Northern Poland is largely flat with stunning swathes of bright yellow rapeseed fields, huge expanses of forests and hundreds of lakes but no rock in sight. With there being no natural rock around, the resourceful Polish climbers have found an alternative: they’ve created boulder problems, often using additional concrete, in bombed out buildings and derelict forts. M.R.U in the Gorzow Wielkopolski area and Festung Posen in central Poznan are two such urban bouldering hubs, both with a slightly eery feel to them. Not comparable to bouldering to the sound of waterfalls and birdsong but a fascinating insight into the hardcore, gritty underground Polish bouldering world. Also a stark reminder of the country’s traumatic past.