The Wye Valley
The Wye Valley, located along the England-Wales border, is a superb climbing destination known for its limestone cliffs and picturesque river scenery. The area offers a wide variety of routes suitable for climbers of all abilities, making it a popular destination for both traditional (trad) and sport climbers. Its unique combination of natural beauty, accessibility, and quality rock makes it a must-visit for anyone looking to experience some classic UK climbing.
Wintour’s Leap: One of the most well-known crags in the Wye Valley. Overlooking the River Wye, the cliffs here are made up of solid limestone and feature both single-pitch and multi-pitch climbs. There are numerous classic trad routes that range from easier grades to challenging climbs for experienced climbers. Wintour’s Leap contains popular routes like Central Rib Route I (S 4a) as well as Zelda (HS 4b) and Still Nice and Still Sleazy (6a+).
Symonds Yat: A prominent climbing location in the valley, offering an array of limestone crags for both trad and some sport climbing. While not as popular for its technical quality as Wintour’s Leap, it is known for its quirky routes and enjoyable atmosphere. The rock here can be more polished in places due to its popularity, but it remains a great spot for beginner and intermediate climbers. Routes like Whitt (VS 4c) and Red Rose Speedway (HVS 5a) are some of the classics here. Unfortunately in August 2023 large rockfall resulted in Forestry England restricting access to the area.
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