Difference between revisions of "Back Bowden Doors"

From Northumberland Climbing
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Tag: 2017 source edit
Tag: 2017 source edit
 
(18 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 7: Line 7:
 
| coordinates = {{coord|38|50|07|N|79|20|00|W|region:US-WV_type:landmark}}
 
| coordinates = {{coord|38|50|07|N|79|20|00|W|region:US-WV_type:landmark}}
 
| climbing_type = [[Traditional climbing|traditional]] [[cliff|crag]]
 
| climbing_type = [[Traditional climbing|traditional]] [[cliff|crag]]
| route height = 10m
 
 
| rock_type = [[Sandstone]]
 
| rock_type = [[Sandstone]]
 
| quantity = over 200 routes
 
| quantity = over 200 routes
Line 14: Line 13:
 
| classic_climbs = {{plainlist|
 
| classic_climbs = {{plainlist|
 
* County Ethics E7 7a
 
* County Ethics E7 7a
* Lost Cause E4 6b
 
* Lost Cause E4 6b
 
* Lost Cause E4 6b
 
 
* Lost Cause E4 6b
 
* Lost Cause E4 6b
 
}}
 
}}
 
| stars = 5
 
| stars = 5
}}
 
 
{{Graph:Chart
 
| width=550
 
| height=150
 
| type=line
 
| legend=Grades
 
| x=Diff,VDiff,HVD,Sev,HS,VS,HVS,E1,E2,E3,E4,E5,E6,E7,E8,E9
 
| y1=2,7,1,2,4,2,5,4,18,5,12,6,10,9,5,4,1
 
 
}}
 
}}
  
Line 34: Line 21:
  
 
Altitude: 170 mtrs   Walk in: 15 mins   Route quality: ***   Bouldering quality: ***
 
Altitude: 170 mtrs   Walk in: 15 mins   Route quality: ***   Bouldering quality: ***
 
+
{{Graph:Chart
 
+
| width=450
{{#evu:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-SRLmDcUJg|1000|right|Robbie Phillips highballing in Northumberland|frame}}
+
| height=200
 +
| type=rect
 +
| x=Diff,VDiff,HVD,Sev,HS,VS,HVS,E1,E2,E3,E4,E5+
 +
| y1=2,7,1,2,4,2,5,4,18,5,12,29
 +
| alignment=right
 +
}}
  
 
From Belford take the B6349 Wooler Road. Continue for 5 kilometres, turn right at the Hazelrigg sign and follow this for 1 kilometre to the brow of the hill and a large steel gate on the right. Pass through the gate and continue left to another gate. Follow the track and the main crag soon comes into view. This track can be very damp and muddy and approach footwear is recommended. There is no public right of way.
 
From Belford take the B6349 Wooler Road. Continue for 5 kilometres, turn right at the Hazelrigg sign and follow this for 1 kilometre to the brow of the hill and a large steel gate on the right. Pass through the gate and continue left to another gate. Follow the track and the main crag soon comes into view. This track can be very damp and muddy and approach footwear is recommended. There is no public right of way.
  
General:
+
== General: ==
 
+
Shown as Dancing Green Hill on the map, Back Bowden Doors lies approximately 5 kilometres west of Belford in an unusually sheltered position looking west across a shallow valley. The rock is Fell Sandstone of the same good quality as that found at Bowden Doors. The crag tends to dry very quickly with the exception of the North wall, which needs a number of days to fully dry after heavy rain. Routes on this wall can suffer from holds snapping, particularly after a damp spell and excessive use of the routes should be avoided at this time in order to prevent damage. This crag offers a fantastic selection of some of the best extremes in the area, with a superb contrast of climbs, including bold technical walls, intricate smearing tests and the legendary North wall, the crucible of steep and powerful climbs . Unusually many of the harder lines offer reasonable protection. While containing many routes in the upper extremes , plenty of routes exist in the easier grades.{{#evu:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-SRLmDcUJg|500|right|Robbie Phillips highballing in Northumberland|frame}}
Shown as Dancing Green Hill on the map, Back Bowden Doors lies approximately 5 kilometres west of Belford in an unusually sheltered position looking west across a shallow valley. The rock is Fell Sandstone of the same good quality as that found at Bowden Doors. The crag tends to dry very quickly with the exception of the North wall, which needs a number of days to fully dry after heavy rain. Routes on this wall can suffer from holds snapping, particularly after a damp spell and excessive use of the routes should be avoided at this time in order to prevent damage. This crag offers a fantastic selection of some of the best extremes in the area, with a superb contrast of climbs, including bold technical walls, intricate smearing tests and the legendary North wall, the crucible of steep and powerful climbs . Unusually many of the harder lines offer reasonable protection. While containing many routes in the upper extremes , plenty of routes exist in the easier grades.
 
 
 
Rock:  
 
  
 +
== Rock:   ==
 
Fell Sandstone Carboniferous, Dinantian
 
Fell Sandstone Carboniferous, Dinantian
  
 
Excellent
 
Excellent
  
Access issues:
+
== Access issues: ==
 
 
 
There have been issues with people obstructing the gate. Don't. Only part of teh crag is on open access land.
 
There have been issues with people obstructing the gate. Don't. Only part of teh crag is on open access land.
  
Routes/Bouldering:  
+
== Routes/Bouldering:   ==
 
 
 
Routes:
 
Routes:
  
Line 68: Line 56:
 
There are some good plant fossils on the ledge at the top of Hazelrigg Wall area.
 
There are some good plant fossils on the ledge at the top of Hazelrigg Wall area.
  
History:
+
== History: ==
 
 
 
Back Bowden Doors has a fairly early history with climbing first recorded in the 1935 Oxford and Cambridge Mountaineering Journals under its local name of Lion Rock. It mentions routes which sound suspiciously like those on the south end of the crag. Unfortunately the routes ascended up to 1965 are without documentation. In 1965 Rodney Wilson climbed the brilliant Arches, a soaring diagonal traverse on the north crag. 1968 saw Allan Austin and Dave Roberts climbing the ferocious Sorcerer which still demands respect today. Also around this time Ken Wood climbed The Sorcerer's Apprentice. In 1973 Hugh Banner, doing what he does best, jammed over Roof Route. 1974 saw the first ascent of the Central Wall on the north crag with The Witch by Malcolm Rowe and Nev Hannaby. In 1975 Bob Hutchinson and John Earl produced two bold companion routes for The Witch, The Enchanter led by Hutchinson and the Broomstick by Earl. 1976 saw four more routes climbed, Magic Flute and Glass Slipper by Hannaby and Rowe, and the bold On The Verge by Earl and Hutchinson. Later in that year Hutchinson climbed Black Magic. In 1977 Earl and Hutchinson came across The Duke of York. The following year produced a spate of fine hard routes with Earl and Hutchinson (again) climbing Broken Glass and The Wand. The same team, this time led by Hutchinson, climbed the brilliant Tube and Hard Reign. Unfortunately this was to be Bob Hutchinson's last route on the crag. Also in 1978 Steve Blake and Jeff Lamb came under The Spell. 1979 saw Tommy Smith going head over heels with the very impressive Lost Cause and Dwarfs Nightmare with brother Bob. Meanwhile Paul Stewart along with Earl stretched it out on the intimidating Outward Bound. 1981 was to see the first breach of the impressive overhanging North Wall with Merlin by Bob Smith and Earl. Later in the year Earl and Bob Smith collected Pyewackit and Shackletack with Ian Kyle. In 1982 the second route on the North Wall fell again to Bob Smith and Earl with the bold and technical Macbeth. On a summer's evening in 1985 Smith and Earl extended The Tube with Uncouth Youth and Smith stretched it even further with the relentless but well protected Right of Reply. The following year Bob Smith was at the North Wall again this time with brother Tommy producing Morgan. 1987 proved to be a popular year for bold technical routes starting with Bob Smith's ascent of the much sought after On The Rocks while Tony Courts smeared his way up Peak Technique in slippers. Karl and Graham Telfer woke up with Charlotte's Dream and the bulging When The Wind Blows. Leading up to the publication of the 89 guide, activity was rounded off with Bob Smith and Earl climbing the very sustained Mordreth also on the North Wall. Cutting edge development continued on the impressive North wall in the early nineties with a Scottish raid from Dave Cuthbertson adding the desperate County Ethics. In 91 Dave Pegg brought his new routing eye and not inconsiderable fitness to claim the very bold Pixies and the powerful but safe King Lear. Whilst working at Proctor and Gamble, Pegg added his last new route to the crag in the form of the very short and very hard Big Aerial Dynamite. 1994 brought two big routes with big numbers. I bet he drinks Carling Black Label added the longest and hardest route on the North wall to date, whilst Malcolm Smith picked of one of the Counties last great lines with the fantastic Transcendence. 1995 saw the addition of yet another fine bold climb on the Tube wall with Nick Dixon going Off the Rocks. Due to the bouldering trend, recent years have seen little activity in terms of new routes or significant repeats. It is hoped that the trend will reverse and that the routes on this crag, which offer one of the finest collection of outcrop extremes in the country will be enjoyed in the future. To this end, descriptions and accurate grading for on sight attempts have been carefully examined to encourage activity on the extremes.
 
Back Bowden Doors has a fairly early history with climbing first recorded in the 1935 Oxford and Cambridge Mountaineering Journals under its local name of Lion Rock. It mentions routes which sound suspiciously like those on the south end of the crag. Unfortunately the routes ascended up to 1965 are without documentation. In 1965 Rodney Wilson climbed the brilliant Arches, a soaring diagonal traverse on the north crag. 1968 saw Allan Austin and Dave Roberts climbing the ferocious Sorcerer which still demands respect today. Also around this time Ken Wood climbed The Sorcerer's Apprentice. In 1973 Hugh Banner, doing what he does best, jammed over Roof Route. 1974 saw the first ascent of the Central Wall on the north crag with The Witch by Malcolm Rowe and Nev Hannaby. In 1975 Bob Hutchinson and John Earl produced two bold companion routes for The Witch, The Enchanter led by Hutchinson and the Broomstick by Earl. 1976 saw four more routes climbed, Magic Flute and Glass Slipper by Hannaby and Rowe, and the bold On The Verge by Earl and Hutchinson. Later in that year Hutchinson climbed Black Magic. In 1977 Earl and Hutchinson came across The Duke of York. The following year produced a spate of fine hard routes with Earl and Hutchinson (again) climbing Broken Glass and The Wand. The same team, this time led by Hutchinson, climbed the brilliant Tube and Hard Reign. Unfortunately this was to be Bob Hutchinson's last route on the crag. Also in 1978 Steve Blake and Jeff Lamb came under The Spell. 1979 saw Tommy Smith going head over heels with the very impressive Lost Cause and Dwarfs Nightmare with brother Bob. Meanwhile Paul Stewart along with Earl stretched it out on the intimidating Outward Bound. 1981 was to see the first breach of the impressive overhanging North Wall with Merlin by Bob Smith and Earl. Later in the year Earl and Bob Smith collected Pyewackit and Shackletack with Ian Kyle. In 1982 the second route on the North Wall fell again to Bob Smith and Earl with the bold and technical Macbeth. On a summer's evening in 1985 Smith and Earl extended The Tube with Uncouth Youth and Smith stretched it even further with the relentless but well protected Right of Reply. The following year Bob Smith was at the North Wall again this time with brother Tommy producing Morgan. 1987 proved to be a popular year for bold technical routes starting with Bob Smith's ascent of the much sought after On The Rocks while Tony Courts smeared his way up Peak Technique in slippers. Karl and Graham Telfer woke up with Charlotte's Dream and the bulging When The Wind Blows. Leading up to the publication of the 89 guide, activity was rounded off with Bob Smith and Earl climbing the very sustained Mordreth also on the North Wall. Cutting edge development continued on the impressive North wall in the early nineties with a Scottish raid from Dave Cuthbertson adding the desperate County Ethics. In 91 Dave Pegg brought his new routing eye and not inconsiderable fitness to claim the very bold Pixies and the powerful but safe King Lear. Whilst working at Proctor and Gamble, Pegg added his last new route to the crag in the form of the very short and very hard Big Aerial Dynamite. 1994 brought two big routes with big numbers. I bet he drinks Carling Black Label added the longest and hardest route on the North wall to date, whilst Malcolm Smith picked of one of the Counties last great lines with the fantastic Transcendence. 1995 saw the addition of yet another fine bold climb on the Tube wall with Nick Dixon going Off the Rocks. Due to the bouldering trend, recent years have seen little activity in terms of new routes or significant repeats. It is hoped that the trend will reverse and that the routes on this crag, which offer one of the finest collection of outcrop extremes in the country will be enjoyed in the future. To this end, descriptions and accurate grading for on sight attempts have been carefully examined to encourage activity on the extremes.
  
Line 76: Line 63:
 
! colspan="1" rowspan="1" |Grade
 
! colspan="1" rowspan="1" |Grade
 
! colspan="1" rowspan="1" |Stars
 
! colspan="1" rowspan="1" |Stars
! colspan="1" rowspan="1" |Type
 
! colspan="1" rowspan="1" |Logs
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Diagonal
 
|Diagonal
 
|VD
 
|VD
 
| -
 
| -
|T
 
|27
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|The Toppler
 
|The Toppler
 
|HVS 5b
 
|HVS 5b
 
| -
 
| -
|T
 
|18
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Lichen Groove
 
|Lichen Groove
 
|D
 
|D
 
| -
 
| -
|T
 
|18
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|The Tippler
 
|The Tippler
 
|HVS 5b
 
|HVS 5b
 
| -
 
| -
|T
 
|25
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Tippler Traverse
 
|Tippler Traverse
 
|f6C
 
|f6C
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|5
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Pedestal Problem
 
|Pedestal Problem
 
|f6B+
 
|f6B+
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|7
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|The Bogie
 
|The Bogie
 
|S 4a
 
|S 4a
 
| -
 
| -
|T
 
|22
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Quarry Face
 
|Quarry Face
 
|S 4a
 
|S 4a
 
|1
 
|1
|T
 
|82
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Glass Slipper
 
|Glass Slipper
 
|VS 5a
 
|VS 5a
 
| -
 
| -
|T
 
|50
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Broken Glass
 
|Broken Glass
 
|E2 6a
 
|E2 6a
 
| -
 
| -
|T
 
|9
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Twisting Crack
 
|Twisting Crack
 
|HS 4c
 
|HS 4c
 
| -
 
| -
|T
 
|18
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Route One
 
|Route One
 
|f6A
 
|f6A
 
|2
 
|2
|B
 
|1
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|First Traverse
 
|First Traverse
 
|f5
 
|f5
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|1
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Black Triage
 
|Black Triage
 
|f8A
 
|f8A
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|0
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|County Ethics
 
|County Ethics
 
|E7 7a
 
|E7 7a
 
|3
 
|3
|T
 
|12
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Merlin Traverse
 
|Merlin Traverse
 
|f6A
 
|f6A
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|22
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Merlin
 
|Merlin
 
|E5 6a
 
|E5 6a
 
|3
 
|3
|T
 
|14
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Hard and Low Traverse
 
|Hard and Low Traverse
 
|f7C
 
|f7C
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|1
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Darth
 
|Darth
 
|f6C
 
|f6C
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|78
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|The Pixies
 
|The Pixies
 
|E6 6b
 
|E6 6b
 
|1
 
|1
|T
 
|0
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Little Pixies
 
|Little Pixies
 
|f7A
 
|f7A
 
|1
 
|1
|B
 
|163
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Little Piggies
 
|Little Piggies
 
|f7C
 
|f7C
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|4
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|The Emperor
 
|The Emperor
 
|f7B
 
|f7B
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|9
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Emperor RH
 
|Emperor RH
 
|f7A+
 
|f7A+
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|4
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Morgan
 
|Morgan
 
|E5 6a
 
|E5 6a
|1
 
|T
 
 
|1
 
|1
 
|-
 
|-
Line 232: Line 167:
 
|f6B
 
|f6B
 
|1
 
|1
|B
 
|133
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Lady MacBeth
 
|Lady MacBeth
 
|f6B
 
|f6B
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|4
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|I Bet He Drinks Carling Black Label
 
|I Bet He Drinks Carling Black Label
 
|E8 6c
 
|E8 6c
 
|2
 
|2
|T
 
|1
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|MacBeth Low Level Traverse
 
|MacBeth Low Level Traverse
 
|f6C
 
|f6C
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|19
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Black Mirror
 
|Black Mirror
 
|E7 6c
 
|E7 6c
 
| -
 
| -
|T
 
|0
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|The Dark Side
 
|The Dark Side
 
|E9 7b
 
|E9 7b
|3
 
|T
 
 
|3
 
|3
 
|-
 
|-
Line 268: Line 191:
 
|f8A+
 
|f8A+
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|0
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Mordreth
 
|Mordreth
 
|E6 6b
 
|E6 6b
 
|2
 
|2
|T
 
|0
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Macbeth
 
|Macbeth
 
|E6 6b
 
|E6 6b
 
|3
 
|3
|T
 
|2
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Paradise Road
 
|Paradise Road
 
|f7A
 
|f7A
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|3
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|MacDuff
 
|MacDuff
 
|f7B
 
|f7B
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|2
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Easy Up
 
|Easy Up
 
|f6B+
 
|f6B+
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|29
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Sigurd
 
|Sigurd
 
|E6 6c
 
|E6 6c
 
|2
 
|2
|T
 
|1
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|The Arches
 
|The Arches
 
|E1 5b
 
|E1 5b
 
|3
 
|3
|T
 
|283
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|The Arches (start only)
 
|The Arches (start only)
 
|f6A
 
|f6A
 
|1
 
|1
|B
 
|12
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Low and Hard
 
|Low and Hard
 
|f7B
 
|f7B
 
|1
 
|1
|B
 
|189
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Lower And Harder
 
|Lower And Harder
 
|f7C
 
|f7C
 
|2
 
|2
|B
 
|6
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Roof and Wall
 
|Roof and Wall
 
|f7A+
 
|f7A+
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|3
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Cauldron
 
|Cauldron
 
|E1 5c
 
|E1 5c
 
| -
 
| -
|T
 
|4
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|King Lear
 
|King Lear
 
|E6 6c
 
|E6 6c
 
|1
 
|1
|T
 
|0
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Hard Reign
 
|Hard Reign
 
|E3 5c
 
|E3 5c
 
|2
 
|2
|T
 
|19
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Hard Reign Direct
 
|Hard Reign Direct
 
|f7B
 
|f7B
 
|1
 
|1
|B
 
|73
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Hard Reign (start only)
 
|Hard Reign (start only)
 
|f6A
 
|f6A
 
|2
 
|2
|B
 
|85
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Underneath the Arches
 
|Underneath the Arches
 
|f6A
 
|f6A
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|17
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Blood Gutters
 
|Blood Gutters
 
|E5 6b
 
|E5 6b
 
|2
 
|2
|T
 
|1
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Weird Sisters One
 
|Weird Sisters One
 
|f7A
 
|f7A
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|57
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Weird Sisters Two
 
|Weird Sisters Two
 
|f7A
 
|f7A
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|81
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Weird Sisters Three
 
|Weird Sisters Three
 
|f6C+
 
|f6C+
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|18
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Holly Tree Corner
 
|Holly Tree Corner
 
|S 4b
 
|S 4b
 
|1
 
|1
|T
 
|64
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Hollybush Crack
 
|Hollybush Crack
 
|MS 4a
 
|MS 4a
 
| -
 
| -
|T
 
|17
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|The Big Sister
 
|The Big Sister
 
|f8A+
 
|f8A+
 
|3
 
|3
|B
 
|0
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Pyewackit
 
|Pyewackit
 
|E4 6a
 
|E4 6a
 
| -
 
| -
|T
 
|9
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|The Witch
 
|The Witch
 
|E2 5b
 
|E2 5b
 
|3
 
|3
|T
 
|242
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Shackletack
 
|Shackletack
 
|E3 6b
 
|E3 6b
 
|1
 
|1
|T
 
|4
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|The Wand
 
|The Wand
 
|E3 5b
 
|E3 5b
 
|1
 
|1
|T
 
|27
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|The Broomstick
 
|The Broomstick
 
|E3 5b
 
|E3 5b
 
|1
 
|1
|T
 
|18
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|The Enchanter
 
|The Enchanter
 
|E3 5c
 
|E3 5c
 
|2
 
|2
|T
 
|49
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Low Level Traverse
 
|Low Level Traverse
 
|f5+
 
|f5+
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|36
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Bottle Arete SS
 
|Bottle Arete SS
 
|f5+
 
|f5+
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|17
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Strange Brew
 
|Strange Brew
 
|E3 5b
 
|E3 5b
 
| -
 
| -
|T
 
|5
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Bottle Crack
 
|Bottle Crack
 
|VS 5a
 
|VS 5a
 
|2
 
|2
|T
 
|179
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|The Young Warlords
 
|The Young Warlords
 
|f6C
 
|f6C
 
|3
 
|3
|B
 
|35
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|The Wizard
 
|The Wizard
 
|E3 5c
 
|E3 5c
 
|1
 
|1
|T
 
|29
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|The Wizard (start only)
 
|The Wizard (start only)
 
|f5+
 
|f5+
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|123
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Black Magic
 
|Black Magic
 
|E1 5c
 
|E1 5c
 
|1
 
|1
|T
 
|15
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Harry Potter
 
|Harry Potter
 
|f7C
 
|f7C
 
|2
 
|2
|B
 
|21
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Dead Severus
 
|Dead Severus
 
|f7C
 
|f7C
|3
 
|B
 
 
|3
 
|3
 
|-
 
|-
Line 514: Line 355:
 
|f7B+
 
|f7B+
 
|1
 
|1
|B
 
|96
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Movin' On Up
 
|Movin' On Up
 
|f6C
 
|f6C
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|14
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Merlins Pubes
 
|Merlins Pubes
 
|f6B
 
|f6B
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|3
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Merlin's Beard
 
|Merlin's Beard
 
|f6C+
 
|f6C+
|2
 
|B
 
 
|2
 
|2
 
|-
 
|-
Line 538: Line 371:
 
|f7C
 
|f7C
 
|3
 
|3
|B
 
|18
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Intermediate Traverse
 
|Intermediate Traverse
 
|f6C+
 
|f6C+
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|9
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|The Vole Left Hand
 
|The Vole Left Hand
 
|f6A
 
|f6A
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|40
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|The Vole Left Hand SS
 
|The Vole Left Hand SS
 
|f6C
 
|f6C
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|81
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|The Vole
 
|The Vole
 
|E1 5c
 
|E1 5c
 
| -
 
| -
|T
 
|15
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|The Vole, Alternative Finish
 
|The Vole, Alternative Finish
 
|E1 5c
 
|E1 5c
 
|1
 
|1
|T
 
|4
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|The Vole Right Hand
 
|The Vole Right Hand
 
|f6A
 
|f6A
 
|2
 
|2
|B
 
|118
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|The Vole Right Hand SS
 
|The Vole Right Hand SS
 
|f7B+
 
|f7B+
 
|2
 
|2
|B
 
|16
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Solastalgia
 
|Solastalgia
 
|f7C+
 
|f7C+
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|1
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Sorcerer's Apprentice
 
|Sorcerer's Apprentice
 
|E1 5c
 
|E1 5c
 
|1
 
|1
|T
 
|46
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Sorcerer's Apprentice (start only)
 
|Sorcerer's Apprentice (start only)
 
|f5+
 
|f5+
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|67
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Sorcerer's Apprentice SS
 
|Sorcerer's Apprentice SS
 
|f7A
 
|f7A
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|20
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|The Sorcerer (full route)
 
|The Sorcerer (full route)
 
|E1 5c
 
|E1 5c
 
|3
 
|3
|T
 
|215
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|The Sorcerer
 
|The Sorcerer
 
|E1 5c
 
|E1 5c
 
|3
 
|3
|T
 
|147
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|The Sorcerer SS
 
|The Sorcerer SS
 
|f6C
 
|f6C
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|49
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Pockets Extension
 
|Pockets Extension
 
|f7C+
 
|f7C+
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|0
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Under the Spell
 
|Under the Spell
 
|f7A
 
|f7A
 
|2
 
|2
|B
 
|145
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|The Charm
 
|The Charm
 
|E1 5c
 
|E1 5c
 
|1
 
|1
|T
 
|22
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|The Spell
 
|The Spell
 
|E1 5c
 
|E1 5c
 
|1
 
|1
|T
 
|88
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Straight Crack
 
|Straight Crack
 
|HS 4b
 
|HS 4b
 
|2
 
|2
|T
 
|203
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Solastalgia ss
 
|Solastalgia ss
 
|f8A+
 
|f8A+
 
|1
 
|1
|B
 
|0
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Dead Sirius
 
|Dead Sirius
 
|f8A
 
|f8A
 
|1
 
|1
|B
 
|0
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Straight Crack, Alternative Finish
 
|Straight Crack, Alternative Finish
 
|E1 5b
 
|E1 5b
 
| -
 
| -
|T
 
|3
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Magic Circle
 
|Magic Circle
 
|HVS 5a
 
|HVS 5a
 
| -
 
| -
|T
 
|6
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Golden Stairs, Direct Start
 
|Golden Stairs, Direct Start
 
|S 4c
 
|S 4c
 
| -
 
| -
|T
 
|76
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Golden Stairs
 
|Golden Stairs
 
|VD
 
|VD
 
| -
 
| -
|T
 
|120
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Magic Flute
 
|Magic Flute
 
|E1 5b
 
|E1 5b
 
|2
 
|2
|T
 
|231
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Boulder Lands
 
|Boulder Lands
 
|E5 6b
 
|E5 6b
 
|1
 
|1
|T
 
|2
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Dead on Arrival
 
|Dead on Arrival
 
|E6 6a
 
|E6 6a
 
|1
 
|1
|T
 
|0
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Short Wall
 
|Short Wall
 
|f6A+
 
|f6A+
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|77
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Pick Pocket
 
|Pick Pocket
 
|f6B+
 
|f6B+
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|10
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Savage Slab
 
|Savage Slab
 
|E7 6c
 
|E7 6c
|1
 
|T
 
 
|1
 
|1
 
|-
 
|-
Line 730: Line 499:
 
|f6A+
 
|f6A+
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|123
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|The Grim Creeper
 
|The Grim Creeper
 
|f8A
 
|f8A
 
|1
 
|1
|B
 
|0
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Bubbles
 
|Bubbles
 
|f6C
 
|f6C
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|21
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Larn Streng
 
|Larn Streng
 
|f7B+
 
|f7B+
 
|3
 
|3
|B
 
|6
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Thundering Apoplexy
 
|Thundering Apoplexy
 
|f7B
 
|f7B
 
|2
 
|2
|B
 
|92
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Peak Technique
 
|Peak Technique
 
|E6 6b
 
|E6 6b
 
|3
 
|3
|T
 
|16
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|On the Verge
 
|On the Verge
 
|E4 5c
 
|E4 5c
 
|2
 
|2
|T
 
|68
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Woodcutters Crack
 
|Woodcutters Crack
 
|HVD
 
|HVD
 
|1
 
|1
|T
 
|117
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Wood Splitter
 
|Wood Splitter
 
|VD
 
|VD
 
| -
 
| -
|T
 
|11
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Forester's Corner
 
|Forester's Corner
 
|D
 
|D
 
|1
 
|1
|T
 
|85
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|The Tube, Left-hand Exit
 
|The Tube, Left-hand Exit
 
|E3 5b
 
|E3 5b
 
| -
 
| -
|T
 
|14
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|The Tube, Direct Finish
 
|The Tube, Direct Finish
 
|E5 5c
 
|E5 5c
 
| -
 
| -
|T
 
|8
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|The Tube
 
|The Tube
 
|E4 5c
 
|E4 5c
 
|3
 
|3
|T
 
|116
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Uncouth Youth
 
|Uncouth Youth
 
|E4 6a
 
|E4 6a
 
|1
 
|1
|T
 
|5
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Right of Reply
 
|Right of Reply
 
|E5 6b
 
|E5 6b
|3
 
|T
 
 
|3
 
|3
 
|-
 
|-
Line 820: Line 559:
 
|E7 6b
 
|E7 6b
 
|2
 
|2
|T
 
|5
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Charlotte's Dream
 
|Charlotte's Dream
 
|E5 6b
 
|E5 6b
 
|1
 
|1
|T
 
|4
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|On the Rocks
 
|On the Rocks
 
|E7 6c
 
|E7 6c
 
|3
 
|3
|T
 
|18
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Off the Rocks
 
|Off the Rocks
 
|E8 6c
 
|E8 6c
 
|1
 
|1
|T
 
|3
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Duke of York
 
|Duke of York
 
|E1 5b
 
|E1 5b
 
|2
 
|2
|T
 
|111
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Transcendence
 
|Transcendence
 
|E8 6c
 
|E8 6c
 
|3
 
|3
|T
 
|1
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Leap of Faith
 
|Leap of Faith
 
|E6 6c
 
|E6 6c
|1
 
|T
 
 
|1
 
|1
 
|-
 
|-
Line 862: Line 587:
 
|E4 6b
 
|E4 6b
 
|2
 
|2
|T
 
|71
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Angle Corner
 
|Angle Corner
 
|VD
 
|VD
 
| -
 
| -
|T
 
|61
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Angle Corner, Alternate Finish
 
|Angle Corner, Alternate Finish
 
|E3 6b
 
|E3 6b
 
| -
 
| -
|T
 
|2
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Back to Back
 
|Back to Back
 
|E5 6b
 
|E5 6b
 
| -
 
| -
|T
 
|1
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Gangway
 
|Gangway
 
|VS 4c
 
|VS 4c
 
|1
 
|1
|T
 
|29
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Holly Tree Corner (Alt Finish)
 
|Holly Tree Corner (Alt Finish)
 
|MS 4b
 
|MS 4b
 
|1
 
|1
|T
 
|3
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Purgatory
 
|Purgatory
 
|E8 7b
 
|E8 7b
 
|3
 
|3
|T
 
|1
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Scabby Hand
 
|Scabby Hand
 
|E4 5c
 
|E4 5c
 
| -
 
| -
|T
 
|1
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|When the Wind Blows
 
|When the Wind Blows
 
|E6 6b
 
|E6 6b
 
|1
 
|1
|T
 
|3
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Peace at Last
 
|Peace at Last
 
|E5 6a
 
|E5 6a
 
| -
 
| -
|T
 
|0
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Outward Bound
 
|Outward Bound
 
|E3 5c
 
|E3 5c
 
|2
 
|2
|T
 
|64
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|March Line
 
|March Line
 
|VD
 
|VD
 
|2
 
|2
|T
 
|87
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Wall and Crack
 
|Wall and Crack
 
|S 4b
 
|S 4b
 
|1
 
|1
|T
 
|192
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Roof Route, Direct Finish
 
|Roof Route, Direct Finish
 
|E2 5c
 
|E2 5c
 
| -
 
| -
|T
 
|2
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Roof Route
 
|Roof Route
 
|E1 5b
 
|E1 5b
 
|3
 
|3
|T
 
|57
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Roof Route Traverse
 
|Roof Route Traverse
 
|f6B+
 
|f6B+
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|3
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|The Dead Horses Tea Party
 
|The Dead Horses Tea Party
 
|f6C+
 
|f6C+
 
|2
 
|2
|B
 
|15
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Door Mats Wall
 
|Door Mats Wall
 
|f7C
 
|f7C
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|2
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Door Mats Wall SS
 
|Door Mats Wall SS
 
|f8A
 
|f8A
 
|1
 
|1
|B
 
|0
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Four Mats Wall
 
|Four Mats Wall
 
|f7B+
 
|f7B+
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|31
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Four Mats Wall SS
 
|Four Mats Wall SS
 
|f7B+
 
|f7B+
 
|1
 
|1
|B
 
|4
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Stepped Flake
 
|Stepped Flake
 
|f3
 
|f3
 
|1
 
|1
|B
 
|79
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Smooth Wall
 
|Smooth Wall
 
|f7A
 
|f7A
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|1
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Hazelrigg Wall Left-Hand
 
|Hazelrigg Wall Left-Hand
 
|E3 6b
 
|E3 6b
 
|1
 
|1
|T
 
|2
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Hazelrigg Wall
 
|Hazelrigg Wall
 
|E1 5c
 
|E1 5c
 
|1
 
|1
|T
 
|235
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Hazelrigg Wall Direct
 
|Hazelrigg Wall Direct
 
|f6A
 
|f6A
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|93
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Pinup
 
|Pinup
 
|E2 6a
 
|E2 6a
 
| -
 
| -
|T
 
|122
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Risk and Hope
 
|Risk and Hope
 
|E1 6a
 
|E1 6a
 
| -
 
| -
|T
 
|50
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Hazelrigg Wall Traverse
 
|Hazelrigg Wall Traverse
 
|f7B
 
|f7B
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|3
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Original Route
 
|Original Route
 
|VD
 
|VD
 
|1
 
|1
|T
 
|205
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Original Wall Traverse
 
|Original Wall Traverse
 
|f5 4b
 
|f5 4b
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|7
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Highland Fling
 
|Highland Fling
 
|E1 5c
 
|E1 5c
 
| -
 
| -
|T
 
|11
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Final Wall
 
|Final Wall
 
|VD
 
|VD
 
|2
 
|2
|T
 
|92
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Bullet
 
|Bullet
 
|E1 5c
 
|E1 5c
 
| -
 
| -
|T
 
|4
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Four Mats RH
 
|Four Mats RH
 
|f7A
 
|f7A
 
|2
 
|2
|B
 
|5
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Tree-way
 
|Tree-way
 
|V7
 
|V7
 
|2
 
|2
|B
 
|1
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Chiroptera
 
|Chiroptera
 
|f6A
 
|f6A
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|11
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Big Aerial Dynamite
 
|Big Aerial Dynamite
 
|E5 7a
 
|E5 7a
 
|1
 
|1
|T
 
|0
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Dwarfs Nightmare
 
|Dwarfs Nightmare
 
|E2 6b
 
|E2 6b
 
|1
 
|1
|T
 
|4
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Vespertilion
 
|Vespertilion
 
|f7B+
 
|f7B+
 
|3
 
|3
|B
 
|0
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Barbastelle
 
|Barbastelle
 
|f7A
 
|f7A
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|60
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Brokeback Bowden
 
|Brokeback Bowden
 
|f7C
 
|f7C
 
|2
 
|2
|B
 
|1
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Bechstein
 
|Bechstein
 
|f6C
 
|f6C
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|53
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Brandt
 
|Brandt
 
|f6B+
 
|f6B+
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|37
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Serotine
 
|Serotine
 
|f6A+
 
|f6A+
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|77
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Pippistrellotine
 
|Pippistrellotine
 
|f6B+
 
|f6B+
 
|1
 
|1
|B
 
|4
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Pipistrelle
 
|Pipistrelle
 
|f6B+
 
|f6B+
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|38
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|A Short Sharp Shock
 
|A Short Sharp Shock
 
|E3 6a
 
|E3 6a
 
| -
 
| -
|T
 
|1
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Griffon
 
|Griffon
 
|HVS 5b
 
|HVS 5b
 
| -
 
| -
|T
 
|12
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Rays Roof
 
|Rays Roof
 
|VS 4c
 
|VS 4c
 
| -
 
| -
|T
 
|20
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Footless Fulmar
 
|Footless Fulmar
 
|VS 4c
 
|VS 4c
 
|1
 
|1
|T
 
|11
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Ra's al Ghul
 
|Ra's al Ghul
 
|f7C
 
|f7C
|1
 
|B
 
 
|1
 
|1
 
|-
 
|-
Line 1,174: Line 795:
 
|f6A+
 
|f6A+
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|53
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Sharp Arete SS
 
|Sharp Arete SS
 
|f6C
 
|f6C
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|56
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|The Bitch
 
|The Bitch
 
|f8A+
 
|f8A+
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|2
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Potty Mouth
 
|Potty Mouth
 
|f8B
 
|f8B
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|0
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Undercut Arete
 
|Undercut Arete
 
|f5+
 
|f5+
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|22
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Little Arete
 
|Little Arete
 
|f6A+
 
|f6A+
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|42
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Crimp Slab Eliminate
 
|Crimp Slab Eliminate
 
|f6B+
 
|f6B+
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|12
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Crimp Slab
 
|Crimp Slab
 
|f6B
 
|f6B
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|78
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Warm Up Arete
 
|Warm Up Arete
 
|f3
 
|f3
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|151
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|South Wall
 
|South Wall
 
|f6A+
 
|f6A+
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|126
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|The Stud
 
|The Stud
 
|f7C+
 
|f7C+
 
|2
 
|2
|B
 
|1
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Mini mouth
 
|Mini mouth
 
|f7A
 
|f7A
 
|1
 
|1
|B
 
|0
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Mantel Miser
 
|Mantel Miser
 
|f6A+
 
|f6A+
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|78
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Mantel Misery
 
|Mantel Misery
 
|f6A
 
|f6A
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|67
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Mantel Underclass
 
|Mantel Underclass
 
|f6B
 
|f6B
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|19
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Mantel Masterclass
 
|Mantel Masterclass
 
|f6C
 
|f6C
 
|2
 
|2
|B
 
|118
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Ripples
 
|Ripples
 
|f4
 
|f4
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|67
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|The Runnel
 
|The Runnel
 
|f4
 
|f4
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|121
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Slab Eliminate
 
|Slab Eliminate
 
|f6A
 
|f6A
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|62
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Super Slab
 
|Super Slab
 
|f4+
 
|f4+
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|101
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|No Hands
 
|No Hands
 
|f7A
 
|f7A
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|4
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Shallow Groove
 
|Shallow Groove
 
|f3
 
|f3
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|147
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|The Craic
 
|The Craic
 
|f3
 
|f3
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|193
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Smooth Wall One
 
|Smooth Wall One
 
|f5
 
|f5
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|174
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Smooth Wall Two
 
|Smooth Wall Two
 
|f5
 
|f5
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|208
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Fickle Flakes
 
|Fickle Flakes
 
|f4+
 
|f4+
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|239
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Other Eliminate
 
|Other Eliminate
 
|f5
 
|f5
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|68
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Eliminate
 
|Eliminate
 
|f6A+
 
|f6A+
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|215
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|South Arete
 
|South Arete
 
|f6A+
 
|f6A+
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|215
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Upper Traverse (Boulder 3)
 
|Upper Traverse (Boulder 3)
 
|f6A
 
|f6A
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|65
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Low Traverse
 
|Low Traverse
 
|f6A+
 
|f6A+
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|45
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Reverse Traverse
 
|Reverse Traverse
 
|f6A
 
|f6A
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|25
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|B4 Traverse
 
|B4 Traverse
 
|f6C
 
|f6C
 
|3
 
|3
|B
 
|45
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Springer's Mantel
 
|Springer's Mantel
 
|f7B+
 
|f7B+
 
|1
 
|1
|B
 
|3
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Overlooked
 
|Overlooked
 
|f6A+
 
|f6A+
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|31
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Upper Traverse
 
|Upper Traverse
 
|f6A+
 
|f6A+
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|8
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Lower Traverse
 
|Lower Traverse
 
|f7A
 
|f7A
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|1
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Rawhide/Gate Traverse
 
|Rawhide/Gate Traverse
 
|f7A
 
|f7A
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|3
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Final Traverse
 
|Final Traverse
 
|f7A+
 
|f7A+
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|2
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Lip Traverse
 
|Lip Traverse
 
|f5+
 
|f5+
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|6
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Final Mantel!
 
|Final Mantel!
 
|f6B+
 
|f6B+
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|1
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Not the final traverse
 
|Not the final traverse
 
|f6C
 
|f6C
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|1
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|The Long Run
 
|The Long Run
 
|f7A
 
|f7A
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|1
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Old Money For Old Rope
 
|Old Money For Old Rope
 
|f6C
 
|f6C
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|1
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|No Time For Caution
 
|No Time For Caution
 
|f7A+
 
|f7A+
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|1
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Slab Problem
 
|Slab Problem
 
|f6B
 
|f6B
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|3
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|The Heathen
 
|The Heathen
 
|f7A
 
|f7A
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|2
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|The Argonaut
 
|The Argonaut
 
|f6C
 
|f6C
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|2
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Bob's
 
|Bob's
 
|f6B+
 
|f6B+
 
| -
 
| -
|B
 
|3
 
 
|}
 
|}
 
__NOTOC__
 
__NOTOC__

Latest revision as of 05:50, 30 September 2020

Back Bowden Doors
Backbowden.jpg
Nearest cityBelford, Northumberland
Coordinates38°50′07″N 79°20′00″W / 38.83528°N 79.33333°W / 38.83528; -79.33333
Climbing typetraditional crag
Rock typeSandstone
Quantity of rockover 200 routes
Developmentwell developed
Cliff aspectwest
Classic climbs
  • County Ethics E7 7a
  • Lost Cause E4 6b
Stars5/5 stars

Grid Ref: NU065336   Aspect: W   Routes: 88   Problems: 1   Max Length: 23   Average Length: 10

Altitude: 170 mtrs   Walk in: 15 mins   Route quality: ***   Bouldering quality: ***

From Belford take the B6349 Wooler Road. Continue for 5 kilometres, turn right at the Hazelrigg sign and follow this for 1 kilometre to the brow of the hill and a large steel gate on the right. Pass through the gate and continue left to another gate. Follow the track and the main crag soon comes into view. This track can be very damp and muddy and approach footwear is recommended. There is no public right of way.

General:[edit]

Shown as Dancing Green Hill on the map, Back Bowden Doors lies approximately 5 kilometres west of Belford in an unusually sheltered position looking west across a shallow valley. The rock is Fell Sandstone of the same good quality as that found at Bowden Doors. The crag tends to dry very quickly with the exception of the North wall, which needs a number of days to fully dry after heavy rain. Routes on this wall can suffer from holds snapping, particularly after a damp spell and excessive use of the routes should be avoided at this time in order to prevent damage. This crag offers a fantastic selection of some of the best extremes in the area, with a superb contrast of climbs, including bold technical walls, intricate smearing tests and the legendary North wall, the crucible of steep and powerful climbs . Unusually many of the harder lines offer reasonable protection. While containing many routes in the upper extremes , plenty of routes exist in the easier grades.

Rock:  [edit]

Fell Sandstone Carboniferous, Dinantian

Excellent

Access issues:[edit]

There have been issues with people obstructing the gate. Don't. Only part of teh crag is on open access land.

Routes/Bouldering:  [edit]

Routes:

Protection on some of the middle E grades is a bit poor, not much (comparatively speaking) for the VS and below climber.

Problems:

Absolutely top notch. Some very hard stuff, lots of workouts and is often dry in the rain

Other interesting stuff:

There are some good plant fossils on the ledge at the top of Hazelrigg Wall area.

History:[edit]

Back Bowden Doors has a fairly early history with climbing first recorded in the 1935 Oxford and Cambridge Mountaineering Journals under its local name of Lion Rock. It mentions routes which sound suspiciously like those on the south end of the crag. Unfortunately the routes ascended up to 1965 are without documentation. In 1965 Rodney Wilson climbed the brilliant Arches, a soaring diagonal traverse on the north crag. 1968 saw Allan Austin and Dave Roberts climbing the ferocious Sorcerer which still demands respect today. Also around this time Ken Wood climbed The Sorcerer's Apprentice. In 1973 Hugh Banner, doing what he does best, jammed over Roof Route. 1974 saw the first ascent of the Central Wall on the north crag with The Witch by Malcolm Rowe and Nev Hannaby. In 1975 Bob Hutchinson and John Earl produced two bold companion routes for The Witch, The Enchanter led by Hutchinson and the Broomstick by Earl. 1976 saw four more routes climbed, Magic Flute and Glass Slipper by Hannaby and Rowe, and the bold On The Verge by Earl and Hutchinson. Later in that year Hutchinson climbed Black Magic. In 1977 Earl and Hutchinson came across The Duke of York. The following year produced a spate of fine hard routes with Earl and Hutchinson (again) climbing Broken Glass and The Wand. The same team, this time led by Hutchinson, climbed the brilliant Tube and Hard Reign. Unfortunately this was to be Bob Hutchinson's last route on the crag. Also in 1978 Steve Blake and Jeff Lamb came under The Spell. 1979 saw Tommy Smith going head over heels with the very impressive Lost Cause and Dwarfs Nightmare with brother Bob. Meanwhile Paul Stewart along with Earl stretched it out on the intimidating Outward Bound. 1981 was to see the first breach of the impressive overhanging North Wall with Merlin by Bob Smith and Earl. Later in the year Earl and Bob Smith collected Pyewackit and Shackletack with Ian Kyle. In 1982 the second route on the North Wall fell again to Bob Smith and Earl with the bold and technical Macbeth. On a summer's evening in 1985 Smith and Earl extended The Tube with Uncouth Youth and Smith stretched it even further with the relentless but well protected Right of Reply. The following year Bob Smith was at the North Wall again this time with brother Tommy producing Morgan. 1987 proved to be a popular year for bold technical routes starting with Bob Smith's ascent of the much sought after On The Rocks while Tony Courts smeared his way up Peak Technique in slippers. Karl and Graham Telfer woke up with Charlotte's Dream and the bulging When The Wind Blows. Leading up to the publication of the 89 guide, activity was rounded off with Bob Smith and Earl climbing the very sustained Mordreth also on the North Wall. Cutting edge development continued on the impressive North wall in the early nineties with a Scottish raid from Dave Cuthbertson adding the desperate County Ethics. In 91 Dave Pegg brought his new routing eye and not inconsiderable fitness to claim the very bold Pixies and the powerful but safe King Lear. Whilst working at Proctor and Gamble, Pegg added his last new route to the crag in the form of the very short and very hard Big Aerial Dynamite. 1994 brought two big routes with big numbers. I bet he drinks Carling Black Label added the longest and hardest route on the North wall to date, whilst Malcolm Smith picked of one of the Counties last great lines with the fantastic Transcendence. 1995 saw the addition of yet another fine bold climb on the Tube wall with Nick Dixon going Off the Rocks. Due to the bouldering trend, recent years have seen little activity in terms of new routes or significant repeats. It is hoped that the trend will reverse and that the routes on this crag, which offer one of the finest collection of outcrop extremes in the country will be enjoyed in the future. To this end, descriptions and accurate grading for on sight attempts have been carefully examined to encourage activity on the extremes.

Name Grade Stars
Diagonal VD -
The Toppler HVS 5b -
Lichen Groove D -
The Tippler HVS 5b -
Tippler Traverse f6C -
Pedestal Problem f6B+ -
The Bogie S 4a -
Quarry Face S 4a 1
Glass Slipper VS 5a -
Broken Glass E2 6a -
Twisting Crack HS 4c -
Route One f6A 2
First Traverse f5 -
Black Triage f8A -
County Ethics E7 7a 3
Merlin Traverse f6A -
Merlin E5 6a 3
Hard and Low Traverse f7C -
Darth f6C -
The Pixies E6 6b 1
Little Pixies f7A 1
Little Piggies f7C -
The Emperor f7B -
Emperor RH f7A+ -
Morgan E5 6a 1
Morgan (start only) f6B 1
Lady MacBeth f6B -
I Bet He Drinks Carling Black Label E8 6c 2
MacBeth Low Level Traverse f6C -
Black Mirror E7 6c -
The Dark Side E9 7b 3
Empty The Bones Of You f8A+ -
Mordreth E6 6b 2
Macbeth E6 6b 3
Paradise Road f7A -
MacDuff f7B -
Easy Up f6B+ -
Sigurd E6 6c 2
The Arches E1 5b 3
The Arches (start only) f6A 1
Low and Hard f7B 1
Lower And Harder f7C 2
Roof and Wall f7A+ -
Cauldron E1 5c -
King Lear E6 6c 1
Hard Reign E3 5c 2
Hard Reign Direct f7B 1
Hard Reign (start only) f6A 2
Underneath the Arches f6A -
Blood Gutters E5 6b 2
Weird Sisters One f7A -
Weird Sisters Two f7A -
Weird Sisters Three f6C+ -
Holly Tree Corner S 4b 1
Hollybush Crack MS 4a -
The Big Sister f8A+ 3
Pyewackit E4 6a -
The Witch E2 5b 3
Shackletack E3 6b 1
The Wand E3 5b 1
The Broomstick E3 5b 1
The Enchanter E3 5c 2
Low Level Traverse f5+ -
Bottle Arete SS f5+ -
Strange Brew E3 5b -
Bottle Crack VS 5a 2
The Young Warlords f6C 3
The Wizard E3 5c 1
The Wizard (start only) f5+ -
Black Magic E1 5c 1
Harry Potter f7C 2
Dead Severus f7C 3
Severus Snape f7B+ 1
Movin' On Up f6C -
Merlins Pubes f6B -
Merlin's Beard f6C+ 2
Pockets Traverse f7C 3
Intermediate Traverse f6C+ -
The Vole Left Hand f6A -
The Vole Left Hand SS f6C -
The Vole E1 5c -
The Vole, Alternative Finish E1 5c 1
The Vole Right Hand f6A 2
The Vole Right Hand SS f7B+ 2
Solastalgia f7C+ -
Sorcerer's Apprentice E1 5c 1
Sorcerer's Apprentice (start only) f5+ -
Sorcerer's Apprentice SS f7A -
The Sorcerer (full route) E1 5c 3
The Sorcerer E1 5c 3
The Sorcerer SS f6C -
Pockets Extension f7C+ -
Under the Spell f7A 2
The Charm E1 5c 1
The Spell E1 5c 1
Straight Crack HS 4b 2
Solastalgia ss f8A+ 1
Dead Sirius f8A 1
Straight Crack, Alternative Finish E1 5b -
Magic Circle HVS 5a -
Golden Stairs, Direct Start S 4c -
Golden Stairs VD -
Magic Flute E1 5b 2
Boulder Lands E5 6b 1
Dead on Arrival E6 6a 1
Short Wall f6A+ -
Pick Pocket f6B+ -
Savage Slab E7 6c 1
Magic Leap f6A+ -
The Grim Creeper f8A 1
Bubbles f6C -
Larn Streng f7B+ 3
Thundering Apoplexy f7B 2
Peak Technique E6 6b 3
On the Verge E4 5c 2
Woodcutters Crack HVD 1
Wood Splitter VD -
Forester's Corner D 1
The Tube, Left-hand Exit E3 5b -
The Tube, Direct Finish E5 5c -
The Tube E4 5c 3
Uncouth Youth E4 6a 1
Right of Reply E5 6b 3
Charlotte's Dream Direct E7 6b 2
Charlotte's Dream E5 6b 1
On the Rocks E7 6c 3
Off the Rocks E8 6c 1
Duke of York E1 5b 2
Transcendence E8 6c 3
Leap of Faith E6 6c 1
Lost Cause E4 6b 2
Angle Corner VD -
Angle Corner, Alternate Finish E3 6b -
Back to Back E5 6b -
Gangway VS 4c 1
Holly Tree Corner (Alt Finish) MS 4b 1
Purgatory E8 7b 3
Scabby Hand E4 5c -
When the Wind Blows E6 6b 1
Peace at Last E5 6a -
Outward Bound E3 5c 2
March Line VD 2
Wall and Crack S 4b 1
Roof Route, Direct Finish E2 5c -
Roof Route E1 5b 3
Roof Route Traverse f6B+ -
The Dead Horses Tea Party f6C+ 2
Door Mats Wall f7C -
Door Mats Wall SS f8A 1
Four Mats Wall f7B+ -
Four Mats Wall SS f7B+ 1
Stepped Flake f3 1
Smooth Wall f7A -
Hazelrigg Wall Left-Hand E3 6b 1
Hazelrigg Wall E1 5c 1
Hazelrigg Wall Direct f6A -
Pinup E2 6a -
Risk and Hope E1 6a -
Hazelrigg Wall Traverse f7B -
Original Route VD 1
Original Wall Traverse f5 4b -
Highland Fling E1 5c -
Final Wall VD 2
Bullet E1 5c -
Four Mats RH f7A 2
Tree-way V7 2
Chiroptera f6A -
Big Aerial Dynamite E5 7a 1
Dwarfs Nightmare E2 6b 1
Vespertilion f7B+ 3
Barbastelle f7A -
Brokeback Bowden f7C 2
Bechstein f6C -
Brandt f6B+ -
Serotine f6A+ -
Pippistrellotine f6B+ 1
Pipistrelle f6B+ -
A Short Sharp Shock E3 6a -
Griffon HVS 5b -
Rays Roof VS 4c -
Footless Fulmar VS 4c 1
Ra's al Ghul f7C 1
Sharp Arete f6A+ -
Sharp Arete SS f6C -
The Bitch f8A+ -
Potty Mouth f8B -
Undercut Arete f5+ -
Little Arete f6A+ -
Crimp Slab Eliminate f6B+ -
Crimp Slab f6B -
Warm Up Arete f3 -
South Wall f6A+ -
The Stud f7C+ 2
Mini mouth f7A 1
Mantel Miser f6A+ -
Mantel Misery f6A -
Mantel Underclass f6B -
Mantel Masterclass f6C 2
Ripples f4 -
The Runnel f4 -
Slab Eliminate f6A -
Super Slab f4+ -
No Hands f7A -
Shallow Groove f3 -
The Craic f3 -
Smooth Wall One f5 -
Smooth Wall Two f5 -
Fickle Flakes f4+ -
Other Eliminate f5 -
Eliminate f6A+ -
South Arete f6A+ -
Upper Traverse (Boulder 3) f6A -
Low Traverse f6A+ -
Reverse Traverse f6A -
B4 Traverse f6C 3
Springer's Mantel f7B+ 1
Overlooked f6A+ -
Upper Traverse f6A+ -
Lower Traverse f7A -
Rawhide/Gate Traverse f7A -
Final Traverse f7A+ -
Lip Traverse f5+ -
Final Mantel! f6B+ -
Not the final traverse f6C -
The Long Run f7A -
Old Money For Old Rope f6C -
No Time For Caution f7A+ -
Slab Problem f6B -
The Heathen f7A -
The Argonaut f6C -
Bob's f6B+ -