Routes in England for selected grade

An airy route, initially straightforward, but increasingly challenging as it gains height. A good route at this grade, which is poorly represented in the Avon Gorge, and ideal for a Severe leader looking to improve their all-round skills. The rock is good, and the lower section of the route well protected. Start by abseiling from the tree at the top of Limbic Dystrophy to the capacious well-protected mid-way belay ledge of that route. From the belay ledge easily up the rightward-trending open groove to ledges, then follow the continuation groove with more interest and exposure until forced left onto narrow ledges. After arranging protection ascend the increasingly exposed and delicate right-trending continuation groove to the top. Belay at the tree.

S if lead over the capping block. VD if lead under and through the hole. Nice little route for those who like chimneys and bridging a lot.

Nice route with meandering traverses.

A long diagonal line leading from the base of Giant’s Cave Buttress to the top of Liverbird Buttress. An esoteric route with sections of climbing, interspersed with scrambling and more vegetated ground. Not the highest quality climbing, but an interesting mountaineering type adventure if you don’t mind a little scrub bashing...

Go through the gate from the road and take the path on the right, as if heading for Giant’s Cave Buttress. Start where a toe of rock pokes forward from the wall in a little buttress. This is the first obvious clean bit of rock on the path, around 5m along.

P1 Climb directly up the little slabby buttress of rock with sparse gear (4a). Continue in the same line on easier ground to belay from several small trees. 20m

P2 Move left for a couple of metres into a slabby sort of vague gulley line. Climb this in a diagonal up and left, runners in cracks on the right. Continue easily up more vegetated ground in the same direction, towards a little easy angled buttress. Scramble up this on a narrow area of rock. Walk across the top of the Buttress and go up the easily angled Lizard Slab for a few metres to nut, spike and small tree belay near the top right corner. 40m

P3 The objective is a tall tree, seen directly above. To the left of Lizard Slab is a steeper slab, Crumbling Slab, the right side of its base guarded by brambles. Traverse left for a few metres under the brambles to the left side of Crumbling Slab. Climb the slab using cracks and the sharp left hand arete (Crumbling Arete), 4a. Move off the slab onto the arete where it flattens, taking care as the rock here is especially loose. Walk along the top of Crumbling Arete to a rock tower, Pigeon Tower. Climb the tower enjoyably on mostly good large holds but with no convincing gear. Continue up the same line more straightforwardly, over a smaller easier angled outcrop. Walk left for a few metres to belay from a cluster of trees. 40m

P4 Walk left past brambles (causing inevitable rope drag), keeping close to the cliff edge to stay on rock. Clamber up a muddy slope to reach some rock (for hands, at least) and runners. Carefully traverse left, then slightly downwards on dirt ledges to reach a cracked rocky block (runner). Continue to keep left close to the cliff edge to stay on rock, on a slightly rising diagonal, to reach an obvious big ramp. Scramble up the ramp (runners in cracks in the wall on the right) to reach plentiful nut belays in the wall near the top of the ramp. 40m

P5 Continue easily to the top of the ramp, until it is simple to escape up and rightwards. Clamber up a short steeper vegetated slope to reach the railings at the top. 15m

The long crack in the wall is started at a small rightward facing corner then direct up.