Adjacent Areas
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Trad
Afternoon sun
Uphill
70 minsSeepage
Windy
The rock climbing here is not the best but the setting is rather special and the best of the routes are worth doing. In the coorect (increasingly rare) conditions the Downfall forms the Peak's premier ice-climbing venue. Apart from odd bits of ice bouldering all round the cirque there is the diagonal expedition of Downfall Climb (I/II) and the hanging icicle of The Direct (III/IV). Arrive early or be prepared to queue!
| Route (click for voting and user comments) | Symbols | Grade | |
1 |
North Tier Climb 1) 4c, 8m. Climb the strenuous jamming crack to the wide grassy ledge 2) 4b, 10m. Tackle the juggy wall above and finish up a... | 1 Stars | VS 4c |
2 |
Dud Chimney 14m. The shallow groove gives steep moves on rather unfriendly rock to a final Dicult move. | E1 5a | |
3 |
Slip Sliding Away 6m. Spooky and exposed climbing up the hanging slab (a detached block) above a big drop. Short on length but big on impact. 1 user comment | Fluttery | E3 5c |
4 |
The Glorious Twelfth 22m. Climb the juggy leaning groove (creak, creak) to a good blow on a ledge on the right. Step back left and finish up the... | Pumpy | E2 5b |
5 |
The Hunter 22m. Steep and serious. Climb the wall to a big flake then traverse left to a second (crusty horror) a flake. Layback (!) up... | 1 Stars Pumpy Fluttery | E3 5b |
6 |
The Beast 24m. Devious. Start as for The Hunter but continue straight up to the roof then traverse right to the 'Dovecote Cave', belay... | E2 5b | |
7 |
The Bloody Thirteenth 24m. Climb the left-hand side of the sharp arete starting up a flake on the left then the groove directly to the cave and a... | 1 Stars | E1 5b |
8 |
Shotgun Grooves 24m. The shallow grooves running up the right-hand side of the arete give a worthwhile pitch. There is a choice of finishes as... | 1 Stars | HVS 5b |
9 |
Poacher's Crack 22m. The sustained and steep cracks in the right-hand side of the wall give well-protected and steep climbing. | 1 Stars Pumpy | HVS 5a |
10 |
Downfall Groove 18m. The crack in the back of the big angular corner is hard work. The lower section can be bridge but the upper part is best... | 1 Stars Pumpy | HVS 5a |
11 |
Independence Crack 18m. The fierce finger crack a couple of metres out from the corner gives a sustained pitch with good protection. | 1 Stars Pumpy Crimpy | E2 5c |
12 |
Hard Times 14m. Cross the narrow ramp rightwards then climb the leaning shallow groove past a couple of unhelpful sloping ledges to reach... | 1 Stars | E2 5c |
13 |
Downfall Climb 60m. An aquatic trip across the ledges. Okay in the dry but way too exciting after rain. Start on the right and climb up the... | 2 Stars | M |
14 |
Harvest 22m. Start from the sandy ledge part way up Downfall South Corner and trend left up the up steep rock into a crack and onto a... | 1 Stars Strong | HVS 5a |
15 |
Downfall South Corner 40m. Start as for Downfall Climb but continue to a good stance in a sandy cave on the right. Pull out of the cave and take the... 2 user comments | 2 Stars | VD |