Red Rose | E8 Trad climb at Sennen

United Kingdom / England / Cornwall / Penzance

Chipped: Several pockets have been drilled..

A controversial route. After the first ascent Glenn Robbins abseiled the route in anticipation of an attempt by Andy Pollitt and Chris Hamper and identified several chipped holds. Mark Edwards then abseiled the line and agreed holds had been chipped, and suggested that other climbers, out to discredit him, had done this after he made the first ascent. However Paul Pritchard had previously been on the line in February 1988 and found chipped holds, suggesting that at least some holds had been chipped prior to the first ascent.

Rowland Edwards:

A very sad and dramatic event has been the removal of the bolts from Red Rose at Sennen and the drastic chipping of the route. No culprit has been found but this is the third time this has happened on Sennen cliffs (and all to Mark Edwards's routes.) All the routes had previously been checked as unchipped from either second ascentionists or those involved in the original ascents and observers. A very sad state of affairs which is seriously making Mark Edwards consider not recording any of his hard routes, which would be very sad indeed. [1]

References

[1] Mountain Issue 131 (1990), page 15 and 49 /library/11316/mountain-131

[2] Mountain Issue 133 (1990), page 17 /library/11117/mountain-133

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remus
36 contributions since 12th September 2025.

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Ascents

1 successful ascent and 1 unsuccessful attempt recorded.

Climber Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
First ascent. Over 20 sessions.

Nick White:

The main news from West Penwith has to be Mark Edwards' route Red Rose, which weighs in at a mighty E8 7c. Apart from its apparent status as the world's hardest route by two full grades, it's a tribute to Mark's modesty that it has gone unreported for so long, but that might have something to do with the line of 'small' 10mm bolts in the route, as well as its close proximity to Sennen's finest Severe, Demo Route.

References

[1] Mountain 127, page 45 /library/11116/mountain-127

[2] Mountain Issue 131 (1990), page 49 /library/11316/mountain-131

Paul worked a similar line, sharing the crux and following a different line in the upper section, but was unable to finish it due to bad weather.

References

[1] Mountain 133, page 17 /library/11117/mountain-133