After all this rain we’ve had, we headed out on sunday not really expecting anything to be dry. We decided to check out a place we hadn’t been to before, because at least if it was wet, we could say we went somewhere new!
Spion Kop is situated in the Forest of Dean and is a well hidden gem, a 30m, sandstone wall, in a very quiet and beautifully overgrown hole in the ground.
The line that really stood out for me was ‘Labour of Love’ an E6 6b of Martin Crocker’s and after a quick absail (check if the route’s dry) inspection I had a go.
Unfortunately, I got totally pumped out through the crux section and came off just above, whilst trying to clip a wire.
This route has it all, little edges, smears, slopey breaks, side pulls, undercuts and even a mantle to finish you off at the top.
Approaching the mantle top out.
After some food and a rest I managed to get it done 1st redpoint. A very surprising turn out for the day considering.
Tom seconding ‘Labour of Love’
Steve redpointing ‘Love Story’ E4 6a
Matt Cox 
Verticalthoughts said:
Well done, sounds like a hell of a route! Still not climbed anything harder than 5c, 6b seems like a long way off! Any advice?
Matt Cox said:
Hi, only advice would be to keep getting out and pushing yourself as much as possible. Good luck
Verticalthoughts said:
Cheers dude, thats what I’m doing! I want to bag a few e2’s this summer! Fingers crossed