Choosing the right outdoor venue for you, for the weather, and for the time of year can be really tricky.
The Lake District bouldering guide is great, but it's a big guidebook and can still be hard to choose where to go!
Local knowledge and recommendations go a long way in outdoor climbing...so here's my top ten picks for beginner or low grade Lake District bouldering locations.
Word of caution: you'll still need to consider the time of year, recent weather, crag approaches, and parking etc when planning your visit. Reading the guidebook carefully, popping a quick question on a Facebook group, or checking out the BMC RAD or UKC can really help if you are new to the area or newer to climbing outside.
St Bees Head (North)
One of the most picturesque locations you'll ever climb. Beautiful rock, right by the sea, and gives some of the best quality lower grade boulders (as well as plenty of harder stuff too) in the county.
Situated on the west coast of Cumbria, it can feel like a long way to drive but is definitely worth a visit. St Bees is the kind of venue you can almost just wander around, choose a boulder that looks fun, and have a go! The water-worn formations are really beautiful and it's just a lovely place to be as well as to climb.
Top tips
Coastal venues are often better from late morning onwards due to moisture from the sea
Allow some time for the rock to dry properly after rain - sandstone can be snappy and easily eroded when wet
The walk in is very steep and loose underfoot. Take care and research the approaches beforehand, and consider only carrying one pad each. Although the boulders are great for beginners....the walk in is only suitable for people used walking on steep and exposed terrain.
Make sure you take some cash for the farmyard parking
Langdale Boulders
One of the most accessible venues in the Lake District. Quick drying and with a stunning backdrop of the Langdale fells.
Langdale Boulders has a great spread of grades and a good selection of easier problems. The landings are pretty good, and the rock is well climbed, quick drying and really high quality.
Top tips
There is only a small lay-by for parking at the boulders, consider parking in Chapel Stile when it's busy, or getting the bus for £2!
Remember that you don't have to stick to the guidebook, there are smaller boulders around the main ones that you can play on too
The boulders are situated in a field with sheep....dogs are not permitted. Please shut gates and leave places better than you find them.
Seathwaite Boulders, Duddon Valley (Ash Bank circuit)
The Duddon is one of the most beautiful and quieter valleys in the Lake District. The Ash Bank boulders are situated close to the parking area, and it's a really great place to just wander around and climb a ton of easier lines. The rock is really grippy, and there are lots of slabby sections, flat landings, and short craggy bits where you can practise top outs and get used to the rock.
Top tips
It can get boggy underfoot so probably not wise to visit in the winter or after lots of rain!
I tend to take lower grades with a pinch of salt and just try things I like the look of
The road to the parking is single track and has a gate at the end, not best for big vans
There's no phone signal....a delight for some and a pain for others!
Newbiggin
Part of the Farlton area, Newbiggin is not far from the M6 near Kendal and so is quite good for a quick hit, stop off, or if the weather is bad in the central lakes (....which is of course is never the case)
There are lots of short limestone escarpments, and although it's not as beautiful as some of our venues....you get lovely afternoon sun and sunsets there and you can see the sea too!
Nettle Wall has a lovely selection of easy climbs, and there are lots of other bits you can explore too without sticking exclusively to the guidebook.
Top tips
The top outs are often positive on limestone, so a good place to get used to that technique if you are not used to mantles!
The landings are generally flat, but there are limestone pavement areas which have lots of little runnels and channels...so you will still have to position your mats carefully.
There aren't classic climbs at this venue, but it's great for a few visits, getting used to limestone and outdoor bouldering, or visiting with kids.
Badger Rock, Kentmere
Badger Rock is a really beautiful place to relax in the sunshine. It does have a good selection of lower grades, and a great traverse too, but parts of it are pretty high so make sure you build up to that height if you aren't used to it!
Across the track is Little Font, which has a few decent lower grade problems as well as much harder ones.
Top tips
There isn't much parking down in Kentmere. You'll need to arrive early on sunny weekends, but there is often a farmers field with an honesty box (take cash) at the weekends
No phone signal!
Badger Rock is in a farmers field so please don't take dogs and make sure you close gates.
Honister Pass
One of the many exciting roads in the Lake District, this pass has incredible views down Buttermere and out to the coast. A venue for good weather as it's high up, but a great place to explore lower grades close to the road.
Top tips
On the whole these boulders are quick drying, but the landings beneath the Roadside Boulders can get boggy after prolonged wet weather
Driving in and out of the valleys and mountain passes in the Lake District can be much busier on sunny weekends and bank holidays
Generally flat landings
Carrock Fell
One of the best bouldering locations in the Lake District, Carrock Fell has a wide spread of grades and tons of boulders strewn across the hill side. There are plenty of lower grade problems too.....but the venue can take a bit of time to get used to finding things and moving between boulders.
Top tips
The rock type is Gabbro, and as it's best in the cold these climbs can feel a grade or two harder when it's warm! Best to go Autumn through to Spring for colder temps and less bracken
Good lower grade areas are the Far North circuit, the Warm Up area at North Central, and the Hardy, Hawthorn and Poison Arrow blocks in the Southern area.
I think the easier climbs still feel hard at Carrock Fell due to the nature of the rock. Don't compare your grades to anywhere else and take the time to figure out the best beta.
The rock is rough and you'll wear through skin pretty fast!
Many of the landings are rocky so take care with your mats
Sampson Stones
One of the most picturesque venues in the Lake District, set right in the heart of the mountains. Sampson's Stones has excellent rock, a wide variety of grades, and good landings. It's a venue for a warm, dry spell as it's high up, has a long walk-in, and is situated in Great Moss which gives you a clue as to the ground conditions as you walk in!
Top tips
The walk-in is 60+ minutes....you won't want to be carrying more than one pad each!
There isn't any phone signal....check the forecast carefully and pack appropriately. Make sure you are familiar with route finding and using a map
Although this is a summer location, in a heatwave there is very little shelter and it might actually get too hot there!
There are some lovely spots in the river to swim and paddle in on the way back from the boulders
Coniston Coppermines - Boulder Valley
On a sunny summer day this is a lovely circuit with plenty of lower grade problems set in a beautiful location. The boulders are around a 20minute walk-in, and although the problems aren't as frequented as some of our more roadside venues, it offers a good selection of problems of different styles with generally flat landings
Top tips
The parking is Pay and Display at Walna Scar, the car park is unsurfaced so expect a few bumps!
In good weather spells these boulders can be visited from Spring through to Autumn.
The rocks are scattered so you will have to frequently move your bags and mats between boulders
Swarthbeck
Situated on the eastern side of Ullswater, this is a small venue but offers a lovely selection of easier boulder problems for a short session, generally with flat landings and not too high
Top tips
Ullswater can get really busy with tourists in the holidays. This wont affect the boulders but may affect the roads and parking!
The walk-in is quite short, but does involve carefully following the guidebook description
The boulders face North West, dry quickly, and get afternoon sun.
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