Rock Climbing in The Peak District

Situated between Sheffield and Manchester, this is the most popular rock climbing area in England, with literally many thousands of routes to choose from. These routes offer a wide variety of style of rock climbing and different types of rock.

The area is famous for its gritstone edges, such as Stanage and Froggatt that are situated on the moors around the villages of Hathersage and Grindleford, plus others further a field such as The Roaches near Leek. These are generally single pitch routes where the leader has to place traditional gear such as nuts and cams. Under no circumstances will you find any bolts or pegs on these gritstone edges! The style of climbing varies from hand jamming cracks to delicately smearing up slabs that offer superb friction. It is at these Gritstone crags where the majority of the bouldering in the Peaks is also found.

The Peak Distract also has many limestone rock climbing areas that are both natural crags and old disused quarries. The natural crags found at places such as Stoney Middleton, and High Tor near Matlock, offer both single pitch and multi-pitch routes. Here again the style of climbing is to place traditional gear such as nuts and cams, though you will find some in-situ pegs. At the old disused quarries, such Horseshoe quarry, there are many single pitch bolted sports routes.

It is possible to rock climb in the Peak District throughout the year providing it is dry. The winter, on crisp cold days, is the best time to go gritstone bouldering, as this is when the friction is at its best. Also during the winter many of the limestone quarries offer sheltered sports climbing. Traditional rock climbing on many of the edges is most popular from spring right through to autumn.