UKC

A good friend of mine works at Manchester University, I work at Sheffield University. We're both keen on hitting up crags after work. Which crags are best for meeting up?

Requirements:

Bouldering (for the moment), short approach, relatively reliable conditions,  not too unfair in terms of driving.

https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/map/

Unless you're travelling by train, it will take far longer to get out of Manchester than it will to get out of Sheffield.

That was to be my suggestion!  Train out of Manchester to meet a car from Sheffield near one of the Peak climbing areas.

If they’re working in one of the buildings near Piccadilly, then they jump on the Hope Valley train, you drive out from Sheff, and pick them up either at  Hope, Bamford, Hathersage or Grindleford depending on destination.

otherwise, get the tram from the uni down to Shef station and both meet at New Mills Tors

Paul

Worth looking at the Glossop area. You can drive/get the train, they can come over the Snake Pass 

Crowden quarry, Black Tor (mainly bouldering), Tintwistle Knarr (both, though the quarry itself suffers seepage so much is slow to dry), Castle Naze, Windgather.. or if your suitably placed to head north out of Sheffield then the bouldering at Wimberry might be workable. Most places in the area tend to have a big of a longer walk than Stanage.. which accounts for their undeserved unpopularity, and lack of mention for evening visits.

As somebody said above, New Mills isn’t a bad shout. Easy enough walk in & a good mix of climbing (bouldering, ‘sport’ & trad)

Also Raven Tor’s doable (at a push) for an evening. Can jump a train from Mcr to Buxton & a bus to Millers dale from there.

Your mate should get the train to Hathersage or Grindleford; getting out of Manchester through Glossop in the evening is a total nightmare.

FTFY

Hobson Moor.

Buckstones has some great next to road grit bouldering.

http://www.kirkleesclimbing.co.uk/buckstones_above_topo