Steve McClure: GreatNess Wall (E10 7a)

Steve McClure: GreatNess Wall (E10 7a) is a short, high-impact film from UKClimbing following one of Britain’s most accomplished climbers on a fierce testpiece at Nesscliffe. Filmed by Keith Sharples, it captures McClure on a plum-vertical 18-metre face climb split by a horizontal break and a lonely, preplaced thread that marks the point of no return. What makes it unmissable is the feeling of constant commitment: poor footholds, quick hand movements between marginal edges, and tense foot swaps where a slip means you’re instantly airborne. The camera stays close to the action, turning a few minutes of climbing into a masterclass in precision under pressure—pure E10 atmosphere, right down to the final move where the fall would look “far better” than the photo.

UKClimbing · 7:25

A short film of Steve McClure on GreatNess Wall (E10 7a) filmed by Keith Sharples. He was going to take pictures but thought a fall from the last move would look far better... Speaking to UKC, Steve described the route as 'a total face climb, plum vertical, 18m high, with a horizontal break crossing the whole cliff at about 12m. This break divides the route into two completely different halves, fortunately with an excellent (preplaced) thread. Poor footholds with fast hand moves between the bad edges, hard foot swaps, where if your feet go you are absolutely certainly out of there! There is nowhere to stop or think or compose yourself as you gain distance from the lonely thread below...'