Southstone Rock

good for a day out localy quite grimey but total manageable.hard to find. I parked in rock road and walked for a good half a mile downwards into the woods.keap going downhill till you get to the stream and you will hopefully see it on the right. great history of the place talking to the local dog walkers and they say the monks used to go there to meditate.I can understand why it is realy peacefull nice place to be.
theNocker - 07/Jan/12

I thought it looked brilliant, main face slightly dirty but still lots of grip when its dry. Back cannon looked awesome, and clean! However I can't fined any logged routes in back cannon as there are none on this website or in the print-off guide book, does anyone know any? Surprising as I thought back cannon looked like the best bit!
Mike Hood - 18/Jul/11

The rock is filthy, but only because it has never been cleaned - so what do you expect!!! Actually it is reasonably sound in many places under the muck. Would yield a few short interesting climbs worthy of an afternoon if a couple of bolts were put in it. There is a bit of half decent bouldering about too. I thought it was a beautiful and very interesting place. If I lived in the area I'd put a bit of effort in to making it climbable. After all, some lines in the peak get re-cleaned every spring, come on folks - get on it - it's not as if this area is spoilt for options on climabable rock.
Dominic Green - 31/Oct/08

There's some great scenary around here, and the walk down to the rocks is very nice. Unfortunately the rock is just bad quality!! However there is free parking at the last house on the right before the concrete ramp down to the public path - the lady there says that anyone is free to park on the grass outside her gate :)
steve3489 - 20/Oct/07

Thought I'd take a look as I don't live too far away and fancied something local as an alternative to walls. So today I took the mutt for a strole to this crag. Well I've limited climbing experience but even I could see that this was a pile of c**p. I don't even know why it's listed on this site, okay it's a rock but that's it. Even if the vegetation is cleared you'd need a severe jet-wash to get me even touching the rock. Judging by the stuff left around, the only people who frequent this place just want somewhere out of the way for their sex, drugs and alcohol. I'll never subject me or my dog to this tip again!
crezzer - 22/Sep/06

Only live 45 minutes drive away, but would not return to this crag if you paid me. Not the place for arachnophobics like myself. Very dirty and virtually no opportunity to lead. Some routes may be interesting if only they were a bit cleaner. It was however in a pleasant, albeit forbidding setting, and not surprisingly we had the crag to ourselves. It may be useful for local climbers to practise top roping and abseils, but not much else.
Adam Tyler - 01/Jun/04

on first viewing the cliff looks like it is plastered in chalk, this is in fact cobwebs they're everywhere!!! This cliff is definatly only for a very local climber with little else to do
dylan burgess - 28/May/04

this place is utter cack the routes are dirty and best left for the spiders (as you approach it looks like its covered in chalk but its actually cobwebs)
dylan burgess - 21/May/04

Live ten mins down the road from Southstone Rock and have driven past the place on my way to work every day for the last 2 years never knew it was there!! I am in the process of moving a lot of the logs and rubbish that was around the place and cleaning up a few of the climbs. Not the greatest climbing place but very handy for anyone who lives locally.
Neil - 27/Oct/03

Plenty of trees above the crag, for those wishing to set up bottom ropes. Not much in the way of placements for leading. Certainly worth a look if you are in the area. Very quiet and secluded area, good for a coupla hours play.
Cally N - 30/Aug/02