UKC

Restricted Access

The BMC has negotiated with the landowner and secured an access agreement, but this is dependent on the continuing responsible behavior of climbers.

Local cavers have an agreement with the landowner to manage recreation in the quarry through the Fairy Cave Management Committee. They have been extremely supportive of climber’s efforts to secure access and without their support it is unlikely we would have been successful. Mark Courtiour (BMC Access Rep) has been co-opted onto the Management Committee but the cavers have overall responsibility for recreational use of the quarry.

Maintaining our good relationship with the cavers is important, as is following a few simple points within our access agreement:

  • Take all of your litter and any you find away with you to dispose of responsibly.
  • Responsible parking is essential to maintain access - see the 'parking and approach' section below for more information.
  • The only people with permission to be within the fenced area are cavers and climbers. If you find other people in the quarry please ask them to leave.
  • Parts of the quarry could be unstable and potentially dangerous for the unaware. In particular young or inexperienced climbers should be closely supervised at all times.
  • The quarry forms part of a larger SSSI and European SAC (Special Area of Conservation). Natural England are monitoring the rare flora and fauna within the quarry so avoid removing any vegetation without checking with the local Access Rep or Access Officer first.

Descents:

Movement around the top of some areas of the quarry can be difficult and local climbers have established abseil descents from all popular areas. Please do not remove these fixtures. Most lower offs/abseil points have been renewed and stakes have been installed above Robs Crack and Lumbar Puncture/Epic Dural. As always with fixed equipment, be sure to thoroughly inspect all parts of an anchor before committing to using it.

  • The best abseil descent (easier to pull through) from the Robs Crack area is from a pair of stakes with wire strops and maillon situated above Who Needs Hair Anyway i.e. next to the Hawthorn bush on the crag edge about 50m left (facing out) of Robs Crack.
  • A strop and maillon have been added to the stake above Halfway to Kansas/Lumbar Puncture, another above Balch's Slide and another above Senile Taff Corner to facilitate abseiling.
  • All routes in the Glacis area have lower offs in place.
  • The Alpine Ridge can be ascended/descended as a relatively easy but exposed scramble.
38m.

Rockfax Description
The clean slab above a quarry spike is bold if taken direct. Gear is available to either side for those wanting more security. © Rockfax

UKC Logbook Description
The obvious long clean strip above a quarryman's spike in the ground. Pad up the slab to a large tree belay. Sparse protection: possibly VS if you don't deviate from the direct line to place gear. NOTE: it's very easy to stray left onto The Socialist. Keep your blinkers on, climb direct, and keep an eye out for gear placements slightly right.

PLEASE STOP ABSEILING DOWN THIS ROUTE. ABSEIL STROP IS NOW ON OAK TREE ABOVE ANTS IN MY LEG LOOP, USE THIS.

FA. J.Swift, A.Heath 1994.

Ticklists

Best slab climbs of the UK , Fairy Cave Quarry Top 20 , South West Climbs for a Northerner , Fairy Cave Quarry - 1-3 Star Classic & Hard Rock , Fairy Cave Solo Circuit , Top 50 Most Logged Climbs in the South West

Feedback

User Date Notes
AslansFury 13 Sep, 2020 Show βeta
βeta: Good climb. with a top rope set up gives opportunity to bag 3 routes.
βeta?
Show beta
βeta: Good climb. with a top rope set up gives opportunity to bag 3 routes.

Logged Ascents

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High VS
Mid VS
Low VS
High HS
Mid HS
Low HS
High S
Mid S
Low S
Votes cast 144
High 4b
Mid 4b
Low 4b
High 4a
Mid 4a
Low 4a
High 3c
Mid 3c
Low 3c
Votes cast 129
Votes cast 138
Style of Ascent
Lead
Followed
Toproped
Soloed
Alt Leads
Not Set
Onsighted
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Flashed (β)
Redpoint
DNF
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Ground Up
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