Guidebooks
At the Oxford Alpine Club we recognise that different climbing destinations require different styles of guidebook. A guidebook not only needs to be factually accurate, but must promote and enhance adventure; it must be clear and easy to use on the belay, whilst being interesting enough to read in bed or in the bar; it must capture the spirit of a destination and provide motivation to go out and explore; it should make your life easy when planning a trip for the first time. An OAC guidebook must do all of those things with a personal feel to it. We do not mass-produce books, or hide their character behind a corporate image, so when you buy an OAC guide you get a very individual product - a labour of love, created by climbers, for climbers.
Our future guidebook projects rely on local experts to provide the inside knowledge, and ensure that our guidebook will be the authoritative source for future visitors. To that end, we are always on the lookout for new authors... So if you have been collating route information to a climbing destination that you think other people might be interested in then we'd love to talk to you. Our publishing packages range from full editing, publishing and sales, through to simple ISBN allocation.
You can preview some of our most popular books here, or scroll down for more detailed information...
Our Guidebooks...
Morocco Climbing Guides
Morocco is one of the most incredible climbing destinations this side of the Atlantic, offering a blend of adventure, accessibility, culture, and perfect climate for climbing.
Morocco Anti-Atlas
A selective guide to more than 2000 routes in the Anti-Atlas region of Morocco.
Tafraout Granite
A guide to more than 800 sport, trad, and boulder routes on the granite tors around Tafraout.
Todra
The essential guidebook to all 30 sectors in this exotic sport-climbing paradise.
Euro Ice Guides
With a focus on pure water-ice climbing, our Euro Ice guides are the essential companion for your next ice climbing holiday. Our range of destinations is still growing, as we attempt to document some of the most reliable and accessible ice climbing in Europe.
Rjukan
Understandably one of the world's most famous ice-climbing destinations, a visit to Rjukan is a rite-of-passage for aspiring ice climbers.
Cogne
Located in northern Italy, less than 2-hours drive from Turin, the Cogne Valley is known to offer some of the most reliable ice conditions in the Alps.
Ecrins
With famous destinations such as La Grave and Ceillac, the Ecrins National Park in the French Alps is one of the world's great venues for ice climbing.
Lillehammer
Although better known for its excellent skiing, the valley of Gudbrandsdalen in Norway is a hidden gem for ice climbers.
Setesdal
Famed for its world-class long icefalls, the Setesdal Valley in southern Norway is also home to a superb selection of ice cragging venues, described here for the first time.
Other Guidebooks
Sport Climbing in England & Wales | NORTH
All of the best bolted climbing across Northern England and North Wales.
Sport Climbing in England & Wales | SOUTH
All of the best bolted climbing along the South coast and South Wales.
Dry Tooling Great Britain
The first ever guidebook to Britain's dedicated dry-tooling venues.
Ibiza Sport Climbs
A photo-topo guidebook to more than 630 bolted sport climbs on the Spanish island of Ibiza.
UK Mountain Pocket Guides
These unique pocket guides combine the joys of a coffee-table climbing book with the practicality of a modern guidebook. Each one describes a selection of the best and most historically significant mountaineering routes in the UK, including full historical information as well as ultra-detailed photo topos.
Mountain Rock
100 of the best mountaineering rock climbs across England, Wales and Scotland, from Moderate to VS.
Snow & Ice
100 of the best low-grade winter mountaineering routes in England, Wales and Scotland, including snow, ice and mixed climbs.
Other Literature
The Alps | A Natural Companion
A beautiful insight into the natural landscape of the Alps.
Written in straightforward language for those with little or no prior knowledge and illustrated by stunning photographs, maps and diagrams, this book reveals how different rocks were created and shaped into the present-day mountains by glaciers and other agents. It also explores the flowers and plant-life to be found throughout this popular mountain range.
The Coaching Bible
This book focuses on developing climbing technique through the use of games, exercises and drills. Whether you’re coaching a junior squad, running a youth session at a climbing wall, or simply looking to improve your own climbing, his extensive analysis of climbing techniques and associated drills with which to train them will provide a valuable resource, particularly for those working in the field of indoor climbing.
Of Mountains and Men
Of Mountains and Men is an epic quest started by chance in a small graveyard not far from the Matterhorn, in the Swiss town of Zermatt. Three young British students – William Bell, Ian McKean, and James Ogilvie, “friends from Oxford killed together while climbing the Matterhorn in 1948” – are buried there. Intrigued, the author decides to find out more about them, and soon what began merely as a whim becomes an extraordinary journey that takes the reader from the heart of the Alps to Oxford and the Scottish Highlands, via the sandy beaches of Mauritius and the snow-capped peaks of Bolivia and Kenya.
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