kirklees climbing

THE CHURNET

The Alton Towers Alternative

For some, this corner of Staffordshire means Alton Towers and its dizzy theme park rides. For a much much smaller minority, it means terrifying up-routes on the conglomerate crags hidden in the nearby trees... the screams of the nearby but out-of-sight joyriders complementing the snap of the bunter pebble. Others, perhaps more cautious than those in the first two categories, recognise that the crumbling nightmare above is in fact magnificent bouldering terrain closer to the ground.

The three main traverses here are very special:

The Virgin (or Long Wall) Traverse hides in rhododendron jungle and provides the easiest and most fingery-friendly climbing at around Font 6b+ (V3-4) but can be extended into a massive adventure at Font 7b. Being deep-valley, it can however be damp.
Up in the meadows above is the more open Wright's Rock Traverse. This is well-thuggy at the crux and a good span is useful; Font 7b (V8).
On the far side of Dimmingdale is the delightful Ousal Low Traverse, Font 7a (V6); see photos. Right to left, this gives steadily steeper, steadily harder climbing. Or just sit in the leaves and watch others cut their fingers to ribbons!

So take the Red Road to Dimmingsdale. Don't linger too long in the tea garden. Do keep an eye for dwarves, maybe elves. Get on the conglomerate; these three are class.

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