UKC

Climbs 346
Rocktype Sandstone (soft)
Altitude 109m a.s.l
Faces S

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Nicotine Alley Beta © Nina Rogers

Crag features

Admission is £6 by card. Yearly passes available at the office. The rocks are owned by Bowles Outdoor Pursuits Centre. All funds go to upkeep of the rocks, toilet facilities on site, as well as providing outdoor activities for disadvantaged young people.

Payment by contactless card only.

Liquid chalk strongly encouraged where possible.

Clean your climbing shoes before you climb - A carpet sample or mat is essential for cleaning your feet before you climb - this significantly reduces wear on the crag.

As with all sandstone crags, arrange a top-rope belay with a non-stretch sling and ensure the Karabiner hangs over the edge of the crag and that your moving rope does not come into contact with the rock.

Do not brush the rock with boulder brushes or toothbrushes. This will wear the rock and damage it, making it even harder to climb. 
Keep your dogs on a lead and do not let them roam. 

Bowles is keen to do more for climbers and any feedback is welcome - email [email protected]

Approach notes

From the A26 between Tunbridge Wells and Crowborough. The turnoff is about 1km (0.6mi) after Eridge station on the left if going towards Crowborough.

The rocks are about a 1 minute walk from the car park on a tarmac road. 

Update this Crag
Last updated on 29/Aug/2025

Restricted Access

Bowles is owned by the Bowles Rocks Trust (a non-profit making charity) and run as an outdoor education centre providing instructional courses as well as allowing members of the public to climb for a fee. All details aroud public access for climbing can be found on the Bowles Rocks website.

Click here for RAD Access Notes
Last update: 14/04/2021  

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What about the direct slab next to "manita". "white verdict" I think it's called, 6b.... I can't see it on your list! http://79.170.44.210/climbingvideos.co.uk/crags/SS/sand/bowles/photos/geezerdave.jpg
rotax123 - 01/Aug/12
SandC: therer isn't an easy way of doing this, as far as I can see, unless ther problems are given names. I'll dig into it a bit more and see if I can sort something out. Rob (Crag Moderator).
Rob Naylor - 17/Mar/12
any way of getting the boulder problems added to the lists for my logbook? They dont really have names which is the problem.
SandC - 17/Mar/12
On my last visit I was sad to see a group of three climbers savagely brushing Sandman (6a) THIS ENLARGES THE HOLDS and irreversibly damages the rock! Please respect the rock by cleaning it sparingly and as gently as possible. Please read the ten commandments of sandstone (on the BMC site) to protect this fragile rock
mr random - 26/Aug/07
easier to get to than Harrisons but not as varied.
Ben - 05/Oct/04
Ignore johny, he clearly has a damaged intelligence.
mike - 17/Jul/04
Seen so many northern and indoor wusses come down and fail. Ha, ha, ha. The rock requires a very special technique you only acquire on sandstone, hard or soft. This stuff is as soft as it gets and it eats twats for breakfast
JoHNY - 09/Feb/04
Become very eroded this year, a lot of hold breakages. Be careful! And don't climb on it when wet...
Sandman - 26/Dec/03
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Climbs at this crag

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