This area includes all of the crags in the vicinity of The Roaches, including Ramshaw Rocks, Hen Cloud, The Five Clouds and nearby Staffordshire gritstone crags on the western fringes of the Peak District. The other Staffordshire grit crags in the Churnet Valley further south are in a separate Area. Something for everyone, with rough, skin stripping grit for the most part. Plenty of bouldering, plenty of esoterica on the outlying craglets. Huge variety for slabsters Chalkstorm, Elegy, Appaloosa Sunset, for steepsters The Sloth and all those other harder routes up the Great Slab, and for a nice relaxing day there are lots of Severes, Hard Severes and VS routes, all of which seem harder than their grades imply. Heaven on earth, truly.
A day out with the family before an afternoon BBQ. Nicky and Ellen did really well to get up Technical Slab. Not what I wanted to put them on but the crag was busy by 10’ish. Takes along time family climbing! Matt getting much better, gave lots of support to Nicky and Ellen – especially footwork.
