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Climbs 158
Rocktype Gritstone
Altitude 300m a.s.l
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Slapping to the top on Wall Direct at Roundhill © JamesAlexanderTurnbull

Crag features

Roundhill is part of what Tony Barley intended to share with the climbing community as Wild Bouldering II.

An extensive boulder field high on Ilton Moor. Very pleasant on a Summer’s day, but can feel very exposed in rough weather. There are many excellent lower grade problems, but there are some real test pieces, particularly on the Roman Walls.

Great for families, all bilberries and no ferns. Nice and flat. Yorkshire’s answer to the child-friendly bouldering in Derbyshire’s Burbage Valley.

A download was originally availiable on the Leeds Wall Website but details can now be found at p.624 ff of Yorkshire Gritstone Vol 1 (YMC, 2012). The original guide was published in memory of Tony Barley (with the backing of his family).

Approach notes

From Lofthouse, turn off the Healy road at the bottom of the hill once the reservoirs come into view. Drive down the single-track road and park considerately near the dam of Roundhill Reservoir (SE 153 773). If travelling from Masham via Healy: cross the bridge over the Leighton Reservoir inlet, and after a few hundred metres take the single track road on the left.

Park considerately just before the big gate, well away from the house and the dam. Walk past the house and cross the dam.  Walk up hill from the end of the dam towards a five bar gate in the wall; after this follow the path uphill and cross a curious stepped green metal gate. From here continue along the straight moorland path until the boulders are reached. About half a km.

Temporary access restrictions are posted on a sign at the head of the dam. The boulders are on access land under current CRoW arrangements, but you have to cross some non-access land, so please stick to the foot paths.

Lovely venue for short mid grade bouldering amidst the wild moors but fairly accessible.
andy gittins - 19/Dec/16
Is the big gate the one with the cattle grid closest to the dam?
LGraham - 23/Jul/15
I've amended the parking notes. Stay away from the house and walk in.
John Hunt - 20/Jun/15
I would guess that Yorkshire Water would have no problems with responsible, recreational access. The land either side of the access road will be used by a tenant farmer leasing from YW I would have thought. The issue will be the legal status of the road accessing the dam. I guess that the owners of the house are twitchy about loads of the unwashed clogging up 'their' drive?
Andy Say - 19/Jun/15
There is no access agreement about parking - the boulders themselves are on access land and a footpath leads to them. It might be wise to park on the main road and walk down the little road to the dam. I never had any problems parking near the dam and other people, walkers etc, also park there. However, if more people are climbing here, it might be causing concern. I'll pass this on the Gritstone Access Rep, but a sensible position for now would be to park further away and enjoy the slightly longer walk.
John Hunt - 07/Sep/10
I seems that there are some acess problems brewing here concerning car parking. Last night I was asked by the person who lives in the house near the dam not to drive up the road as described in the access notes and not to park anywhere beside the approach road. He was reasonable but adamant that there was no access agreement as described and maintained that Yorkshire Water and the farmer of the land were strongly against car access but pedestrian access was fine. If anyone has new information or can clarify the arrangements this would be welcome.
balnakiel - 07/Sep/10
Yes you are right about this boulder field, a great place, great problems and fantastic location. Myself and a group of mates first bouldered here in 2005, we documented and photographed most of the problems that appear on the Leeds wall site. I shall post some of the photo's here when i dig them out! - Robin Warden
Robin Warden - 18/Jan/10
A topo is availiable at: http://www.theleedswall.co.uk/ymc/downloads.htm.
John Hunt - 28/Nov/09
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