« Shipley Glen : Slipstones »
Home » Crags » Simon's Seat

Simon's Seat is the prominent summit on the western edge of Barden Fell in North Yorkshire. It is the largest of several rocky outcrops on the moor. There are some good routes on the main crag, but most of the bouldering is concentrated on the walls around the summit area.

The Scenery

End of the Day   1 photo 1 0 comments 0
Sunset.
Panorama   1 photo 1 video 1 0 comments 0
A video panorama from the summit of Simon's Seat.
Snow   3 photos 3 0 comments 0

Summit Area

Just below the summit trig point of Simon's Seat, at the right edge (looking in) of the main crag is a jumble of boulders stretching up the hillside, from the enormous Naked Edge boulder to the smaller boulders which make up the summit itself. Described from bottom to top.

Expand Naked Edge

A big detached boulder at the bottom of the crag has an impressive arete, with smooth walls either side. Micro-route territory.
6c (V5)   1 photo 1 0 comments 0 0 votes 0
Follow the diagonal scoop all the way.
5 (V1)   1 photo 1 0 comments 0 0 votes 0
Easier start to the scoop using a pocket on the right.

The Trunk

A small boulder just up the hill from Naked Edge has an unusual elephant's trunk feature.
5+ (V2)   1 photo 1 0 comments 0 0 votes 0
Climb the trunk-like feature.

Upper Tier

4 (V0)   1 photo 1 0 comments 0 0 votes 0
Random jamming crack.
Pinna 7a+ (V7)   1 photo 1 1 comment 1 0 votes 0
In a little bay left of Simon Says Squeeze. 7a from standing.
Simon Says Squeeze 7c (V9)   1 photo 1 3 comments 3 0 votes 0
An excellent prow between two wide cracks, climbed from a sit-start. 7b+ from standing.
Triptych 7a (V6)   3 photos 3 2 comments 2 0 votes 0
Left arete of a small buttress. Sit-start. Use the deep crack to reach a good jug with LH. Then step a high foot to gain the same crack (which diminishes as it gets higher) with RH. Gain the sloping arete and move to a very slopey top-out with a poor landing.
Trilogy 7a (V6)   3 photos 3 0 comments 0 0 votes 0
Use the same jug as Triptych (but with LH) to gain the right arete of the small butress. Step LF next to LH to gain the top. Make a difficult sloping top-out.
The Triad 7a (V6)   1 photo 1 0 comments 0 2 votes 2
Next to Triptych/Trilogy is a very rounded, sloping boulder. Use a lovely large pinch with LH and a small edge with RH, then use slopers to finish at another very slopey top-out.

Topo Random Area Somewhere

Solipsism 7c (V9)   1 photo 1 2 comments 2 0 votes 0
In a small bay halfway up the steep boulder field on the northern slopes of the crag. Pull on and up to a small crimp, move right to a crescent crack-line and up to a good pocket, continue direct to finish. The foot-block to the right is out of bounds.
Blood Brothers 7b+ (V8/9)   1 photo 1 0 comments 0 0 votes 0
Big prow just down from Solipsism, via a crack, a slopey pocket and a pokey last move over a highball finish. Start off the lowest of the blocks beneath the prow. Starting off the ground is around 7c/7c+.
Spondonical 7b (V8)   1 photo 1 5 comments 5 1 vote 1
Arete behind and right of Blood Brothers. Sit-start. Use slopey ramp and arete to gain a good pocket in the centre of the wall. Move to poor crimp with right hand on the arete and make a tricky dead point move to a jug and finish with an easy top-out.
Ouzo for Twozo 5 (V1)   1 photo 1 0 comments 0 0 votes 0
Arete just down from Blood Brothers. Start on the right and swing on to the left at mid height.

Expand South Crag

This is the short, south-facing broken edge to the south of the trig point. The most prominent features are a blank arete at the far left end, and a bigger but more featured arete in the centre (taken by the route "And She Was"). There are numerous smaller boulders in this area - see the topo.
Galaxy Left 7c+ (V10)   1 photo 1 0 comments 0 0 votes 0
Red Hot Knob 4 (V0)   3 photos 3 0 comments 0 0 votes 0
A short overhanging prow left of the And She Was buttress.
And She Was E3 6a   1 photo 1 1 comment 1
The big arete.
I'll Bet She Does E3 6a   1 photo 1 0 comments 0
The wall right of the arete.
Out With The Old E1 5b   1 photo 1 2 comments 2
A highball wall further right of the big arete of And She Was.
3 (V0-)   1 photo 1 0 comments 0 0 votes 0
Whalebak 7a+ (V7)   2 photos 2 2 comments 2 2 votes 2
An obvious curving crack, climbed from a low start.
4 (V0)   1 photo 1 0 comments 0 0 votes 0
6a (V3)   3 photos 3 1 comment 1 3 votes 3