If you are a true adrenaline junkie and love those heights, check out these fantastic areas to go rock climbing, abseiling and bungee jumping at! If you are not an experienced climber and just want to do a nice refreshing hike, dont worry, you absolutely can! These destinations are for everyone!
The Peak District is rightfully famous for its fantastic rock climbing, most of the climbs being short and severe. The two key rock types are gritstone and limestone and the variety of climbing is immense. There really is something for every climber here!
The limestone edges are mainly in the centre and south of the Peaks – to the east of Buxton (around Millers Dale) and between Leek and Ashbourne (near Dovedale). Limestone can be brittle with often quite vertical cliff faces with undercut bases. In the Peak District there is a lot of bolting on limestone climbs.
Gritstone is completely different! Abrasive, this can be harsh on the hands but it does have great friction – useful when the climbing has so much variety and challenge. Probably, the more famous gritstone ridges are at The Roaches (just north of Leek in the southern Peaks) and Stanage (at the other end near Sheffield).
Party Houses properties are all within C 20 mins drive of the gritstone at The Roaches, Hen Cloud and Ramshaw Rocks and the limestone at Ilam, Dovedale and Beeston Tor. Roaches Hall, as the name suggests, is right under the rocks and you can be bouldering or climbing in 5 minutes from the front door (in the photo above, the drive way seen leads to Roaches Hall). There are over 100 plus climbs on Hen Cloud alone from Diff to E3, and up to 30m tall. The neighbouring Roaches has about 300 route in two tiers for all levels of climber. The bouldering is especially good if you have children with you!
The BMC has a number of publications of interest for this area; The Roaches, Western Grit and Peak Bouldering are all published by Rockfax.
If you are not an experienced climber it is worth walking up there to marvel at those who are (and the kids love jumping on the big boulders lying all over the hillside).
Other famous places to climb in the Peak include Stanage Edge near Hathersage and HighTor near Matlock Bath.
A Natural Playground
With a host of exciting and unique outdoor adventure activities on offer, How Stean Gorge is one of the few places in the UK where you can do both water and rock sports in one day. Take the plunge and abseil off our 45ft bridge into the waters below where you can scramble upstream over the unusual rock formations of the gorge. Discover what lurks beneath your feet and delve deeper into the Yorkshire Dales with a day of caving. Or perhaps you are on the hunt for an experience that’s unlike anything you’ve ever done before? See if you can handle our Via Ferrata – High Wire Course, which is one of only three in the UK. A session of open canoeing takes place in breathtaking scenery on a secluded Yorkshire reservoir. The Big 5 Adventure gives a taste in all 5 of these experiences in one day!
We have outdoor activities for all abilities and our fully-trained, helpful instructors are dedicated to giving you a memorable day full of adventure….
There is an indoor climbing centre at Upper Limits Climbing Wall, Leek High School, Leek, ST13 6EU.
Rock Climbing • Caving / Potholing • Ropes Courses • Gorge Scrambling • Mountain Biking • Canoeing • Abseiling • Mountaineering • Orienteering • Raft Building • Bespoke Adventure • Archery • Bushcraft
Uniquely structured activity courses and team building events, that accomplish the objectives you wish to achieve.
