Clare, Ireland. It's a cliff made of limestone, which is a type of rock. People also call it "Cronan's cliff."
This spot is great for new rock climbers. It has many short climbing routes, usually 10 to 20 metres high. These routes are often easier, in what climbers call the S to HS grades. Aill na Cronain is right next to the famous Aillwee Caves.
Rock Climbing Fun
To get to the climbing cliff, you walk about 10 minutes north. You start from the upper car park of the Ailwee Cave attraction. Even though the land is private, people have been allowed to rock climb here since the early 1970s. The first climbs were recorded around 1971.
One of the most famous climbs here is called Skull Slab. Many climbers say it's one of the best "VDiff" (Very Difficult) climbs in the whole country. If you're just starting out with rock climbing, Aill na Cronain is a top choice. It's even listed in "Ireland's Adventure Bucket List" as a great place for beginners.
Exploring the Cliff
The middle part of Aill na Cronain is known as the "Skull Buttress." It looks a bit like a skull when you see it from far away! The "nose" of this skull shape is where you'll find the Skull Slab climb.
The cliff has different sections, each with its own climbs. To the north of Skull Buttress, you'll find the "East Side" and "Far East Side" faces. To the south, there's the "Butterfly" face and the "Small Wall" face.
While many routes are easy (S to HS), there are also some harder climbs on the "Skull Buttress." These include routes like Raven (E3 6a), Monkey Business (E2 5c), and Sunbane (E1 5c). These numbers and letters tell climbers how difficult a route is.
Aill na Cronain is located in a place called Ballycahill in County Clare. About 23 kilometers southwest of Aill na Cronain, there's another limestone cliff called Ailladie. This one is much more challenging and has some of Ireland's toughest rock climbs.
