UKC

Overlooking the picturesque slopes of Wharfedale is a climbing destination of national significance. The distinctive Cow and Calf rocks, plus the secluded Rocky Valley, offer 278 routes on some of the finest Gritstone in the country. The variety of features on offer is mind-boggling, with protectable cracks, terrifying arêtes, technical walls and blind grooves lines all found amongst this gritstone playground.

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In reply to UKC Articles:

S Crack at VS 4c is fair enough if you leave A Climb at its traditional grade of VDiff as there are 2 or 3 grades between them. But move A Climb up to HS and surely S Crack must be upgraded to at least HVS?

PS Beeline is captioned as HVS 6a in the photo, though correct at 5a in the text

In reply to UKC Articles:
WTF! It’s crap

In reply to PaulTanton:
Easy on. Clearly it's a countdown of the top 500...right?

Winky face, and all that.

In reply to UKC Articles:

I was going to say something along the lines of "not even one of the finest crags in West Yorkshire"...

In reply to Will Hunt:

A small number of historically significant and fine looking routes..........amongst a load of chos! Great coffee though ????

In reply to PaulTanton:

A better than average grit crag in Yorkshire

Certainly not one the best in the country

In reply to Bulls Crack:


which are the average ones?

In reply to Simon Caldwell:

Presumably given the dislikes I'm a better climber than I thought and simultaneously a worse climber than I thought...

In reply to UKC Articles:

Is New Statesman now considered the first E9, as it's been upgraded and it was done before Indian Face?

In reply to Andy Moles:
Nope, can’t agree. It’s got a couple of good death routes but not much for the average punter climber, HVS to E4. The only good thing about it is that you can see Almscliff.
The rock has that horrible glaze, it’s always cold, most of the routes are polished to feck.

In reply to PaulTanton:

You are mistaken sir. I've rechecked my list and it's right there at #498.

I won't be convinced otherwise until you list all the crags that are better.

And Stanage only counts as one.

In reply to Red Rover:


Pretty sure NS was done late in 1987 and IF in Oct 1986

In reply to Alex the Alex:

Rylstone, Eastby......Heptonstall etc

I'm not saying its a bad average!

In reply to UKC Articles:

The 3rd page picture in that article really doesn't sell it as a "Finest Crag in the UK & Ireland"

In reply to UKC Articles:

I've not climbed there but couldn't help but notice the amount of chalk on the holds in almost every photo, bearing in mind the 'chalk abuse' thread elsewhere on here.

In reply to UKC Articles:

I'm looking forward to the next two in this series, featuring Den Lane and Wharton Main

In reply to UKC Articles:

Haven't climbed there as was green when I popped by but great article Mike. Fantastic routes/ pics.

In reply to UKC Articles:

I've only been once and to be honest I wasn't blown away by it, but I really, really want to climb Shock Horror.