UKC

Myself and a climbing friend attempted to locate this crag, but alas we spent an hour wandering around a wood. We used Doug Kerrs guide book to try and locate it.
We followed the "path next to the stream", and "turned left at the fork in the path" like the book suggested, but to no avail - anyone know how to get there?

In reply to Ian Mackay: been there before its not very good due to cob webs all over the thing and the jungle you got to go through if you realy want find it i suggest you take a michete and when you start going up a hill you will find a blue pipe it is then over to your right hand side you will be on top of it so be carefull

In reply to Ian Mackay: If you do ever find it, please don't look to carefully at FA list in the book for the author of numerous and generally rather shite routes there. Although saying that, do "flight of the fruit bat", a rather amusing climbing experience.

Follow the path and stream through the fields, to the woods. Good path through the woods, stream is now to your left down at the bottom of steep little valley. Path splits, go left follow it to where it crosses the stream, and large crumbly cobweb and mud-covered lump of limestone should be in front of you. Better, if not actually good, after a sustained dry period. There are some nice pubs about and a great balti house in Tenbury (up the Teme) for when you decide its rubbish and want an alternative!

In reply to Ian Mackay:

Been researching this area recently.

Looked long and hard at an aerial view and can't make anything conclusive out. You can see the paths clearly.

http://www.hotpud.com/ukroutes/CragStats?pg=37092640

Click on the Aerial Photo link, zoom in to 1:5000

In reply to Mike Whittaker:

Mike - I take it you just used the guides grid ref. I they have got it wrong it could well be http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?grid2map?x=371500&y=263500&...

in which case folk might have been going up the wrong stream. I've been there enough times so I should be able to remember - but I can't see it on the photo either. I think there is an old farm building on the other side of the road - about where you park, then a hundred metres or so through a field following a stream and hedge (might even cross it) to the tree line, the follow the path through the woods.

Sorry I can't be more use than that, it must 6 or 7 years since I last went.

In reply to Ian Mackay:

my god you must be desparate

no offence, or to anyone else who likes climbing esoterica, particularly from Douglas Kerr's little funny book.

and that includes you Wayne! I know you're out there...

In reply to JonC: Have you been there then?

In reply to TobyA:

Thanks for that Toby. If whoever goes there next could just clarify then I'll change it. Something I'm quite particualr about is spot on grid references.

This is the link to max zoom (1:5000) picy of Toby's suggested location. You can make out the streams. Is the crag just upstream of the confluence Toby?

http://www.multimap.com/map/photo.cgi?x=371483&y=263521&scale=5000

In reply to Mike Whittaker: It could be... errr. Next time I'm in Worcestershire I'll pop over and have a wee check. Unfortunately, as I'm in Helsinki I'm not much use at the mo'!

In reply to Ian Mackay: Ian, Ive tried to climb there several times and its always crap. Can let you know how to find it if you really must know but its really not worth the effort (Wet, covered in cobwebs slowly melting and most routes now in said stream). IMHO be very sceptical of West Midlands Rock!! Ippikins is a little better. Thou im a fan of Pontesford. Yes Jon???

In reply to TobyA: I heard it was probably crap but we thought we'd just pop up and check it out.
Thanks for all your help chaps- I may venture up there again when summer kicks in.

In reply to Ian Mackay:

From all my experience with Worcestershire rock I can say that it's shite. That's why whenever I'm at home I drive to the peaks instead! The sandstone near Shrewsbury (eg Nessclife) is supposed to be good, but I haven't had a chance to check it out yet.

In reply to Ian Mackay:

I've just checked the OS Ref (on my 1:25000 sheet) and I'm pretty sure it's reasonably accurate.
Take a look at:

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?grid2map?x=370500&y=263500&...

The description was re-checked for the second edition (in 1995)but the rusty barn and fallen tree may have long since gone. Hope the above will help?

As for the crag, well take a look for yourself!

Doug

In reply to Doug Kerr@home and everyone else:

Southstone is never going to be a national "destination" but go there on a nice dry day and you might even have some fun - perhaps we are all being a bit harsh on the place. Kids would almost certainly love the place as there are tunnels and passages to be discovered, damns to built in the stream etc. There is some bouldering potential - its not Wimberry or the Plantation - but if you live locally it's worth a look. The back wall of the main block despite being overhanging goes at about 4c or 5a due to the HUGE holds you often find. I've climbed to the top and decided I didn't want to pull out into the brambles so just downclimbed it again.

It's a lovely part of the world with some nice pubs - so might well be worth a family day out type of thing, with a little pit of climbing thrown in, but do pick a sunny warm day in summer.

Are there still candles and the Madonna in the cave at the bottom of Madonna's Groove? Weird eh?

In reply to Doug Kerr@home: Cheers Doug - the rusty barn is still there but I suspect we ventured along the wrong path (even though it did have several fallen trees!!).

In reply to TobyA:
I agree - I went there and did some top-roping yet the best part of the session was bouldering round the back of the main block - nice long pumpy traverse - back and for as many times as you like. Spooky place tho'.