Rock Climbing in England
The rock climbing found in England is very varied due to the different types of rock to found and climbed on. For example there are:
- The classic gritstone of the Peak District, and Yorkshire.
- The rough granite of Cornwall, Lundy, Dartmoor and Jersey.
- The limestone found in the Peak District, Yorkshire, Wye valley, Avon and Dorset.
- The mountains of the Lake District.
- The sandstone crags found in Cheshire & Merseyside, Northumberland, the North York Moors and to the southeast of London.
In England there are many different types and styles of climbing available, from Deep Water Soloing (DWS), bouldering, single pitch traditionally protected routes (trad), bolted sport routes to long multi-pitch traditional routes in the mountains.
The Peak District is the most popular rock climbing area in England, with literally many thousands of routes to choose from. There is everything from traditional routes on gritstone and limestone to bolted sport routes in old quarries, and lots of bouldering. Find out more….
The mountains of the Lake District offer some of the most scenic climbing to be found in England and this is where many of the long multi-pitch routes are to be found. Find out more….
Map of the rock climbing areas in England
Northern England provides some excellent crags in Lancashire (gritstone) and Yorkshire (gritstone and limestone). The sandstone crags in Northumberland and the North York Moors provide some excellent rock climbing that is away from the crowds and often in beautiful locations. Find out more...
The Wye Valleyon the border with Wales provides many excellent limestone crags, ranging from single pitch routes to long multi-pitch routes at Winters Leap. Find out more….
The Avon Gorge located to the west of Bristol provides an abundance of long, enjoyable routes on limestone rock. Further south is Cheddar Gorge, a popular tourist venue, which also offers many excellent multi-pitch routes on limestone rock. Find out more….
In Dorset there are two great sea cliff climbing areas. Portland, near Weymouth, is England's largest sport climbing area, where as Swanage provides mainly traditional routes along with a growing number of sport routes. Dorset is also famous for its Deep Water Soloing (DWS) opportunities. Find out more...
Devon offers a wide range of climbing areas from moorland Tors to sea cliff climbing on the north and south coasts. The granite outcrops and Tors on Dartmoor provide many excellent trad rock climbing routes and bouldering at places such as The Dewerstone, Haytor, Bonehill Rocks and The Bovey Valley. Find out more...
Cornwall has a great tradition of sea cliff climbing on perfect granite rock at places such as Bosigran, Sennen, Chair Ladder, and Lizard Point. There is also a small amount of sport climbing in Cornwall at Cheesewring Quarry on Bodmin Moor. Find out more...
The islands of Lundy and Jersey are all about sea cliff climbing on granite rock, often in wild and exposed positions. Many of the routes here require as much commitment in getting to the base of the routes as it does to climb them.
To the southeast of London there are numerous sandstone climbing areas, offering single pitch routes and lots of bouldering.