Very popular, with hundreds of problems across the grades. Particularly noted for its classic roof problems. Good rock, but very polished in places. Easily accessible.
A large collection of boulders on the moors above Nidderdale, not far from the more well known Sypeland crag. There is potential for a large number of boulder problems, but the rock is disappointingly weak and dirty.
A quarried edge at the edge of Bradford with some long routes and limited bouldering.
PDF guide available
A small buttress on the side of a hill near Ilkley has a few decent problems.
An esoteric little crag, facing north above Thruscross reservoir. The bouldering is very limited, but inclues one of the finest aretes on grit.
A superb bouldering crag, one of the best and most famous in the area, consisting of a series of small buttresses. Over a hundred problems of all grades. The climbing tends to be technical with plenty of slopers. Easy access, but very exposed to bad weather.
PDF guide available
The most extensive bouldering crag in the area, with hundreds of problems of all grades scattered across an edge and the numerous pinnacles on the moorland. Swarming with grockles in the summer. The climbing tends to be thuggish, with lots of sloping finishes. The rock is poor in places. There are fine views across Nidderdale. Easily accessible.
Several minor bouldering areas away from the centre of Brimham. The quality of climbing varies from excellent to decidedly esoteric.
A remote moorland crag near Slipstones. Not much bouldering, but plenty of (very) short routes mainly in the lower grades. Stunning scenery and fine rock.
A small edge on the hillside above Silsden in West Yorkshire, with a collection of worthwhile boulder problems.
A small edge on the wild moorland south of the M62. There are around seventy problems here, mostly in the lower grades.
Caley is the nearest thing Britain has to Fontainebleau. There are hundreds of boulders and plenty of superb problems. Of the two areas, the Roadside boulders are the best, but the Crag boulders are also very good.
The Roadside boulders at Caley are a candidate for the finest bouldering area in the country. They're spoilt only by the proximity of the busy main road below, and the copious bracken in summer.
Two boulders, with generally poor rock. Worth a visit for its superb roof problem.
PDF guide available
A series of buttresses overlooking the A59 west of Harrogate. The rock is good, but apart from a few good problems the bouldering isn't particularly memorable. There are also a few short routes for climbers with ropes. Infested with bracken in the summer and autumn.
One of a trio of excellent bouldering areas around Widdop reservoir in Calderdale.
A grit edge overlooking Airedale on the edge of Barden Moor. Fantastic scenery. Lots of problems, although many are spoilt by poor landings or bad rock. Those that aren't spoilt are amongst the best that Yorkshire has to offer. Never busy, being a strenuous and distinctly uphill walk from the car.
A small buttress overlooking Embsay reservoir on Barden Moor, not far from Crookrise. Great scenery. The bouldering is limited, but there are some good problems.
A fine small grit edge in the wilderness near Widdop reservoir, a long walk from the nearest road. Plenty of problems across the grades, with a particularly fine, severly overhanging wall on a detached pinnacle beneath the edge.
A north-facing edge overlooking Airedale, near Skipton. Over a hundred problems of all grades, on top-quality gritstone. One of the best crags in the area. Easily accessible. Can be cool and shady in summer when other crags are too hot, but also good on a calm winter's day.
A small, south-facing grit edge on the south side of Barden Moor. Plenty of routes, not much bouldering.
A small quarry near Baildon in West Yorkshire, with a small number of boulder problems and short routes up to 6b (British technical grade, that is).
PDF guide available
A small crag and quarry on the south side of Ilkley Moor. Grid reference SE 124423.
A recently developed collection of large boulders near Crookrise. Some good-looking problems, mostly in the higher grades.
Very esoteric. A long broken edge with plenty of very easy climbing, and one big boulder with a few excellent harder problems. Good scenery, a long walk from the road.
A small crag, obvious on the right side of the Laneshaw Bridge to Howarth road, below The Herder's Inn. There are half a dozen or so problems here on a small boulder and a pinnacle.
Minor venue near Shipley Glen.
Several small edges of varying merit in wild setting overlooking the two Gorple reservoirs. There are problems of all grades, some of which are well worth the long walk. Usually deserted, a sharp contrast to the nearby Lakeside boulders at Widdop.
A minor outcrop in the middle of the moorland between Widdop and Earl Crag, with one excellent problem.
A wild, remote crag with some excellent routes and good bouldering, particularly in the lower grades. A very long walk from the nearest road.
Numerous bouldering areas on and around a dark, vegetated north-facing grit edge of Guisecliff. Some good problems, mostly in the higher grades, but it's very much an aquired taste.
A very esoteric series of boulders and quarries on the south side of Barden Moor.
A small crag in a wild, remote setting high above Swaledale. Some good bouldering, mostly in the lower grades, and more short routes. The rock is variable. A long walk from the road, and usually quiet. Fantastic moorland scenery.
A collection of boulders on the edge of Barden Moor. Some top-quality problems, most of them better than they look on first appearance, although the rock is variable. North-facing and often damp in winter. A long walk from the road, and usually quiet.
PDF guide available
A quarry near the village of Heptonstall, above Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire. There's a nice traverse circuit here on a big block.
Three boulders on the edge of Rombald's Moor above Ilkley. A fine outlook, and half a dozen good problems.
PDF guide available
Three buttresses in a distinctly urban setting near Shipley. Short routes and bouldering in the lower grades.
PDF guide available
A short grit edge near the Bridestones in West Yorkshire. Lots of very high buttresses which require a rope, and some limited bouldering.
Half a dozen large boulders with flat landings, with a lot of good problems in the lower grades. The landowner isn't keen on climbing unfortunately. Little-known and never busy.
Several boulders in Stainburn Forest, with some modern hard classics.
The Cow and Calf above Ilkley has some good bouldering, especially in the higher grades, with a mixture of natural and quarried rock. A fine outlook over Ilkley and Wharfedale is slightly spoilt by the swarms of tourists, but at least it's close to a pub.
PDF guide available
A minor crag on top of Ilkley moor, with around a dozen problems on good rock.
A collection of boulders in a shallow valley on the edge of Ilkley Moor, not far from the Cow and Calf crags. Lots of problems with grades up to 7c+, some of them excellent.
PDF guide available
A fantastic outcrop on Barden Fell, in a wild and beautiful setting. Plenty of excellent bouldering of varying styles, best in the middle grades, although the rock could be better. Usually quiet, being a long, strenuous walk from the nearest road.
PDF guide available
A small, recently developed edge near Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire. A pleasant location with some excellent boulder problems.
A small outcrop near Ogden Water north of Halifax and west of Bradford.
One big boulder and a few smaller boulders in an area of moorland near Pateley Bridge. The location is better than the climbing, although there is one decent problem.
A small, esoteric crag on the hillside above Pateley Bridge in Nidderdale. Very limited bouldering potential, but there is one excellent problem.
A very esoteric little crag opposite Brimham's main edge. Some reasonable climbing, spoilt by poor rock.
A minor crag in Shipley with ten highball problems.
A small collection of boulders near Pateley Bridge. The rock is slightly gritty but there are a handful of nice problems.
The hillside above the village of Rylstone is strewn with boulders, many of which have fantastic bouldering - there are some classic problems here. The boulders are well spread-out, the furthest (and best) being around an hour's walk from the car. The scenery matches the bouldering - superb.
PDF guide available
One of a trio of excellent bouldering areas around Widdop reservoir in Calderdale.
A small collection of boulders in a sheltered position below Widdop reservoir. A minor venue, but worth a visit.
A fine, south-facing crag in a beautful valley at the edge of the North York moors. The crag is better suited to easy soloing than bouldering, but it's a very pleasant spot, worth a visit.
A shallow valley above the town of Shipley in Bradford. Not the most scenic of places, with a distinctly urban feel. There is plenty of climbing, much of it quite high and bold, although the landings are generally good.
Although not as good for bouldering as its near-neighbour, Lord's Seat, this area has some good problems, including a classic highball arete. A fantastic location, very wild and remote, and usually quiet.
PDF guide available
The finest rock in Yorkshire, combined with a magnificent outlook and superb technical climbing, makes Slipstones one of the better crags in the area. A mixture of bouldering and short routes.
PDF guide available
A small north-facing collection of boulders just off the Otley to Blubberhouses road in North Yorkshire. Around thirty problems on half a dozen boulders.
Several large boulders in a field near Spofforth (on the Harrogate-Wetherby road).
An extensive edge high on the moors above Nidderdale, similar to the Bridestones. Unfortunately most of the rock is very dirty. The few areas that are clean have some truly classic problems.
Like the Cow and Calf, this area lies on the edge of the moor above Ilkley. Lots of boulders, with some very good problems despite variable rock. Usually quiet.
PDF guide available
An extensive edge high on the moors above Nidderdale, similar to the Bridestones. Unfortunately most of the rock is very dirty. The few areas that are clean have some truly classic problems.
An esoteric little venue, consisting of a number of boulders in the woods near Thruscross reservoir. There are a few good problems, including a classic highball 7b, but it's mostly disappointing. Buried beneath the bracken in summer.
Several boulders scattered about in a woodland above Otley in West Yorkshire. Not a major venue, it would receive more traffic if it weren't for its famous neighbour, Caley.
PDF guide available
Small edge overlooking Silsden with around twenty problems in the lower grades on good rock.
A nice little boulder near the popular White Wells bathhouse and tearoom on Ilkley Moor.
PDF guide available
One small buttress with a big roof. Only half a dozen problems, mostly in the higher grades, but the climbing is superb. There are still some very hard projects up for grabs. Close to Brimham, and right next to a road, so worth a quick visit.
PDF guide available
There are three bouldering areas overlooking Widdop reservoir - one of the most beautiful places to climb in Yorkshire. The Lakeside boulders on their own qualify as a three-star crag, with fine technical climbing on excellent rock.
PDF guide available
A small wooded edge in an urban setting near the centre of Halifax. Some good problems, but not the prettiest of locations.
