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Lord's Seat is a small grit outcrop on Barden Fell, 400 yards east of the more well known Simon's Seat. It offers some superb bouldering away from the crowds in a wild moorland setting. Landings are generally good, and there is a good mix of climbing with lots of roof problems, the occasional slab, crack and arete, and a few highballs. There is also a fair amount of easy soloing.

There are three main areas, all of which have good climbing. The most extensive area is the south face of the main summit of Lord's Seat, which consists of two distinct tiers. The north face is smaller but has three good buttresses. The third area is Wall Buttress, slightly further east than the Lord's Seat itself and separated from it by a stone wall.

Topo The South Face

The south side of Lord's Seat consists of two distinct tiers. The lower tier is comprised of a series of separate boulders, amongst which are found several good roof and slab problems. The buttresses of the upper tier tend to be larger and of less interest to boulderers.

The problems are described from left to right on the lower tier (looking in), then right to left on the upper tier.

Topo Expand First Boulder

An isolated boulder at the left-hand (west) end of the lower tier. It has a big slab on its front face, with a steeper wall and arete to the left.
Clamper (6b), Lord's Seat
Clamper 6b (V4)   2 photos 2 0 comments 0 0 votes 0
The undercut left arete of the narrow wall.
Unnamed Problem (5+), Lord's Seat
5+ (V2)   1 photo 1 video 1 3 comments 3 2 votes 2
The centre of the narrow wall left of the big slab. Pull on with a layaway and shallow pocket, then slap for the top. Nice.
Unnamed Problem (6c), Lord's Seat
6c (V5)   1 photo 1 6 comments 6 4 votes 4
The left side of the arete is a struggle on slopers. Good climbing. Probably easier for the tall.
Unnamed Problem (5+), Lord's Seat
5+ (V2)   2 photos 2 0 comments 0 1 vote 1
The left side of the slab past a deep pocket. Reachy at the start.
Unnamed Problem (5), Lord's Seat
5 (V1)   2 photos 2 0 comments 0 1 vote 1
The centre of the slab, using the short crack, is harder than it looks.

Topo Expand The Jumble

An excellent area, consisting of a jumble of small boulders, with several good arete and crack problems.
Unnamed Problem (3), Lord's Seat
3 (V0-)   1 photo 1 0 comments 0 1 vote 1
The crack, with nice easy laybacking.
Unnamed Problem (5+), Lord's Seat
5+ (V2)   3 photos 3 2 comments 2 3 votes 3
The arete right of the crack is good.

Topo Expand Small Roof

A small isolated boulder with a roof at mid-height, and two good problems.
Unnamed Problem (6b), Lord's Seat
6b (V4)   2 photos 2 3 comments 3 0 votes 0
From a sit start at the right end of the roof, pull up to the lip and traverse all the way left to finish with a rockover onto the slab. Nice.

Topo Expand Big Roof

The next boulder has a much bigger roof, which has an excellent strenuous traverse.
Big Kicks (7c), Lord's Seat
Big Kicks 7c (V9)   4 photos 4 4 comments 4 1 vote 1
The left-hand side of the big roof by a wild dyno.
Unnamed Problem (6c), Lord's Seat
6c (V5)   2 photos 2 0 comments 0 0 votes 0
Traverse the lip of the roof from right to left with a hard move where the roof widens.

Topo Expand Pocket Wall

This much bigger boulder at the far right of the lower tier has a steep and high front face, while the boulder beside it is smaller and has some good slab climbing.
Kermit (7c), Lord's Seat
Kermit 7c (V9)   3 photos 3 video 1 3 comments 3 0 votes 0
Wall just right of the layback crack.
Unnamed Problem (3), Lord's Seat
3 (V0-)   3 photos 3 1 comment 1 1 vote 1
Start up the pockets but then traverse right to finish up the arete.
Unnamed Problem (5), Lord's Seat
5 (V1)   1 photo 1 2 comments 2 1 vote 1
Lunge for the good hold on the right arete and continue to the top.

Eliminates and Variations

Unnamed Problem (6b), Lord's Seat
6b (V4)   1 photo 1 2 comments 2 1 vote 1
An eliminate up the centre of the slab without any of the big pockets.

Topo Expand Lone Arete

At the extreme right end of the upper tier is a small arete.
Unnamed Problem (4), Lord's Seat
4 (V0)   1 photo 1 0 comments 0 0 votes 0
The left side of the arete.

Topo Expand The Slab

This big, easy angled slab has good climbing in the lower grades.
Unnamed Problem (4), Lord's Seat
4 (V0)   1 photo 1 0 comments 0 0 votes 0
The slim buttress left of the slab - the main interest comes from the sit start.
Unnamed Problem (3), Lord's Seat
3 (V0-)   1 photo 1 0 comments 0 0 votes 0
The centre of the slab.

Topo Expand The Buttress

The big buttresses in the centre of the crag have little of interest to the boulderer. However a big roof further left has two quality problems, including one of Yorkshire's classic dynoes. Left again is a small nose, and further left a steep wall in a gully.
Unnamed Problem (5), Lord's Seat
5 (V1)   1 photo 1 1 comment 1 0 votes 0
Follow the handrail on the right side of the roof to the apex and finish straight up.
The Roof Dyno (6b), Lord's Seat
The Roof Dyno 6b (V4)   6 photos 6 10 comments 10 2 votes 2
A superb dyno on the huge roof. From a flake in the centre, jump leftwards to catch a jug on the lip. Wild!

The North Face

The boulders on the north side are described from right to left (looking in to the crag).

Topo Expand Pebble Arete

Towards the right side of the north face is a short pebbly arete.

Topo Expand Overhang Buttress

This is the big overhanging buttress in the centre of the north face, with a slim undercut slab to its right.
Unnamed Problem (5), Lord's Seat
5 (V1)   1 photo 1 0 comments 0 0 votes 0
From a sit-start under the roof, climb the right edge of the roof on huge holds. Excellent.

Topo Expand Bottomless Arete

Further left is another seriously steep buttress.

Topo Expand Pocket Wall

At the left edge of the north face a bulging wall has two more excellent problems. The arete on the boulder to the right is less interesting.
Unnamed Problem (6a), Lord's Seat
6a (V3)   1 photo 1 1 comment 1 1 vote 1
Start with left hand in the low pocket, right hand on the arete, slap for another pocket and finish direct.

Wall Buttress

This is the obvious rocky tor over the wall from the main crag. On the front the rocks form a small bay facing the main crag - there is some excellent climbing here, much of which is quite high, although the landings are generally grassy and good. A series of smaller buttresses runs along the wall, providing numerous easy problems which aren't documented here. Over the back another two boulders have more good climbing.

Topo Expand Front Bay

This area has numerous cracks and aretes above generally good landings, although most of the problems are quite high and scary.
McNab (7b), Lord's Seat
McNab 7b (V8)   4 photos 4 7 comments 7 0 votes 0
The blunt, overhanging nose on the left side of the bay is a classic.
Unnamed Problem (6b), Lord's Seat
6b (V4)   2 photos 2 1 comment 1 0 votes 0
The slabby side of the overhanging nose. From a small ledge move left round the edge to a hard (and reachy) finish.
Stepping Up (4), Lord's Seat
Stepping Up 4 (V0)   3 photos 3 0 comments 0 0 votes 0
Start up the flake crack then move left onto the arete. High.
Groovy Baby (5), Lord's Seat
Groovy Baby 5 (V1)   1 photo 1 0 comments 0 0 votes 0
Layback the fine corner crack.

Topo Expand Pocket Block

This is the free standing boulder over the back of the outcrop from the Front Bay area.
Unnamed Problem (6a), Lord's Seat
6a (V3)   6 photos 6 video 1 3 comments 3 1 vote 1
Use small layaways to reach the pocket high up the wall to the right.

Topo Expand Overhang Block

A small undercut boulder with a couple of roof problems.