Ken Wilson and Bernard Newman's legendary Extreme Rock returns for 2025

In 1974 Ken Wilson wrote his name into climbing folklore with the publication of Hard Rock – a collection of compelling essays by a world-class cast of climbers, featuring alongside stunning photographs of ascents and crags, that exemplified the best of British rock climbing. Hard Rock was followed, in 1978, by Classic Rock, and, in 1987, by Extreme Rock – both featuring cutting-edge twentieth century climbs and all three quickly achieving legendary status as some of the most popular works of climbing literature ever written. But Extreme Rock only ever comprised a short initial print run. When the original plates and artwork were lost in a fire, the book immediately became a collectors’ item, with elusive copies, that occasionally appeared for sale, commanding hundreds of pounds.

While Hard Rock and Classic Rock have been updated over the years with new routes and contributions, no attempt has been made to showcase Extreme Rock anew – until now.

Compiled by Grant Farquhar, the 2025 edition of Ken Wilson and Bernard Newman’s Extreme Rock blends new material with many of the original essays and photography, bridging the intervening decades during which the climbing world has undergone huge performance, technological and cultural change.

The 150-plus routes – selected from the E1 to E7 range – encompass timeless classics such as The Naked Ape on Creag an Dubh-loch and Stone on Sròn Uladail; Saxon on Scafell and Equus on Gimmer Crag. Original essays from Mick Fowler, Dave Cuthbertson and Andy Pollitt feature alongside new routes and pieces from Robbie Phillips, Katy Whittaker, James McHaffie and more, reflecting pioneering ascents of contemporary climbing history.

This is an unmissable opportunity to own Extreme Rock a second time around. Available exclusively from our website, on a first-come, first-served basis, 250 special edition copies of the book are now available to pre-order, priced £75. These will come in a premium black Wibalin presentation box with an art print of one of Bernard Newman's most iconic photographs – Steve Bancroft on Strapadictomy at Froggatt Edge.