Lake District Bouldering - The LakesBloc guidebook

Product Information

Swindale. This secluded valley on the eastern side of the Lake District provides excellent climbing at a variety of grades. It has the added advantage of usually being dry when the central Lakes areas are wet.

Silverdale. This area situated south of the Lake District national park receives much drier weather than the central Lakes area. Here there are some excellent limestone crags, particularly at Trowbarrow. Roadside cragging in the historic valley of Borrowdale offers some of the most accessible multi-pitch climbing in the Lakes and a grade spread to suit anyone. From the classic lines of Little Chamonix (VD) & Brown Slabs Direct (VD) to the mid range 3 star routes of Adam (VS 5a) & Eve (VS 4c), Shepherds Crag delivers for everyone in a social setting with great views over Derwentwater and the Northern Fells. There are certainly some great spots to be discovered for novelty afternoons - e.g. Cold Pike Bouldering - which is why everyone should buy the book. But I know I'll be driving away from the Lakes to climb on the grit and sandstone all winter! A fantastic link-up can be made from the lower of the three buttresses, Harrow Buttress at Diff, through to the midway buttress using the Slabs West route and finishing on the classic test piece of Dexter Wall. With very little walking between climbs, it’s hard to think of a finer link-up in the Lakes.Approach via Gategarth farm (parking charges apply) and make your way below Low Crag before climbing into the Combe. Once below Eagle Crag, strike right up the screes to the base of the crag. Approach time: 1hr 30mins.

What are the best spots for Trad, Lead & Sport climbing in the Lake District?There's something for every sort of climber at the Lake District due to the sheer choice of routes. Here's a few of our faves... Approach via Styhead Pass after parking at Wasdale Head. Follow Climber’s Traverse below the crags until you’re below Napes Needle, then ascend Needle Gully to reach the start of the climbs.wasd The area can be accessed by parking at Birk Bridge Car Park and continuing on foot across the bridge and on up the large bridleway. The first boulders start a mere 300m from the parking! DO NOT drive up the bridleway There’s always Shepherds.” This is the local climber’s saying that plays out each rainy day! Such is the popularity of Shepherds Crag that climbers can be found here throughout the year, even on the wettest of days.

You may also like

All these descriptions are brief guides only, and you should do your own in-depth research before attempting them. Remember that some may require long walks to reach the start point, so you will need hiking kit as well as climbing gear. 1. Napes Needle, Wasdale A Climbing session is a fantastic activity for families and groups providing a great way to challenge yourselves in a relaxed and safe environment. We will teach how to climb safely and teach you how to belay and lower someone down. All this is done on one of the many local crags. www.derwentwatermarina.co.uk

Staff and other visitors helped dismantle parts of the climbing wall to allow access to the caving tunnels. The best approach is to park at the head of Ennerdale at Bowness Knott then mountain bike the forests to below the crag before making your way through the woods and up the fell on foot. You can also approach on foot from Buttermere in approximately 2 hours. The south crag is often basked in sunlight and features a large variety of great routes across the grades. In particular, don’t miss Gangway Climb (HVD), via Media (S 4a) & Gazebo (HVS 5a). Bouldering in the UKBouldering is the act of climbing, typically up to 20ft without ropes but with big soft matts beneath. As the height of the climb is not high enough to cause injuries (assuming you fall correctly of course), it’s a great way to get into the sport without having to get used to the technicalities of using ropes, belay devices and the other equipment associated with other types of climbing. To get involved with bouldering, look up your local climbing wall and ensure they mention they have bouldering on offer. Most climbing walls do offer bouldering nowadays. Also, you can find outdoor places to go bouldering. If you’re doing this as a beginner, make sure to organise an instructor who can ensure you’ve got the right equipment (including a bouldering mat to fall on), and show you the best routes and techniques. Lake District Other searches LakesBloc have created this amazing map, which details most of the key bouldering areas in the Lake District. The stars are colour coded:Staff tried to help the man and followed all emergency procedures but it became apparent that outside assistance was needed. Established in 2003, LakesBloc.com was created with the sole aim of providing the very best online information relating to bouldering in the Lake District and its surrounding areas. Please give us a call here in the Lake District to talk through any objectives you may have or help when considering our courses so that we can help you plan your day or weekend course.

Whether you are a family group wanting a day out climbing, or if you want to try bolted sport climbing, The Lakes Mountaineer can help you get the experience you want. Learn to lead under the expert eye of a Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor, or move even further into the mountains to try multi-pitch classics across the Lake District. Find out more at www.TheLakesMountaineer.co.uk/climbingThe Bowderstone, situated in the Borrowdale Valley, is an iconic boulder that has become synonymous with Lake District bouldering. This massive 30-foot boulder sits in the heart of a picturesque woodland and offers a range of classic problems. The Bowderstone's impressive size and unique setting make it a popular and photogenic spot for climbers. The area is also perfect for more advanced climbers with routes reaching grades of f7C+, making it a perfect spot for a session with a large group of varying abilities. This large boulder is situated in the Coppermines Valley above Coniston and consists of several good smaller boulders scattered around the main boulder. There are 11 well documented routes in this area up to V1/f5 grades making it a perfect day out for beginner climbers to experience a real range of climbs. The Lake District is steeped in climbing history and is a fantastic place to explore combining valley and road side crags that are very accessible to high mountain crags and summits for more adventurous mountain days and alpine preparation weekends. Have a read, try them out and let us know how you got on. And don’t forget to share your snaps with us at @dyno.climbing