Rock climbing around Bristol and Somerset
The rock climbing around Bristol and Somerset is dominated by two large limestone gorges, the Avon Gorge and Cheddar Gorge.
Rock climbing in the Cheddar Gorge
Cheddar Gorge is Britain’s largest gorge that provides 100m high limestone cliffs and is also a Special Area for Conservation. This along with the high number of tourists who visit the gorge means that access is restricted and/or banned during certain parts of the year, though it is possible to climb here throughout the year. Cheddar Gorge has over 1,000 routes with both trad and sport, roadside cragging and adventurous multi-pitch trad routes, the gorge offers both sun and shade and provides some of the best rock climbing in the south west of England. The South West Climbs Volume 1 guidebook covers the best of the traditional and sport climbing to be found at Cheddar. The Sport Climbing in England and Wales, Volume 2 covers a selection of the sport climbing routes on the north side of the gorge, where there are no restrictions.
Map of the rock climbing areas around Bristol and Somerset
Rock climbing in the Avon Gorge
Avon Gorge is situated on the edge of Bristol and is genuinely one of the few city crags in the world. The climbing here is steep multi-pitch routes with the emphasis on adventurous and demanding climbing in terms of route finding and placing protection. This venue is very popular due to its good year round climate and excellent roadside access. The definitive guidebook is called the Avon Gorge rock climbing guidebook.
Other rock climbing areas around Bristol, Somerset and the Mendip Hills
Read an article by Tom Newberry describing the best sport climbing areas in the south west of England. Cheddar Gorge and Bream Down are included in this article.
Scattered around Bristol, within the Mendip Hills, are a number of natural combes and steep quarried faces. These provide a range of alternative limestone crags, both traditional and sport, away from the crowds as detailed below:
| Crag | Aspect and style of climbing | Guidebook |
|---|---|---|
| Blaise Castle Gorge | Situated in a public park on the outskirts of Bristol with a café. This beautiful wooded limestone gorge offers mostly trad routes, but also has a smattering of hard sport routes and easy bouldering | North Somerset Outcrops Vol 1 or Esoteric Bouldering Regions of Bristol Guidebook |
| Frome Valley | Esoteric traditional climbing and bouldering on sandstone rock, close to the centre of Bristol. | Esoteric Bouldering Regions of Bristol Guidebook |
| Portishead Quarry | This nature reserve offers an assortment of lovely slabby trad routes, and some slightly steeper sport routes. All the routes are very sheltered, sunny and quick drying. | North Somerset Outcrops Vol 1 or Bristol Sport |
| Goblin Combe | Located in a small and wonderfully atmospheric wooded valley. It gives a great range of trad routes, and gets all the sun going. | North Somerset Outcrops Vol 1 |
| Bourton Combe | This tiny crag in the woods offering sport, trad and bouldering in a peacful location. | North Somerset Outcrops Vol 1 |
| Sand Point | Sea cliff climbing with a selection of short trad routes in a beautiful and wild setting. | North Somerset Outcrops Vol 1 |
| Brean Down | South-facing limestone sea cliff, with a range of mainly harder trad and sport routes. Excellent winter venue on good quality rock. | Bristol Sport or Mendip Outcrops |
| Uphill Quarry | Steep and difficult face-climbs on limestone rock, mainly trad routes with some harder sport routes. It is fast-drying, and a good winter venue. | Bristol Sport or Mendip Outcrops |
| Split Rock Quarry | Good concentration of excellent routes on limestone rock, with both trad and generally hard sport routes | Bristol Sport or Mendip Outcrops |
| Fairy Cave Quarry | A large limestone quarry featuring some very good quality slab routes up to 40m in height. The main areas mostly face north, though they get some sun from May to August and are quick to dry. | Mendip Outcrops |