This collection of boulders lies on the edge of Ilkley Moor a couple of miles west of the famous Cow and Calf, and is named after an ancient carving on top of one of the boulders. Although not a well known area there are some excellent problems here, mainly in the lower grades (up to 6b).
Topo
Overview
A series of boulders extend west along the edge of the moor from the Swastika Stone carving.
Topo
Grafitti Wall
The boulder lowest down the hillside is easily recognised from the grafiti on the front. It consists of two slabs separated by a sharp arete.
5
(V1)
0
0
The left side of the steep slab.
5+
(V2)
0
0
The centre of the slab. Dodgy landing.
4
(V0)
0
0
The left side of the arete.
4
(V0)
1
0
1
The arete on its right is excellent.
6b
(V4)
2
1
0
The centre of the slab on pebbles and smears.
5+
(V2)
0
0
The right edge of the slab, using a poor pocket but avoiding the arete.
Topo
Harris' Slab
Further right, and further up the hillside is another boulder with a slabby front face.
5+
(V2)
1
0
1
The groove left of the smooth slab. Don't use the big jug on the right wall, but use the layaway above it. Good but contrived.
Harris' Slab
5+
(V2)
1
0
1
The smooth slab is scary with the crux at the top.
4
(V0)
0
0
The arete on the slabby side. Excellent.
5
(V1)
4
2
The arete on the steep side from a sit-start is also excellent.
5
(V1)
2
2
0
The wall beside the arete, again from a sit-start.
Topo
Harris' Arete
The next boulder up has an overhanging front face. Behind this the crag forms a small edge.
6a
(V3)
0
0
Hand traverse the lip of the overhanging boulder from left to right.
6a
(V3)
0
0
Slap your way up the blunt arete from a sit start. Good.
Harris' Arete
5+
(V2)
1
1
The technical little arete.
5
(V1)
0
0
Nice moves up the rib. A variation moves right at the top on slopers.
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Green Prow
This area lies at the left-hand end of the main edge, much further left (looking in) than the previous areas.
?
(V?)
0
0
The big blunt arete is dirty and scary.
Green Wall
?
(V?)
0
0
The slab beside the prow.
The Prow
6a
(V3)
0
0
The front of the prow. Good moves but the rock is painfully sharp.
6b
(V4)
0
0
The right side of the arete has a nice move.
Topo
Christmas Day Arete
This block has a right-angled arete with smooth walls on either side. Both sides of the arete are excellent.
Christmas Day Arete
5+
(V2)
2
2
1
Climb the arete on its left. Dynamic and balancey.
Christmas Day Arete
6a+
(V3)
1
2
3
The right side of the arete is dynamic and balancey, and slightly harder.
5+
(V2)
0
0
The blunt rib further right is climbed by a series of slaps for slopers. Better than it looks.
Topo
Barn Door Arete
Fifty yards further right is a smooth wall with a good left arete. Beyond this an undercut buttress has some harder problems.
Barn Door Arete
5+
(V2)
1
1
Climb the arete to an interesting finish.
6b
(V4)
3
0
Just right again, a shorter line of crimps.
?
(V?)
0
0
The left arete of the undercut boulder.
6b
(V4)
1
1
0
The centre of the boulder past a rubbish crimp.
7b
(V8)
2
0
The right arete, from the back of the roof.
Topo
Walking the Dog
The next boulder is also severely undercut.
Walking The Dog
6b
(V4)
4
3
Traverse the jugs on the lip of the roof to a powerful finish up the left side of the arete. Superb climbing.
The Absconded Dog Extension
7b
(V8)
2
0
Instead of finishing up the arete, continue along the obvious line of slopers to a difficult top-out.
Topo
The Badger
The Badger
7a
(V6)
1
0
Sit start, up the arete, traverse the sloping lip to a final mantel.
Topo
Jerry's Traverse
The next boulder has a slabby face and arete, while the boulder below it has an overhanging front face topped by a slab.
5
(V1)
1
0
0
The arete of the higher boulder. Dirty.
Jerry's Traverse
6c
(V5)
0
1
Traverse the lip of the lower boulder from right to left, with a sit start and a rockover onto the slab to finish.
Topo
Slimeball Traverse
5+
(V2)
0
0
The central arete.
Slimeball Traverse
5+
(V2)
1
0
0
Traverse the break just below the top of the boulder from left to right.
Topo
Megalith
The final boulder lies a short way further on. Unfortunately the ground drops away steeply below this boulder.
Megalith
6a
(V3)
1
0
The fine slab and arete.
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