UKC

Climbs 20
Rocktype Sandstone (soft)
Altitude 55m a.s.l
Faces all

View Stats

Steve Williams at the Agglestone © steve taylor

Crag features

The Agglestone is something of a mystery. How does a solitary giant sandstone boulder find itself in the middle of a heathland overlooking Poole Harbour? 

The Agglestone has long been a venue for locals though in an effort to reduce wear and tear only scant details have previously been published. Continuing in this vein we have given the Agglestone a cursory mention only. The Southern Sandstone boys and girls have developed a nice set of ethics that are equally applicable to the similarly delicate Agglestone: 
> No chipping, no brushing - use a rag instead.
> Use minimal chalk and clean away any excess.
> Clean the sand from your shoes before climbing and don't use pof.
> Don't drop litter.

Around 1969 the Agglestone drastically shifted. It was originally anvil shaped, with a flat top and slightly overhanging sides. Over the decades, the rock has continued tilting. The tilting is away from Studland and the original top is now a slab of about 45 degrees. All problems are affected, with those on the western sides becoming noticeably steeper!

The nature of the rock lends itself to eliminate problems and we have only described the most obvious features. The rock is rough, the bouldering is powerful and the landings excellent. So go there, respect the Aggle, be inventive and leave no trace.

Approach notes

From Corfe Castle - Leave the A351 just before Corfe Castle and take the B3351 under the railway bridge. Follow the B3351 to a 4-5 car lay-by 400m past the entrance to the Isle of Purbeck Golf Club.

From Poole (Ferry) - Follow the road from the ferry terminus through Studland village. Follow the road to a 4-5 car lay-by 900m past a turning to Swanage.

From the lay-by, go through a gate and follow the track northeast across the golf course. Pick up a bridleway signposted to the Agglestone. The bridleway is followed along the edge of the golf course to gates. Continue along the bridleway and the Agglestone will soon be in view.

An alternative approach, which is useful if combining with a beach visit, is from the road between Studland and the Knoll House Hotel to the north. The distance and time is about the same but can be a little boggy.

Hi. Here is a correction for new boulders as moderator is not available they still appears wrong - Low Traverza is on east face - Breaking Sandstone is on east face - Stand Up is on north east face
Spirit - 15/May/14
Visited this for the first time today. Beautiful location. Lovely boulder. Well worth a look. I'll certainly be going back.
Swampy167 - 12/Mar/14
At Agglestone yesterday.. Lovely weather, rock nice & dry, great fun many different sorts of problems from slab to overhang.. We accessed it from Agglestone Road.
Mike Lee - 11/Oct/13
I went on a humid september morning and got eaten alive by gnats! Interesting venue.
TommityP - 04/Sep/13
very easy to get to as signposted everywhere. lots of problems especially for the complete novice. had loads of fun
skipith - 09/Jul/12
Was here last week (very sunny). Bit hard to find parking/the right 'walk in' and in the end parked at Studland and walked up from the back of the hotel which took about 30mins (they'll give you a map if you are unsure). Partly boggy ground on the approach and might be a problem following a deluge. Boulder itself is really soft and a large chunk has fallen recently (during the winter perhaps). Climbs are pretty good and the slab-side is easy enough to walk off the boulder. Well worth a look if you get bored on the Studland beach.
Unclejona - 08/Jun/11
went there today lots of good problems, signed posted from the road if you can't find it. good fun
danimal - 12/Mar/11
I went to bournemouht this past bank holiday (End of August) and it wasnt there? am i blind or something?
claudman - 31/Aug/10
Login as Existing User to add your comments

Climbs at this crag

Name Grade Stars Type Logs Partner Ascents
Please Login or Register to log routes or add them to your wishlist
These climbs you have climbed clean.
These climbs you have climbed by seconding or top-roping.
These climbs you have Dogged.
These climbs you Did not Finish.
Climbs are waiting to be checked by a crag moderator, and may not be accurate. Climbs can't be verified by a crag moderator, and they need more information to confirm it. Climbs are no longer climbable.

Moderators Updates to this page are checked by UKC volunteers Sabrina Brooke and sam.sam.sam.ferguson

Loading Notifications...