UKC

Climbs 229
Rocktype Limestone
Altitude 400m a.s.l
Faces SW

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Scared but happy on the crux of Rock And A Hard Place, soft E3 / V3, Windmore End © Fiend

Crag features

A long escarpment of quarried limestone. The crag is exposed to the elements and quite capable of living up to its name. The rock is quick drying and climbable at any time of the year.

Approach notes

From Brough take the B6276 towards Middleton in Teesdale. After two miles a minor road branches off to the right. To reach the left-hand section of the crag, continue past this and park beyond the next bend near a gate on the right. Go through this gate and walk up the field to the crag. For the right-hand section, take the minor road. There is room for several cars in a small space beyond the cottage of Windmore Green. Further along the road a gate allows access to the field, and the crag is quickly reached by slanting up the hill below an old lime kiln.
Shut all gates and take care not to damage any dry stone walls!

Don't climb the wall at the top of the crag. There is a stile near the west end of the "allowed" climbing.

Update this Crag
Last updated on 13/Aug/2025

Restricted Access

The crag is in three sections - divided by two walls. 

The right-hand section is on CRoW Access Land  -  there was an issue in October 2024 created by climbers and in particular groups -  

     (a) some climbing over the wall near the layby/parking area and 

     (b) not closing the access gate and allowing sheep to escape and get onto the main road (B6276) nearby.   

Needless to say this aggravated the farmer who was also subject to some local social media comments about which he had no control or responsibility.  He was particularly annoyed when, having asked a group to close the gate, he found the gate open.

The local BMC Area Rep has met the farmer and access has been re-established with notices highlighting these factors as follows  -

  • DO NOT CLIMB OVER THE WALL NEAR THE LAYBY
  • ACCESS THE CRAG BY THE GATE TO THE RIGHT OF THE LAYBY
  • CLOSE THE GATE AFTER GOING THROUGH IT  !!!!!!!
  • GENERALLY FOLLOW (OR FOR SOME/MANY - LEARN) THE COUNTRYSIDE CODE

The Access Representative is looking to meet the owners shortly so please avoid going to the crag at the moment.

The middle section is directly behind the cottage and has, thanks to the owner, access to the land and crag, from the right-hand section.   Currently this access is restricted due to the above issue.

The left-hand section is not on CRoW access land and there is currently no access allowed to this land.  The wall at the top of the crag marks the start of CROW land, hence the crag is outside of the CROW area.

Click here for RAD Access Notes
Last update: 01/05/2025  

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Signage and padlock is still up at Windmore as of 19/10/24. Is there any update on the access to the Far Right Wall?
kittyd - 19/Oct/24
Several of the stakes want re-positioning as ground movement has made them quite loose (even the newer ones). Worth checking before setting off on routes. Will have to take a sledge hammer next time and sort these out.
Henry Barrett - 20/Oct/20
Climbed here today, small rockfall from the top of Becher's Brook. Another pair had a rockfall cut the end of their rope somewhere around the Second Wall area (not entirely sure where).
LGraham - 03/Jul/16
Any update on access? Does the comment apply to the left hand side or to the area behind the cottage or both?
MartinJWood - 16/Jun/16
One of if not the best highball circuits in the lakes. Good to see the routes in order of L to R but there is still some climbs missing and climbs graded wildly wrong. The grades are all over in general, i suggest giving them a bouldering grade.
KristopherHall - 16/May/14
I can't find "Lost on 66" or "Right on 66" on here but its in the FRCC guide?
KristopherHall - 16/May/14
This crag is now soorted, in line with the current FRCC guide. Some routes have been merged from the old FRCC PDF.
Climbster - 19/Dec/13
Sorting this lot may take some time, I've started by putting routes in order from left to right.
Climbster - 16/Dec/13
Climbster I expect to see some sensible regrading and restarring now!
Fiend - 16/Dec/13
Further corrections to the ridiculous upgrading in the new guide: Wind Power should still be HVS, Crozzly Wall should still be E2 (or even E1) but 5c for the start, Speeding Like A Jet should be E2 5c. That's for padless leads, all of them are highball boulder problems V1-V3 with pads. Scoop And Wall is easy E2 5c. The Helm is correct in the new guide at E3 6a ** to lead.
Fiend - 30/Nov/13
Got the new guide. Great detail but some very strange things going on with grades. Trouble Without A Cause E4 6b?? It's an easy V4 6b, it wouldn't even be a highball boulder problem let alone a micro-route. Rock And A Hard Place E4 6a?? Soft E3 5c as it always was. TBH most of these climbs should be given primarily highball bouldering grades, and trad grades second, as per the newer BMC guides.
Fiend - 28/Nov/13
Half of the flake on Anticlimbax has fallen off of this climb and the top half of the flake has some movement in it.
Ben_Megson - 16/Aug/13
falling rock...
jules1990 - 01/Mar/13
There are loads of loose rock on a lot of the climbs here, a friends brand new rope got cut by a falling rope at exactly the halfway mark.
jules1990 - 01/Mar/13
According to the new FRCC guidebook, the left hand section of this crag is currently banned.
Bob - 29/Jul/12
Pleasant little crag, worth a drop into for a quiet evenings soloing on the way to the lakes on A66. Friendly holds, good landings, friendly grades and good moves. The stars on UKC aren't the same as the forthcoming FRCC write up, there are some grand micro-routes here.
Dave Warburton - 01/Jun/10
ive been to have a look at this place - 'Windmore End- certainly lives up to its name cos i travelled from Lncashire to 'Appleby -climbed 'The Hoff' crag a few months ago and agin last week, then onto 'windmore end' again and it was Misty as hell and the crag was very slippery ! wot im saying is that other areas cud be nice and sunny whilst 'Windmore End' is a sheet of mist !
pinkie - 15/Sep/06
Well worth a visit, delightful setting overlooking Eden Valley with a level meadow base, landings for solo climbers, beware loose finishes and sometimes friable protection. Stake belays abound.
Andysomething - 30/Aug/06
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