Dave Birkett adds major new route to Dyer's Lookout

For most visitors to Devon, summer entertainment revolves around clotted cream teas, scones and strawberry jam. Not so for Lakeland climber Dave Birkett, who continues to forage the British Isles from the tip to its toe in the search of outstanding lines to repeat and first ascend.

During his May repeat of James Pearsons' The Walk of Life at Dyer's Lookout in North Devon, Birkett couldn't help but notice the obvious gap to the left and, making the most of late summer conditions, has now established his own Once Upon a Time in the Southwest.

The route takes a rising rightwards line and although Birkett added four pegs, the rest of the route is protected by a series of tiny wires and cams. Commenting about its difficulties in an interview on UKC, Birkett stated "Similar to Walk of Life, maybe the crux is harder. If you want a number E9 6c will do. It provided some late summer entertainment."