LANCASHIRE ROCK

This site is a digital copy of the 1997 BMC guidebook to rock climbing in Lancashire

The Quarry

  • 1 - Left Edge

    Grade: | First Ascent: -1966
    Rating: 0

    Several lines are possible, all of which lead to a finish entirely composed of loose blocks. If undeterred, the best start is probably by the left-facing slab starting below a large tree.

  • 1 - Chimney Sweep

    Grade: | First Ascent: -1983
    Rating: 0

    The short, wide, overhanging chimney between two noses at the left side of the quarry.

  • 2 - Midsummer Madness

    Grade: 5a | First Ascent: -1990
    Rating: 0

    Climb directly to the nose, then move right.

  • 2 - Owl Stretching Time

    Grade: 4c | First Ascent: -1977
    Rating: 1

    Follow the rib right of the steep wall to a large ledge on the left (belay possible, but rather pointless). Move up awkwardly just left of a large projecting block and then go straight up the wall above on good jugs to twin trees. Pleasant but over all too soon.

  • 3 - Trowel Corner

    Grade: | First Ascent: -1983
    Rating: 0

    Pull into an undercut recess on the right of the second nose, then climb the stepped corner and pull out left above the nose.

  • 3 - Bowland Wall

    Grade: 4b | First Ascent: -1966
    Rating: 1

    Start just right again. Climb up and slightly left, then move left to the large grass ledge. The large ramp on the right is both awkward and bold to start; follow it to broken ledges and finish diagonally up the fine wall to the leftmost of the large trees.

  • 4 - Block Out

    Grade: 5a | First Ascent: -1986
    Rating: 0

    Start a metre to the right. Climb into a triangular niche, then pull onto a large ledge and finish up the wall above.

  • 4 - The Guillotine

    Grade: 4b | First Ascent: -1967
    Rating: 1

    Start as for Bowland Wall but move awkwardly right just before the large ledge, past blocks to gain the lower parallel ramp. Follow this boldly to its end then move up to the broken ledges on Bowland Wall. Continue straight up the wall using a right-slanting crack.

  • 5 - Batty

    Grade: 5a | First Ascent: -1997
    Rating: 0

    Climb on to the left side of a sandy block (loose) then continue up the crack through the left side of the overhangs above.

  • 5 - Captain Beaky

    Grade: 5a | First Ascent: -1980
    Rating: 1

    A very direct line up the highest part of the crag. Start just right of Bowland Wall at a short left-facing corner; climb this and continue up the steep black wall (bold) to finish as for Guillotine.

  • 6 - Bats in the Belfry

    Grade: 5a | First Ascent: -1986
    Rating: 0

    Climb on to the right side of the sandy block, then follow the cracks that split the overhangs above on their right.

  • 6 - Owl Wall

    Grade: 4b | First Ascent: -1966
    Rating: 0

    Climb the short corner as for Captain Beaky then follow the narrow slab/ramp to a ledge with several trees (Owl`s Nest Ledge). Climb the wall behind and move slightly right to another tree. Or, (easier and often drier) move right and climb an obvious break to the tree, as for Owl`s Nest Direct. Finish leftwards to the large trees, the last couple of metres being quite loose.

  • 7 - What the Eye Doesn`t See

    Grade: 4c | First Ascent: -1986
    Rating: 1

    Start at the left end of an overhung recess at three metres. Gain the blunt rib on the left, pull on to the ledge right of the previous climb and climb the wall above.

  • 7 - Deceptive Bends

    Grade: 5a | First Ascent: -1977
    Rating: 2

    Start a little to the right below a white crystalline wall. Move up on to this and climb diagonally right to cross Owl Wall, just left of Owl`s Nest Ledge. Climb the wall above, trending slightly left then go straight up to the trees; the best route on the crag.

  • 8 - Owling

    Grade: 5a | First Ascent: -1986
    Rating: 1

    Start below the centre of the large recess and climb straight up, through overhangs, passing a borehole in the top overhang.

  • 8 - Owlet

    Grade: 4b | First Ascent: (1975-79)
    Rating: 0

    Climb directly up to Owl`s Nest Ledge.

  • 9 - Rama`s Lamb

    Grade: 4c | First Ascent: -1991
    Rating: 0

    Climb the groove directly to the left side of the nose, then climb this by the crack to its left.

  • 9 - Owl`s Nest Direct

    Grade: 4b | First Ascent: -1967
    Rating: 0

    A wide and rather dirty crack runs up to the right end of Owl`s Nest Ledge. Follow this then step right and go up an obvious break to the higher tree, and finish as for Owl Wall.

  • 10 - Bite the Dust

    Grade: | First Ascent: -1983
    Rating: 1

    Climb the wall two metres right, below a prominent rock nose at the top of the crag. Swing right below the nose to an awkward landing on a ledge, then finish up the wall. A direct finish over the nose would be much harder!

  • 10 - Primrose Route

    Grade: | First Ascent: -1966
    Rating: 0

    Very dirty and not recommended. The original first pitch took the large easy-angled slab (or hanging garden!) to the large tree, but a more direct approach is probably better. From the tree, climb up to a ledge and swing left to a deep groove. Go up this and finish up the left edge of a broken slab.

  • 11 - November Ember

    Grade: 4b | First Ascent: -1985
    Rating: 0

    Gain the triangular sentry-box on the right, then surmount the overhang above, finishing just right of Bite the Dust.

  • 11 - Original Route

    Grade: | First Ascent: -1966
    Rating: 0

    High up the slope on the right, climb the right side of a block left of the last area of rock, then go up the centre of the wall above, passing a small tree.

  • 12 - Hernia Wall

    Grade: 4a | First Ascent: -1984
    Rating: 1

    Start below the centre of overlapping slabs two metres to the right. Trend left to the top slab.

  • 12 - Girdle Traverse

    Grade: 4a,4a | First Ascent: -1966
    Rating: 0

  • 13 - Groin Right

    Grade: 4b | First Ascent: -1984
    Rating: 0

    Follow the right edge of the slabs, straight up to the top slab, but avoiding the next climb.

  • 12.1 - 21 m

    Grade: 4a | First Ascent:
    Rating:

    Climb Original Route to the top of the block, then descend the left side of the block to a tree. Up easily as for Primrose Route for a couple of metres until a traverse can be made to Owl`s Nest Ledge.

  • 14 - Columniation

    Grade: | First Ascent: -1983
    Rating: 0

    Start just to the right below a square recess and continue up the overlapping column.

  • 12.2 - 25 m

    Grade: 4a | First Ascent:
    Rating:

    Descend Owl Wall until just above the foot of the ramp. A traverse can then be made to join Bowland Wall; follow this to the large grass ledge then continue leftwards to finish up Left Edge (after reading the warning in that route`s description).

  • 15 - Spring Clean

    Grade: | First Ascent: -1983
    Rating: 0

    Start one metre right. Climb up the lower wall past a small letter-box, then gain the upper recess by a mantel.

  • 12.2a - Variation

    Grade: 4c | First Ascent:
    Rating: 1

    From Owl`s Nest Ledge step up then diagonally left to gain the ledges on Bowland Wall. Reverse this until just above the large protruding block. Step left onto the block and finish as for Owl Stretching Time. There is hardly any independent climbing and the girdle is less complete, but it is higher, better and safer.

  • 16 - Brush Up

    Grade: | First Ascent: -1983
    Rating: 0

    Start at the right-hand end of an undercut wall one metre to the right. Climb left of the nose to a pleasant top wall.

  • 1 - Hrothgar

    Grade: 4c | First Ascent: (1979-83)
    Rating: 0

    From the foot of the right arête, climb up to and follow an obvious line of holds leading left for two metres, then finish direct.

  • 17 - Dirty Trick

    Grade: 4c | First Ascent: -1989
    Rating: 0

    Boulder directly up an overhanging nose, then climb the wall above.

  • 2 - Avenging Angel of Death

    Grade: 5b | First Ascent: -1978
    Rating: 0

    Follow the right arête.

  • 18 - Come Clean

    Grade: 4a | First Ascent: -1985
    Rating: 0

    Climb immediately right of the overhanging nose, then continue through overlaps to a vertical borehole line in the top wall.

  • 19 - Shrew Rib

    Grade: 5a | First Ascent: -1989
    Rating: 0

    Start one metre right at the centre of an overlap and pull on to a large ledge directly above. Continue up the wall just left of a blunt rib.

  • 20 - Shrewd Rib

    Grade: 4c | First Ascent: -1989
    Rating: 0

    Climb through the overlap at its right-hand end without using the block on Kleeneze. Continue up the blunt rib above.

  • 21 - Kleeneze

    Grade: | First Ascent: -1983
    Rating: 0

    Start just to the right and use a triangular block to gain the ledge, then follow the steep groove to the top.

  • 22 - Dust Bowl

    Grade: | First Ascent: -1983
    Rating: 0

    Start just below the `butterfly` with a central bore hole, then climb past the large ledge and upper recess.

  • 23 - Mitton Mantel

    Grade: 4c | First Ascent: -1989
    Rating: 0

    Make a difficult mantelshelf on to a large ledge, then step right and follow the steep front face to overcome a small overhang on the right.

  • 24 - Loud Arête

    Grade: | First Ascent: -1985
    Rating: 0

    Start two metres to the right below a hole in the rock. Climb the rib, then step left into a recess and follow the steep corner to the top.

  • 25 - Hodder Wall

    Grade: 4a | First Ascent: -1985
    Rating: 1

    Start two metres to the right at a small, sloping niche. Climb the smooth slab above to the top.

  • 26 - Ace of Spades

    Grade: | First Ascent: -1985
    Rating: 0

    Climb the right-angled corner to large ledges then bridge up loose rock. Exit left.

  • 27 - Drought Line

    Grade: 4c | First Ascent: -1986
    Rating: 0

    Gain a nose from its right side, then follow an S-shaped crack up the top wall.

  • 28 - Evening Crack

    Grade: 5a | First Ascent: -1985
    Rating: 1

    Climb the centre of the lower wall, to gain the obvious, deep crack in the overhang.

  • 29 - Last Crack

    Grade: 5b | First Ascent: -1989
    Rating: 0

    Climb the curving crack to the overlap, reach up to a slot, then go straight up and exit on the right.

  • 30 - Windy Arête

    Grade: 4c | First Ascent: -1988
    Rating: 0

    From the ledge on the right reach up to a pocket, then make committing moves on to a ledge. Finish easily.

  • 31 - Mr Sheen

    Grade: S | First Ascent: -1988
    Rating: 0

    Start up Trowel Corner, then traverse right below a large ledge. Step up into the recess of Owling, cross below the overhang, then move down to a sentry-box of November Ember and hand-traverse across the slab. Step up and traverse the ledge round Brush Up buttress; continue across Hodder Wall to the corner. Horizontal ledges then lead past Evening Crack to a finish round the top nose of Last Crack.