Pocketgate Quarry |
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Grace Dieu Viaduct and
Craglets Pocketgate Quarry |
OS ref. SK523155
(Sheet 129) SITUATION
and CHARACTER This old
slate quarry is located in a secluded wooded corner (jungle), at the north
end of the Charnwood Forest Golf Course, north west of Woodhouse Eaves. The main feature is an unusual slab
inclined at a deceptively shallow angle and bounded on the left by an
overhanging wall - which still awaits its first routes. The crag faces north and is mostly
overhung by large trees. It sees
little sun, so is often green.
Neglected over the last ten years, the routes are in need of use to
bring them back into condition. In
the meantime take a wire brush and go on a dry day. The few climbs here are all very worthwhile when dry but the
slate is very slippery when wet and covered in leaves. The quarry contains ancient rare
fossils. A concentric ring structure
(Charniodiscus concentricus), the first Precambrian fossil, was discovered
over a hundred years ago. More
recently (1959) a frond‑like structure was found. They are thought to be some form of
ancient seaweed. The only other ones
occur in Australia. If you find them,
leave them alone. They have been
there longer than you. APPROACH
and ACCESS (Location map) From
Woodhouse Eaves, take the road to Nanpantan which joins the A512 half a mile
on the Loughborough side of junction 23 on the M1. After passing the (lower) Beacon Hill car park on your left,
with the golf course on your right, the road descends for a mile to a
inconspicuous crossroads. Turn right
into the lane opposite Deans Lane.
The Outwoods are on your left.
Park your car sensibly within the next 300m and walk keeping right
along the lane bordering the golf club.
The quarry is on your right hidden behind bushes and trees. The quarry is owned by the golf club. Used sensibly the climbing does not
interfere with the golfers. No formal
access exists, but climbers have used this quarry for over fifty years
without any problems. Keep a low
profile and be considerate of the situation. HISTORY The rock
is purple in colour and was used for a facing stone. Most of the routes are nail scratched,
which must date them pre‑1948.
Unfortunately it is not known who first climbed here. Before the golf course was purchased from
the Beaumanor Estate in 1946 and access restricted (1957) this quarry and the
adjacent Hangingstone Rocks, were the `Mecca` of Leicestershire climbing. The
quarries at Woodhouse Eaves belonged to the Herrick family. They produced a stone which, although it
cleaves, is not a true slate but a crystallithic tuff. THE
CLIMBS From left
to right: 1
Lichen
Buttress 9m D Up the
lowest part of the left‑bounding wall. 2
Lamina 22m A1 The
obvious diagonal crack line across the left‑bounding overhanging wall
has been climbed with a number of pegs.
The wall is quite extensive and offers opportunities for hard free
routes. 3
Roof 25m E1 5b From half
way up The Wall Route climb direct just right of a rib on sloping holds. Poor protection. D. Jump. 4
The Wall
Route 30m VD *** Start at
a collection of boulders on the left of the slab. Ascend direct on small holds to the junction of the slab and
the left bounding wall. Hugging the
wall, move up on small flakes. Bear
left at the top to finish under a large oak tree. A direct finish (S) breaks left as soon as it is possible to
get onto a small slab at an upper level.
Climb the slab and finish up the steep wall. 5
Slip and
Slide 30m VS 4c ** Climb the
left corner of the steep wall at the base of the slab and continue up a faint
line to join The Wall Route at two thirds height. The
Green Party VS 4c Probably
done before in the ‘50’s according to Ken Vickers, so not really a new route! Yes,
when the slab was clean you could climb all over it at 4c/5a. Yes,
done in the ‘50’s. Alan Griffiths 6
Central
Crack 30m VS 5a *** Also
called All Fall Down. The route of
the crag. Start in the centre of the
slab. Climb the base wall and
continue until the route crosses the fault running across the slab. Move onto the upper section and proceed up
the crack line. It begins to fade
alarmingly and soon there is only friction and hope. Should you hear a bell ring at this point,
fear not. It tolls not for thee. The golfers ring it before they drive over
the blind summit. Finish up the short
steep final wall to a huge tree belay.
A unique climb. The only protection is off line in The Wall Route. E1 without it. Many have taken the long slide to the bottom and hobbled away. 7
The Pinch 27m VS 4c * Also
called Fascist. Start as for Central Crack.
After moving onto the slab, follow a faint fault line running all the
way diagonally rightwards up the slab.
Finish up the head wall. 8
Ordinary
Route 20m D The well defined
crack/fault line on the right side of the slab running left to right. 9
Rightside
Route 30m HS 4a ** Follow
the junction of the slab and wall all the way, crossing the finish of
Ordinary Route and Central Crack, to terminate up the top of The Wall Route. 10
Girdle
Traverse 33m VS 4c * Start in
the extreme left corner of the slab.
Traverse up rightwards into The Wall Route. Move right to gain the Central Crack just above the fault. Ascend for 5m then right again on almost
invisible holds until the slanting crack of Ordinary Route is reached. Cross this on a delicate and dusty slab to
a grassy ledge on Rightside Route.
From this a swing is made up onto the right bounding wall. |