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SUBLUMINAL

The low white line of sea cliff ‘under the light’ is the enchanting area of Subluminal. Subluminal is the place most folks head to for a first taste of Swanage steepness. The main reason for its popularity is the good selection of solid, short and amenably graded routes. Access is quick and there is a good ledge system running beneath the climbs that is well clear of the waves, giving the place a friendly atmosphere. Subluminal lies just west of the lighthouse and the Black Zawn, beneath open grass slopes. There is a clean-cut ledge above the climbs for gearing up and socialising, along with plentiful stakes for belays. Many of the climbs offer technical and fingery exercises as well as some bulging test-pieces in the Avernus Area. The Black Zawn is a place for the experienced only and has some of the best traditional pitches at Swanage in its confines. To its east are more routes worth searching out once the main classics have been ticked.

ROUTES

63 trad routes (D...E5)
11 dws routes (HVS...7c)
Graded List of Routes
List of First Ascents
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Buttress (click for routes) No. of Routes Route Type Sunshine
or shade
Approach walk Other Page
Baboon Area
A good set of short routes starting from a non-tidal ledge. Plenty in the Severe to VS range.
14 trad lots of sun! downhill
10 mins
abseilwindy294
Stroof Area
A good set of short routes starting from a non-tidal ledge. Some excellent low E-grade test-pieces.
12 trad lots of sun! downhill
10 mins
abseilwindy295
Freda Area
More short and pleasant climbs above a non-tidal ledge. Several easy corners and cracks.
15 trad lots of sun! downhill
10 mins
abseilwindy296
Bird's Nest Bay
Bird's Nest Bay is a small but inherently safe DWS zone, found in two small bays under the route...
9 dws lots of sun! up+down
10 mins
tidalwindy-
Avernus Area
The last routes at Subluminal are harder and more serious undertakings. They start from boulders at...
8 trad lots of sun! downhill
10 mins
abseiltidalwindy297
Black Zawn West
The Black Zawn West is an enclosed atmospheric zawn with big, long routes requiring abseil...
6 trad morning sun downhill
10 mins
abseilwindy298
Black Zawn East
The Black Zawn East is much more open than its western neighbour but the routes should still be...
10 trad lots of sun! downhill
10 mins
abseilwindy300
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Latest Comments
SUBLUMINAL
Poetry in Motion
"each time i do this it leads me right towards second corner near the top. is th..." 05/Oct

Astrid
"The abseil is about 20m. Don't forget a prussik. There's a couple of old slings ..." 11/May

Face
"where exactly does this route go. There appear to be 2 seperate routes here. One..." 20/Apr

Battleship Bow
"No wonder there aren't any comments. This is a very serious proposition above a..." 13/Mar

Baboon
"VS 5a!? This was meant to be a warm down climb after a three day trip. Very diff..." 22/Nov

Puffin
"The boulder at the foot has shrunk (think it was there Aug 07). Can’t remember i..." 08/Oct

Juggler
"The CC description which describes climbing the headwall via "three small f..." 24/Aug

First Corner
"Good climbing and felt ok at HS 4b, which I think is what our guidebook put it a..." 22/Aug top50

Slip Road
"Not at all under-graded in my view. Getting over the bulge is quite tricky and t..." 28/Jul

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