- Hard sandstone climbs well when dry
NORTHUMBERLAND — NORTHUMBERLAND GRIT · SANDSTONE
St Cuthbert's Cave Crag climbing conditions
Caution — drying out or marginal
Right now
Assessment
7-day forecast
Scroll through each day — hourly detail is shown inline.
- Hard sandstone climbs well when dry
- Breezy — helps drying
- Wet sandstone is slippery — let the rock dry before leading
- Hard sandstone climbs well when dry
- Wet sandstone is slippery — let the rock dry before leading
- Breezy — helps drying
- Hard sandstone climbs well when dry
- Hard sandstone climbs well when dry
- Breezy — helps drying
- Hard sandstone climbs well when dry
- Breezy — helps drying
About St Cuthbert's Cave Crag
St Cuthbert's Cave Crag features striking Fell Sandstone overhangs and pillars surrounding the historic cave shelter associated with St Cuthbert. The rock is solid and characterful, featuring deep pockets, smooth scoops, and dramatic roof features. Facing south within a sheltered woodland setting at modest elevation, the crag enjoys sun while remaining protected from bitter winds, though shade from trees can delay drying after wet weather. The climbing style is physical and steep, offering high-quality traditional routes and hard bouldering testpieces across mid-to-high grades. Notable lines include Cuthbert's Wall (E1 5b) and The Cave Route (VS 4c). The approach takes fifteen minutes along a pleasant, signposted foot-path from the National Trust car park. The paramount factor is cultural and environmental respect; the cave is a historical site, so soft shoe ethics, clean gear use, and zero chalk damage are strictly expected.
- Region
- Northumberland — Northumberland Grit
- Rock type
- Sandstone
- Aspect
- south-facing
- Altitude
- 150m
- Exposure
- low
- Seepage
- low