Rothley Crag has received persistent rainfall over the past two weeks (~51mm in 28 days) with almost no consecutive dry days, and today has already seen rain with more forecast this evening. The Millstone Grit will be thoroughly saturated internally despite any brief surface drying, and the upcoming forecast offers no meaningful dry window for at least five days.
Based on weather conditions only — does not cover bird nesting restrictions or other access issues.
How accurate is this verdict?
Climbing Outlook
Site Details
A mid-county bouldering venue on open moorland north of Scots Gap, managed by the National Trust. Notably different rock — Millstone Grit rather than Fell Sandstone — giving a coarser, more gritstone-like texture with different porosity. Over 200 problems on a prominent buttress and scattered boulders. SE-S facing aspect catches good sun. A quieter alternative to the more popular venues.
Condition Notes
Millstone Grit rather than Fell Sandstone — coarser texture with different porosity characteristics. Still porous and must not be climbed wet, but drying behaviour differs slightly from the finer-grained Fell Sandstone venues.
- Rock Type
- Gritstone
- Wind Exposure
- Partial
- Altitude
- 215m
- Climbing
- Bouldering
- Aspects
- SE S
- Problems
- 200
- Boulder Grades
- Font 4 – Font 7a
- Access
- CRoW Open Access
- Approach
- 5 min
Site Data
- Name
- Rothley Crag
- County
- Northumberland
- Rock Type
- Gritstone
- Climbing Types
- Bouldering
- Aspects
- SE, S
- Wind Exposure
- Partial
- Altitude
- 215m
- Latitude
- 55.191
- Longitude
- -1.935
- OS Grid Ref
- NZ 042885
- Access Type
- CRoW Open Access
- Approach Time
- 5 min
- Problem Count
- 200
- Route Count
- —
- Boulder Grades
- Font 4 – Font 7a
- Trad Grades
- —
- Tidal
- No
- Parking Notes
- Large layby at crossroads further north, or small (3 cars max) layby at southern end. Do NOT park on roadside blocking gates or field access.
- Condition Notes
- Millstone Grit rather than Fell Sandstone — coarser texture with different porosity characteristics. Still porous and must not be climbed wet, but drying behaviour differs slightly from the finer-grained Fell Sandstone venues.
- ID
- f3ac3ffd-6a66-4016-977f-a7439749de28
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