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Drive up the Duddon valley for one mile past Ulpha P.O. to
where the road inclines gently up to the brow of a hill with Low
Wood House on the right. Wallowbarrow Crag is visible from
here. From this point follow a diagonal track that zig-zags up
through the wood, pass through one wooden gate then over a stile/gate,
the quarry lies just above this final spoil heap. (12 minutes
walk). The quarry was
actually formed by the collapse of a huge underground chamber,
and as such caution should be practised in and around the quarry
due to the presence of a number of deep clefts and tottering blocks
etc. Special care should be taken with a gaping hole beneath the
right side of the main wall which drops about 15 metres into a
watery "black abyss". There are two walls offering climbing,
the main south facing wall offers steep climbs up to 20 metres
in height. 50 metres down to its right is a shorter west facing
slab offering V grooves and cracks. Some of the bolt routes offer
additional good natural gear, so take a mini-rack.
The Main Wall belays are a large block, 3 stakes
and a bolt (all about 7 metres back). So as not to antagonise
the local farmer the exposed parts of the steel belay stakes have
been kept short (hence difficult to locate when the bracken is
up), please cover them with rocks when leaving the crag. Routes
described from left to right
The Main Wall
The
first 2 routes are on a short steep wall 15 metres left of the
obvious slab of Hound Dog. Twin stake belays either side
of a grass mound. Access the Main Wall from its top left
end.
Publish And Be Damned 12m
E1/2 (2 bolts)
(5b).
Step onto a ledge and make a couple of long reaches up to gain
a short black sandwiched slab, up this breaking out right on dubious
flakes to finish as for The Provocateur.
J
Daly, D Geere, 23rd May
1998
The Provocateur 12m
E3 (2 bolts)
(6b).
Make a hard step off the ground, sustained climbing then leads
diagonally up right to beneath a flakey overhang. Surmount this
to gain a flake and short easy rib to finish.
J
Daly, D Geere, 9th May
1998
Hound Dog 9m VS (2 bolts)
(5a). Climb the obvious slab at the left end
of the Main Wall pulling out onto its right arete to finish
Stake belay.
J
Daly, D Geere, 15th February
1998
Round
the corner to the right is an impressive overhanging wall with
a black corner groove to its right. The next superb route starts
"down in the depths" beneath the bottom left corner
of the overhanging wall. It has also been climbed via a direct
start.
Meltdown 18m E4 (5 staples)
(6a).
Pull onto the overhanging wall and climb steeply past 2 bolts,
then use a thin diagonal crack on the left to gain the central
ledge. Above the ledge a continuation crack and small overlap
provide sustained climbing to the top. Stake belay.
NB:-
bridging on boulders reduces grade to E2 !
J
Daly (1 rest), D Geere, 16th
May 1998
J
Daly (free), 23rd May
1998
Cold Fusion 18m E4
A
diagonal route across Meltdown wall.
(6a).
Clip "Boob Tubes" first bolt, then climb the curving
weakness up left to join Meltdown at its 2nd bolt. Gain
a standing position on the ledge above, then traverse left onto
Hound Dog slab and finish up its right edge.
J
Daly, 31st May 1998
Boob Tube 17m E4 (5 staples)
An
excellent climb up the black corner groove. Delicate, strenuous
and always precarious.
(6b).
Pull onto a glacis in the base of the groove, then precariously
climb the corner groove in its entirety.
J
Daly, D Geere, 16th May
1998
Fall From Grace 17m E3 (4 staples)
A
fine climb starting 2 metres right of Boob Tube.
(5c). Step across the void and climb up rightwards
following a line of razor sharp fins all the way to a steep finish
onto a ledge 2 metres below the top.
J
Daly, D Geere, JJ Geere,
10th April 1998
The Tormentor 16m E3 (3 staples)
Start
4 metres right of Fall from Grace.
(5c/6a).
Pull up rightwards onto a small glacis then make a steep awkward
sequence up to gain a ledge beneath a V-groove. Up the V-groove
past an overlap to finish.
J Daly, D Geere, 16th
May 1998
In
the centre of the Main Wall is an open blackish corner
leading up to a rectangular roof at 14 metres.
Black Mamba 19m
E1/2 (4 bolts)
A
good climb starting just right of the open corner.
(5b).
Climb up left to a block, then follow the corner/wall above to
the roof. Pull round the right side of the roof to gain a right
facing hanging corner/crack and pump up this to the top. J Daly, D Geere, 9th March 1998
To
the right is a prominent loose arete with a corner/pod to its
right. The next route starts at the base of the pod. There is
a bolt belay (well back) for the next three routes.
Wild Garlic 17m
HVS/E1 (2 bolts)
(5a/b).
Climb the pod/corner and continuation flakey rampline above. Near
the top pull steeply out left to finish up the left side of a
hanging flake.
J
Daly, D Geere, 23rd May
1998
Just
right is a chest high wobbly block.
Fly By Wire 17m
E1 (3 bolts)
(5b).
Pull onto the wobbly block and use layaway flakes to steeply climb
up to where the angle eases at the 2nd bolt. Move up and step
right to a ledge, then delicately climb the rolling slabs above
to a teasing stretch to the finishing V-nick.
J
Daly, D Geere, 28th March
1998
Hell's Mouth 17m
E2 (2 bolts)
Start
beneath a short finger jamming/friend crack just right of Fly
by Wire.
(5c). Step onto a tall rock spike and climb
awkwardly up right past the bolt to gain a short hanging groove.
A dynamic move up the groove leads to a ledge on the right (bolt),
continue up to a roof which is climbed via a short wide crack.
J
Daly, D Geere, 13th April
1998
The Slab
Situated 50 metres down and right of the Main Wall. The
obvious central feature of this buttress is the deep V-groove
taken by Brilliant Disguise.
Some 5 metres left of this is the V-groove of Dead Head.
Dead Head 14m
Hard Severe
Make
a tricky move to gain the V-groove, then jam up it to a roof formed
by a hanging flake. Step right and surmount the flake via a crack
to finish.
D Geere, JJ Geere,
J Daly, 10th April 1998
Licking The Wounds 15m MVS
(4b).
Start 3 metres left of Brilliant Disguise and climb the
shattered crackline to the top.
D Geere, J Daly,
9th March 1998
Dead Calm 16m
E1 (1 staple)
Takes
the slabby pillar between Licking the Wounds and Brilliant
Disguise.
(5c/6a).
Pull up to gain a V-groove in the rib and climb it to a small
overhang (bolt). Surmount the overhang and use its right edge
to smear delicately up the slabby pillar to better finishing holds.
D
Geere, J Daly, JJ Geere,
10th April 1998
Brilliant Disguise 16m
E2 (natural gear)
A
good route starting at the base of the prominent V-groove.
(5c).
Climb the groove to a roof at 11 metres, then swing out left to
gain a good foothold at the base of a hanging V-groove above.
Teeter precariously up this to the
top.
D
Geere, J Daly, 8th March
1998
Just
right is a slab with 2 prominent crack lines and a flake leaning
against its base. The same 2 bolts provide protection for both
routes.
Dick Tatoes 14m
HVS
(5a).
Up the front of the flake then climb the left hand crack up the
slab in its entirety.
J
Daly, D Geere, 8th March 1998
The Toulouse Sausage 14m
VS/HVS
(4c).
Pull onto the flake and layback up the wider right hand crack
to a finish over blocks at the top.
J Daly, D Geere, 9th March 1998
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