Spain: Costa Blanca

The Costa Blanca is rightly regarded as one of the best destinations anywhere for winter sun climbing, with the benign climate and massive amount of rock available attracting visitors from all over the world. The thrill of a two-hour transition from the grey and grizzly winter of northern Europe to warmth and bright Spanish sunshine still takes some beating and many climbers now make a regular mid-winter exodus to head south for a much needed tonic. A decent climate is only part of the attraction; the variety, quality and extent of the climbing is the real draw. Cliffs available here vary from tiny roadside buttresses, to long multi-pitch full-day trad routes; from dramatic sea cliffs to super-steep sport climbing caves for the hardcore. There is simply something here for everyone, and this is especially true for the climber operating in the low-to-mid grades.