Rock Climbing
RockSports
ROCKSPORTS
There are two ways you can go on rock in North Yorkshire - up and down. There are great crags for rock climbing throughout the region on a number of different rock types, and in the Yorkshire Dales you can also explore in the downwards direction in the many caves and potholes.
You can find out more about these exciting outdoor activities here:
- Rock climbing
- Caves and potholes
Or have a look at the Year of Adventure rocksport selections:
Go Down a Showcave Rocksports
Guided Caving Trip Rocksports
Climbing the Big Three Rocksports
Cave Rocksports
Bouldering Rocksports
Try Climbing at Ingleton Wall Rocksports
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Throughout the Pennine region there are two main rock types - gritstone and limestone, and these have both long attracted climbers.
The gritstone outcrops are scattered throughout the Pennines with some the best known being Brimham Rocks, Almscliff, and the Cow and Calf at Ilkley. The main gritstone edges mostly have short traditional routes and boulder problems on a variety of buttresses. The grade range is wide with climbs suited to beginner and expert often located side by side.
The dominant rock type of the Yorkshire Dales is limestone. This underlying rock gives the place it characteristic look with white outcrops framing the valley sides, ribbons of walls across the landscape, and expanses of limestone pavement. There are many climbable cliffs here include the intimidating 'big three' of Kilnsey, Malham Cove and Gordale Scar. Most of the limestone cliffs are better suited to experienced climbers whilst beginners will generally find gritstone a more amenable medium on which to learn and practice.
The limestone cliffs have both traditional and modern sport climbing on crags which include some of the hardest climbs in the country. In recent years the addition of new bolted routes has increased the popularity of a number of venues including Trow Gill, Robin Proctor's Scar and Giggleswick.
Many of the limestone cliffs in the Dales are south or west facing and dry quickly after rain meaning that climbing can take place for much of the year.
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Some sites, and in particular, Malham, Gordale and Trow Gill are very popular with walkers and other visitors and so need to be used with a sense of responsibility and care.
The North York Moors have some worthwhile crags to visit too. There are sandstone outcrops such as Scugdale and the Wainstones, and the slightly strange oolitic limestone found at Whitestone Cliff and Peak Scar.
During the bird nesting season there are also a number of effective voluntary restrictions to protect breeding birds. These are advertised on the BMC website and some have on-site notices. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and RSPB also have reserves across the region if you are wanting to sample local wildlife as well as outdoor adventure.
Start Climbing
Many people are introduced to climbing at a climbing wall, through a club, or by a qualified instructor.
Climbing walls
The best known climbing walls in the area are at Ingleton, Hull and Leeds and details for these can be found below. A full list of climbing walls in the area is available on the BMC website.
Hull
Rock City, 01482 223030.
Ingleton
Inglesport, 01524 241146.
Leeds
The Leeds Wall, 0113 2341554.
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Clubs
There are a number of climbing and outdoor clubs based in the area, with Skipton, York and Richmond well served. If you don't live in one of those places it is worth remembering that the clubs hold their activities throughout the region and the rest of the UK.
Information about climbing clubs in other areas can be found by clicking here.
Instructors and guides
The activity centres and guides listed below are accredited through the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA). Accreditation through AALA is only required for centres and guides doing adventurous activities with young people in a commercial setting. This means that many well qualified and experienced guides are not part of this scheme especially if they concentrate on working with adults.
Above & Below
2 Greenstead, Newby, Via Clapham, Via Lancaster, North Yorkshire, England LA2 8HR
Tel: (015242) 51011
High Adventure Outdoor Education Centre
233 Keighley Road, Cowling. Keighley, North Yorkshire, England BD22 0AA
Tel: (01535) 630044
Ingleborough Hall Outdoor Education Centre
Clapham, Via Lancaster, North Yorkshire, England. LA2 8EF
Tel: (015242) 51265
Low Mill Outdoor Centre
Low Mill,. Askrigg, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, England DL8 3HZ
Tel: (01969) 650432
Rock Steady Adventures
Fishergate Business Centre, 35 Hospital Fields Road, York. YO10 4DZ
08456 123636
Yorkshire Dales Guides
Barrel Sykes, Langcliffe, Settle, North Yorkshire, England BD24 9LP
Tel: (01729) 824455
Dales Ventures (Tony Flanagan)
Ffrancon, Thornton-in-Lonsdale, Westhouse, Near Ingleton, Via Carnforth, Lancashire, England LA6 3PB
Tel: (01524) 241210
North Yorkshire Outdoor Education Service
There are three centres run by North Yorkshire County Council in the region. These are at East Barnby near Whitby, Great Fryupdale on the North Yorkshire Moors, and Bewerley Park near Pateley Bridge.
Association of Mountaineering Instructors (AMI)
Many AMI mountaineering instructors work on a freelance/self-employed basis and are available for hire by the day or for longer periods. Although based in a particular geographical area, instructors are normally able to work in locations all over the UK to meet client needs.
In addition to mountaineering instruction members may offer other services such as gorge scrambling, sea level traversing and general adventurous activities. You can obtain more information by contacting AMI members directly. See http://www.ami.org.uk/.
