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The best location in Weardale is Parson Byers/Woodcroft Quarry ( OS Map Reference NZ005368 -OS Sheet 92). The quarry can be seen looking South of the A689 when traveling from Frosterley to Stanhope on the Durham-Alston road and is located above the old Stanhope – Frosterley road across the River Wear. This disused quarry was used as a dumping ground for spoil from the Tyne Tees Tunnel project, and was serviced by a dirt road in the eighties. This is now removed, and access can be had by taking the footpath from GR 002382 on the old Stanhope to Frosterley back road.

Climbers should ask permission from Woodcroft Farm prior to climbing. No dogs please.

The photographs below were taken in January 1982 during a particularly cold spell of weather. The North facing quarry is at about 400-500 metres above sea level, so a good freeze is required to bring it into condition. The best climbing as the 3 right hand photographs show, is where the stream Cow Burn falls into the quarry, giving a grade 3 route. This is just left of centre of the back face. Numerous other steep ice falls form, but have never looked substantial enough to climb other than on a top rope. The ice shown on the left hand photo, just left of Cow Burn, has been climbed. There is another small waterfall at the west end of the quarry worth a look.

Bob Bennett

Gallery:

Bob Bennett exploring Weardale in the winter of 1983.