UKC

Climbs 97
Rocktype Grit (quarried)
Altitude 417m a.s.l
Faces S

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The Arete, Tintwistle Knarr © Colin Brearley

Crag features

Tintwistle is a fine but sadly neglected quarry in an impressive setting with a superb outward view towards the wastes of Bleaklow and the proud buttress of Shining Clough lurking in the shadows. The crag has an excellent set of crack climbs and although the walk up tends to put people off, the effort made to get here is usually repaid in full.

Tintwistle Knarr also contains a good set of mainly harder boulder problems. The quarry of Tintwistle, with its famous arête climb, makes a worthy addition for those who wish to mix their routes and bouldering.

The quarry is south-facing and gets all the sun that is going, though it takes quite a bit of drainage from the moor behind. Like nearby Laddow, the grass is gradually taking over the place, choking the cracks, covering the ledges and holding moisture so that over time the whole place becomes slower to dry. With more traffic, the best of the climbs here would be rivals to many of Millstone's most popular outings - helping to spread the load a little.

 

 

Approach notes

The approach is straightforward following the quarry track up the hill. It is no longer possible to park at the start of the quarry track as per all the current (2023) guidebooks but there's a huge lay-by a little way down the main road so this doesn't make much difference.

Walk east along the road to where the zig-zagging path to the quarry starts, enter the forest at the stile and then continue along the track to reach the front of the central bay of the quarry. The boulders are down to the right. Approach with care to reach the Top Boulders. It's about 30 minutes from the lay-by to the quarry.

Update this Crag
Last updated on 06/Jun/2023

No Access Issues

No access issues reported. This does not apply to the boulders in the woods below, see seperate RAD entry.

Click here for RAD Access Notes
Last update: 21/12/2022  

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Be careful on scree slope, dislodged a block when standing on it and nearly had a tumble. Seemed completely solid when I was on it, ouch!
Michael Morrell - 12/Feb/23
No issues with gamekeepers at boulders 15/04/2022. Best after a bit of wind as deforestation is in a bit of a dip and may remain damp
AdamBrown - 22/Apr/22
Got warned off the boulders by a friendly gamekeeper on Saturday (27/03) . He mentioned that it was SSSI and asked us to leave once we’d finished.
nathanlee - 29/Mar/22
The laborious approach talked about here is completely misleading. It’s an easy 25 minute walk up a gentle incline - anything but difficult.
Frank the Husky - 24/May/20
Somewhere on your 'I know I should check it out but I know I never will' list that should be on your 'I'm checking this place out asap' list. Quality.
DerwentDiluted - 30/Apr/14
Dream Chaser is unclimbable at the moment as several trees have fallen completely covering the problems around that area. It would need a chainsaw and a lot of effort to shift them.
Al Doig - 23/Sep/12
O gradey's offers the best whipper in the north.
Franco Cookson - 10/Aug/12
A pleasant 15 min walk up to the quarry and great views are possibly the only reason (besides the layback classics and The Arete) to take time out of one’s busy climbing schedule to sample Tints delights. The old triangle was a seeping snot fest despite previous sustained great weather, as for its 2 stars and 5a tech grade ill have to agree to disagree. Knobblekerry corner a 4c??!! Lack of gear for the last 15m while climbing from one shrubbery to the next is eerie. In short:- you’re in the peaks with the best climbing substance known to mankind beneath you, do the grit and yourself a favour and go someplace else.
tommakin - 21/Apr/09
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