Approach notes

Woodcroft Quarry has seen a renaissance in the past few years with the development of a number of new mid-grade sport routes. At the same time, unfortunately the Fly Wall and Woodcroft Quarry area have become a focal point for anti-social behaviour and access issues for climbers have arisen. Landowners and managers have been keen to limit access through the historical access point above the quarry to reduce this anti-social behaviour, which could have resulted in climbers having to take a much longer approach. The fast approach and convenience of both the trad and sport routes in this part of the crag are one of its greatest assets, (especially as the days draw longer and thoughts turn to evening cragging,) so we were keen to avoid this if possible.

1. The fence at the top of the quarry has been repaired and a gate installed with a lock (further along the path from the original access). It is very important that climbers ensure the gate latched behind them any time they enter or exit – failure to do so could result in future access issues for this useful and convenient entrance point, so please be especially vigilant when using the gate. Note: The gate is not the padlocked one by the main entrance - it's a few metres away closer to the quarry edge, and just off the main Offa's Dyke path.

The other entrance include:

2. Walk in on from the Woodcroft end, take Off-Dyke's path (from the entrance near Old School Lane) and follow the lower path along the river, initially you will see the Forbidden wall on your right, keep going as the path heads away from the cliff, but when it gets closer again you will see the far end of the Fly Wall near Joe's and The Fly.

For the Fly wall and Woodcroft Quarry head towards the rock and follow the poor Flywall path all the way along until it reaches the end of the Fly Wall where you can turn right and walk up to Woodcroft Quarry (heading down here leads past the Screed Slope to the bottom of the Go-Wall).

For the main cliff it maybe easier to stay on the footpath, crossing the Screed Slope at the bottom (easy) to reach the bottom of the Go-Wall.

3. The Easy Way Down, approx 500 metres past The Rising Sun (access to the pull-off now denied by bollards). From the viewing platform, start a a steep and initially exposed and unprotected descent which is NOT suitable for a novice and difficult in trainers/back-packs.

4. It is also possible to access the Cliff from the footpath on Lancaut road, just 50m. to the left after the parking area, signposted Lancaut Nature Reserve, which leads down and past the ruined St. James chapel to a riverside comfortable footpath. The footpath runs the whole length of Wintour's Leap crag and eventually (approx. 20min. from the car) climbs very steeply into Woodcroft Quarry at the other end.

The least disruptive parking is to be had on the grassy patches by the side of the Lancaut road, just N of the village.