Wintour's Leap - Rock Climbing

Rock Climbing

Wintour's Leap is a very popular limestone rock climbing area. It contains over 300 recorded routes most of which are multi pitch. It is has a high proportion of quality climbs up to 100 meters in length with something to offer all levels of climber. From south to north, the climbing areas are Woodcroft quarry, Fly Wall, GO Wall, South Bay, Far South Bay, North Wall, and far North Wall. Woodcroft quarry is behind Fly Wall and is the most recently developed area; routes are still being added (2009). The majority of the routes in the quarry are bolt protected sport routes of varying degrees of quality. The Fly Wall is the most convenient trad route area with a small number of well travelled (often polished) routes at HS & VS (See Grade (climbing)), and some good HVS - E5 routes. These two areas have recently (2009) come under the threat of development into a land fill site.

Great Overhanging (GO) Wall is the largest cliff at Wintour's and contains 4 and 5 pitch extremes. The routes here are multi pitch 'trouser fillers' all of which are technical and steep. Many break through the massive overhangs near the top of the wall. The routes are in the range E2 - E6, but also includes the iconic 'must do' route 'Burning Giraffe' at HVS. The southern bays contain a number of easier and very good multipitch routes in the grade range of Mod - E2. The north wall consists again of rather steep multi pitch routes. Although there are 2 HS routes, and a number of very good VS routes. The far end of north wall is again very steep with stepped overhangs. The rock is also very compact, not lending itself to traditional protection. There is a lot of fixed gear here.