Edlingham

Grid Ref: NU120079   Aspect: SW   Routes: 1   Problems: 31   Max Length: 8   Average Length: 8

Altitude: 200 mtrs   Walk in: 5 mins   Bouldering quality: *

Click here for StreetMap

From the A697 7km north of Longframlington, take the B6341 (Alnwick Rothbury) towards Alnwick. After 1.5km there is a layby on the right - Caller Boulders can be seen on the hillside above the road. The scattered rocks of Edlingham Crag can currently be seen in the remains of the wood left of the moor.

General: The crag is a series of Fell Sandstone buttresses and blocks in the part of Edlingham Woods above the road, now felled. The wood was very dense and as a result some of the rock is mossy and lichenous, but now it is out in the open it cleans well. Rock:   Fell Sandstone Carboniferous, Dinantian Mixed quality rock, as is common in this area. Often there is good well bonded sandstone on the walls, and soft snappy stuff under the roofs. Ironstone veins and protruberances are quite common and tend to snap off very easily. Generally speaking, on this crag, wire brushing should be avoided. Access issues: Access is encouraged by the Forestry. The plan for the area is to let the hillside regenrate naturally and if any trees root too close to problems we have permission to uproot them. We are also encouraged to form paths to and between the boulders whilst the regenration is starting. Routes/Bouldering:   Routes: There is potential for a few 7m routes, but much cleaning would be needed and there are few worthwhile looking lines. Problems: There are some very good problems, but they are a bit spread out across the hillside. There is a lot of potential for further development. History: No routes are recorded, even though it has been mentioned in the "Other Crags" section of the last two editions of the guide. It has been visited by such as Nev Hannaby, John Earl and Bob Hutchinson, none of whom were known for turning down new route opportunities, and still lies routeless. This says a lot about first impressions of the place. The bouldering potential was realised by John Dalrymple and Bob Smith who found and cleaned several fine problems, both before and after the felling. During the hot summer of 2006, visits by Cris Graham and friends have revealed the potential of this venue with some fine problems on Bobs Cave.