Climbing - England

John Dunne

John is an internationally renowned climber and mountaineer and has established many world class new routes over the last 40 years. Drawn to climbing at an early age John developed on the local gritstone outcrops of Yorkshire before going on to repeat many of the UK’s hardest trad and sport climbs in the mid to late eighties. In parallel to this John established an impressive list of first ascents across the disciplines of trad and sport climbing on the gritstone of Yorkshire and the Peak District, Lake District, Wales, Pembroke, Scotland and Ireland. John has climbed extensively around the world and is at home on an alpine peak or a sun-drenched sport cliff and also enjoys skiing and mountain biking.

Over the last 2 decades John established and sold a successful indoor climbing centre business and is now keen to spend more time climbing and exploring new locations and has several unclimbed lines still in his sights. John continues to work in the outdoor sector as a consultant and brand ambassador utilising his many years watching our sport flourish from a small niche activity to the global beast it is today.

FAVOURITE PRODUCT

Instinct VS-R

Versatile shoe for climbers seeking precision and sensitivity

"Climbing has become a lifelong passion giving me purpose. Along with visiting amazing places, meeting great people and above all else having fun"

John Dunne

Key first ascents

· 1987 – Magnetic Fields Malham – First 8b in the UK

· 1987 – New Statesman Ilkley – E9,6c – First E9 on gritstone

· 1988 – The Groove Malham – 8a + – Iconic first ascent

· 1989 – Parthian Shot Burbage – E9,6c – New level for gritstone climbing

· 1995 – Total Eclipse Malham – 9a – One of the first 9a climbs in the UK

· 1995 – Divided Years Ireland – E9,6c – First E9 in Ireland

· 1996 – Big Issue Pembroke – E9,6c – an ethical and historic new route

· 1998 – Widdop Wall – E9,7a – Outstanding gritstone climb

· 2026 – Still climbing well and keen as ever