Northumbrian Climbing Guide

Grid Ref: NU089225 Aspect: W/E Routes: 28 Max Length: 27 Average Length: 11
Altitude: 177 mtrs Walk in: 30 mins Bike in: 15 mins Bike out: 15 mins Route quality: **

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	There are several ways into the gorge. From Old Bewick, follow the bridleway towards Blaewearie. Continue past the back of the ruin, past an old quarried area and as the path starts to swing back left, head for the gorge, the top of which can just be seen in the valley due east across the moor. Similarly follow the same bridleway from Quarryhouse in the north, to a point just after beyond the small burn. Follow the burn down to the gorge.

General:

A secluded Fell Sandstone gorge on the atmospheric Bewick Moor with the Harehope Burn flowing through it. At its north end, Dove Crag, the gorge has 3 worthwhile buttresses, with some bouldering potential at a long low cave. South of this the gorge opens out for a few hundred metres and then narrows again at Corbie Crags, where a 10 metre buttress rises out of the eastern side of the burn. Not all the lines are accessible if the burn is high so avoid the gorge after periods of heavy rain.

Rock:

Fell Sandstone Carboniferous, Dinantian
Good rock, but tends to get dirty.

Routes/Bouldering:

Routes:

There are many fine routes, most of which are harder than they look and on better rock than appearances might suggest. Access to some is dependant on the level of the burn.

Problems:

Nothing of note

Other interesting stuff:

Bewick moor is covered in historical remains. Opposite Corbie Crags is a fine hillort, whilst the mysterious Cateran Hole on the northern slopes of Cateran Hill is well worth the walk.

History:

The gorge has been "disovered" many times and some climbs done by Malcolm Lowerson and Andy Birtwistle. However, in the near perfect summer of 2003 Tim Catterall climbed and documented over 25 routes, unwittingly repeating some earlier ascents.


	Route list

New and unpubished
routes

History with
first ascent details