Carver's Rocks
Bolted gritstone nightmare fuel
Bolted gritstone nightmare fuel
Also known as Dawson's Rocks and Repton Rocks
A partly quarried, partly natural sandstone crag. Though the crag is located across the Derbyshire border, it has been traditionally included in Leicestershire climbing guidebooks because "no other guide would have it".
Carver's Rocks has been largely (and controversially) bolted as a sport climbing venue however due to lack of publicity it is rarely visited. There are a few routes that would make highball boulder problems and there are a couple of shorter problems, though many of these have suffered significant fire damage.
The crag is only really in climbable condition in summer or after a prolonged dry spell. The rock is sandstone so do not climb on the rock if it is at all damp or wet as this will permanently damage the rock. Please read and adhere to the Sandstone Code of Practice when climbing here.
Carver's Rocks has been largely (and controversially) bolted as a sport climbing venue however due to lack of publicity it is rarely visited. There are a few routes that would make highball boulder problems and there are a couple of shorter problems, though many of these have suffered significant fire damage.
The crag is only really in climbable condition in summer or after a prolonged dry spell. The rock is sandstone so do not climb on the rock if it is at all damp or wet as this will permanently damage the rock. Please read and adhere to the Sandstone Code of Practice when climbing here.
Topo can be found on the online version of the old Leicestershire Climbs guidebook.
Parking: Park in a layby on the side of A514 (52.7971485, -1.5046343).
Approach: Walk along the track into the wood, go through a gate on the left hand side of the track and follow this path to the rocks. ViewRanger Map.
Approach: Walk along the track into the wood, go through a gate on the left hand side of the track and follow this path to the rocks. ViewRanger Map.
A pointless place - exactly like Southern Sandstone.
It is damp! it is sandy! It is friable! Personally I wouldn't travel more than the three miles that I used to live from them to climb there. Thing is though if you live close they do have a few things going for them and on a summer evening it's a very pleasant place to climb.
The climbs are varied in character and provide a good half day's entertainment, without too arduous an approach. If you are lucky the sun will shine and the old quarry (for such it is) becomes a sand floored arena where you relax and enjoy the heat, whilst others struggle.
- Tony Monlam (1975)
