The climb
- Grade
- Very Difficult
- Length
- 71m
- Pitches
- 3 or 4
- Approach
- 5 – 10 min flat walk
- Ascent time
- 2 – 3 hours
- Start point
- Shepherd’s Crag, Borrowdale
- Descent
- Walk to right of crag and down path
The exposure and steep finale to this route evoke all the emotions of a big climb: it was my first multi-pitch route and forever changed my perspective of the world. A gentle warm up pitch leads to a good ledge and tree belay.
The second pitch is as technical as it gets at this grade, the traverse along the block requiring some creative climbing before the splendidly exposed saddle belay leads to the magnificent and airy final section.
Steeper than you would expect, it is thankfully short lived and the big holds are a huge relief. This pitch is extremely photogenic from the buttress opposite. The friendly flat top and tree belay provide a comfortable spot to admire the view and reflect on the day’s achievements (and those of the late local legend Ray Macfee who famously climbed this route in roller skates and boxing gloves!).
The route
Shepherd’s Crag, with the approach and descent marked.
Keswick Tourism Association’s original route sheet. The figures above were transcribed from it.
Three more routes picked by Leo Houlding are on the climbing page. Before you head for a crag, read safety on the fells — the approach walk is on the same ground as everything else here, in the same weather.
The grade, length and times above were transcribed from Keswick Tourism Association’s original route sheet, which published them as an image. If anything here differs from a current guidebook, trust the guidebook.