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Norwood sits upon a forested hill beneath Hunter stones, in Stainburn forest. Recent activities of the logging variety have given light to a handful of charming boulders, offering problems of quality on sound rock. Fantastic vistas, afternoon sun and only five minutes from the road make this a worthy location for boulders of all abilities.

This new area offers a wide variety of bouldering, from technical slabs, steep walls, highball classics, sustained lips and butch caves all on quality rough grit.

Approach from Otley direction, over the Lindley wood reservoir bridge, past Dob park turning on left, tight left bend, car park on left in small wooded area. Cross road to gate in to forest, take immediate left small path parallel with road, heading up hillside towards a clearing. Boulders can be seen before they are reached!

Norwood has been developed, documented and cleaned by Robin Warden, Amanda Phillips and Ross Williams over a four week frenzy, including night shift activity by Simon Marson and Matt Willcox. Several felled trees were moved from around the boulders and gardening fanatic Amanda Phillips began her work.

Topo Expand Bankside Block

A compact boulder with good problems that pack a punch, offering some good warm ups and a few hards. Flat landings.
Lumber (6b), Norwood
Lumber 6b (V4)   1 photo 1 0 comments 0 1 vote 1
Sit-start on rail to left hole and small finger pocket. Up left to large hole and top.
Unnamed Problem (6a), Norwood
6a (V3)   1 photo 1 1 comment 1 0 votes 0
SS to lip, to small pockets, right to jug, top.
Night Raiders (7a+), Norwood
Night Raiders 7a+ (V7)   1 photo 1 3 comments 3 1 vote 1
Bottom left corner, up diagonally on crimps to twin pocket and mono, through to pocket above then top right. Painful.
» 6 more problems

Topo Expand Toad Block

A small perched block, with a hole to the sky! Good landings.
Head Plant (6a), Norwood
Head Plant 6a (V3)   1 photo 1 0 comments 0 0 votes 0
Front block through the roof to set back pocket, stylish rockover (or grind) round the lip. Named for the third ascentionist's stylish dismount!
» 4 more problems

Topo Expand Larchbow Wall

A deceptively high boulder offering some classic lines, the obvious being the flake of Larchbow which was first climbed by walking up the flake to its end. Take the pads for this one, as they add to the bounce factor.
Larchbow (6b), Norwood
Larchbow 6b (V4)   1 photo 1 5 comments 5 1 vote 1
Follow the flake to its end, swinging left to finish (by hand) - superb!
Unnamed Problem (7c), Norwood
7c (V9)   1 photo 1 4 comments 4 0 votes 0
Centre of the wall.
Lust and Caution (6a+), Norwood
Lust and Caution 6a+ (V3)   1 photo 1 0 comments 0 0 votes 0
The left arete, without standing on the boulder!
» 2 more problems

Topo Expand Larch Cave

A collection of steep powerful problems with committing top outs and tricky landings.
Robin's Nest (6c+), Norwood
Robin's Nest 6c+ (V5)   1 photo 1 4 comments 4 4 votes 4
Sit-start. Hands in bucket, up to crack, continue left for exciting top-out - superb!
Caspar's Start (7b+), Norwood
Caspar's Start 7b+ (V8/9)   2 photos 2 6 comments 6 2 votes 2
Low start to Robin's Nest.
Backbite (7a+), Norwood
Backbite 7a+ (V7)   2 photos 2 3 comments 3 0 votes 0
Sit-start on loose hold and deep flake, up right to sharp break, to finish left of runnel on crimps, big move off crimps. Using runnel for right hand is 7a. Either way superb!
Bulge Head (7a), Norwood
Bulge Head 7a (V6)   2 photos 2 0 comments 0 2 votes 2
As for Backbite, but go right of runnel using slopper on bulge head, finish direct on crimps and side pulls.
» 1 more problem

Topo Twitchers' Hide

Further up the hill lies this large undercut buttress, offering two problems of quality.
Ruff Traverse (6c), Norwood
Ruff Traverse 6c (V5)   5 photos 5 2 comments 2 3 votes 3
Super-sustained traverse along the lip. Sit-start from left to right, arete not in, finishing up the high wall.
Falcon (7a+), Norwood
Falcon 7a+ (V7)   1 photo 1 3 comments 3 4 votes 4
Sit-start in cave from low rail, to lip, finish. Tight and powerful!
Falcon Pro (7a+), Norwood
Falcon Pro 7a+ (V7)   2 photos 2 2 comments 2 2 votes 2
Sit-start in cave from low rail out right to pocket on lip ? up to finish. Powerful and tight!

Topo Expand Diamond Block

An isolated boulder perched upon the hill side, offering a host of powerful sustained lines, on Gaudi-esk rock. Flat landings.
Unnamed Problem (6b), Norwood
6b (V4)   1 photo 1 1 comment 1 2 votes 2
Sit-start beneath under cut arete, from loose hold up to leftward rail, not using plinth at half way for feet.
Unnamed Problem (3), Norwood
3 (V0-)   1 photo 1 0 comments 0 0 votes 0
Unnamed Problem (5), Norwood
5 (V1)   1 photo 1 3 comments 3 2 votes 2
Sit-start using large sockets and feet on plinth, pull to sloper on lip and then to top using small but good holds.
Squat (5+), Norwood
Squat 5+ (V2)   1 photo 1 3 comments 3 2 votes 2
Sit-start from under right nose, into sockets to join 23.
» 1 more problem

Topo Expand A and R Wall

This wall hosts classic challenges on clean rock. Flat landings.
Squitter (5), Norwood
Squitter 5 (V1)   1 photo 1 1 comment 1 1 vote 1
Sit-start with hands in break, using edges up centre of wall direct. Good moves, classic!
» 1 more problem

Topo Horse Head

This boulder sits above Banksides and offers problems of balance and delight.
Equine (5+), Norwood
Equine 5+ (V2)   1 photo 1 0 comments 0 0 votes 0
Sit-start in front break, reach to left arete and climb direct to jug on same arete.
Twelve Hands (6a), Norwood
Twelve Hands 6a (V3)   1 photo 1 0 comments 0 0 votes 0
Sit-start. Tackles face direct via two flakes, gain mono on lip, stretch to jug out left to finish. All aretes out of bounds at this grade.

Expand Unnamed Boulder

Bellow Banksides sits a small undercut boulder offering worthy challenges.
Lovable in Latin (7a), Norwood
Lovable in Latin 7a (V6)   4 photos 4 7 comments 7 5 votes 5
Traverse from left of boulder through buldge and across face on pockets and slots. Keep hands below top all the way. Pumpy and painful classic!
» 1 more problem