The climbing available in Avon and Somerset is exclusively limestone in its many guises. Routes here range from well-equipped beach-side sport climbs to intense multi-pitch traditional climbs on the walls of the impressive Cheddar Gorge and the Avon Gorge. A good deal of the rock in the area is quarried giving climbs that often rely upon a fair amount of fixed protection. At the Avon Gorge, the style of the climbing can be a little unsettling on first acquaintance, however a number of its climbs are superb challenges. The fine faces of Split Rock, Portishead and Uphill quarries have a mix of the traditional and sport ethic whilst the short and intense seaside sport climbs of Brean Down contrast with the awesome walls of the south side of Cheddar Gorge. The ambience of the climbing is not as enticing as that found on many of the cliffs deeper into the region and, although the intrusion of road noise and the nature of the quarried environment will erode some of the enjoyment for many, the quality of the climbing still shines through.
This database contains the routes in the West Country Climbs Rockfax.
Routes
84 trad routes (D...E6)
22 sport routes (6a+...8b)
50 of the Best Routes 
Graded List of Routes
List of First Ascents
| Crag (click for details) | No. of Routes | Grade Range | Route Type | Sunshine or shade |
Approach walk | Other | Page | ||||
| Avon Gorge The huge winding gash of the Avon Gorge holds the UK's biggest and best urban... |
68 |
| Trad |
Sun from mid-morning |
Roadside 0 mins |
Windy |
48 | ||||
| Portishead Quarry Just to the west of the M5 south of Bristol is a limestone quarry that offers a... |
5 |
| Trad |
Level 5 mins |
70 | ||||||
| Split Rock Quarry Well concealed on the lower slopes of the rolling tree-covered Mendip Hills is... |
8 |
| Trad |
Sun to mid-afternoon |
Level 5 mins |
72 | |||||
| Uphill Quarry Uphill Quarry is a towering sheet of blank limestone that faces out across a... |
3 |
| Trad and Sport |
Afternoon sun |
Level 2 mins |
Windy |
76 | ||||
| Brean Down The south-facing line of low limestone crags that stretch out into the Bristol... |
22 |
| Sport |
Lots of sun! |
Level 5 mins |
Windy |
79 |
