Ben Bransby


Quick Info

From: United Kingdom 🇬🇧
Gender: Male
Hardest Boulder (Worked): 8C
Hardest Sport (Worked): 8c
Hardest Trad (Worked): E10
Hardest Trad (Onsight): E8
Hardest Trad (Flash): E8
Notable Partnerships
James McHaffie
Family
Matthew Bransby (parent)

Ben Bransby is a prolific all rounder with everything from hard boulders to outrageously bold alpine-style ascents in Patagonia to his name.

At one point he was attempting to climb every route on Stanage, though as of 2024 he has hit a roadblock with the final two routes Marbellous and Mother of Pearl.

References

[1] https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/showlog.php?id=16901

[2] https://open.spotify.com/episode/1o7RLJApyhQ2CEBAwVKzvz?

Contributors
320 contributions since 10th January 2021.
TdG
203 contributions since 30th July 2025.
11 contributions since 19th December 2024.
6 contributions since 14th April 2025.
4 contributions since 11th August 2025.

Quick Info

From: United Kingdom 🇬🇧
Gender: Male
Hardest Boulder (Worked): 8C
Hardest Sport (Worked): 8c
Hardest Trad (Worked): E10
Hardest Trad (Onsight): E8
Hardest Trad (Flash): E8
Notable Partnerships
James McHaffie
Family
Matthew Bransby (parent)

Ben Bransby is a prolific all rounder with everything from hard boulders to outrageously bold alpine-style ascents in Patagonia to his name.

At one point he was attempting to climb every route on Stanage, though as of 2024 he has hit a roadblock with the final two routes Marbellous and Mother of Pearl.

References

[1] https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/showlog.php?id=16901

[2] https://open.spotify.com/episode/1o7RLJApyhQ2CEBAwVKzvz?

Contributors
320 contributions since 10th January 2021.
TdG
203 contributions since 30th July 2025.
11 contributions since 19th December 2024.
6 contributions since 14th April 2025.
4 contributions since 11th August 2025.

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Podcasts


Library


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No pics or vids yet.


Ascents

87 recorded ascents.

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Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Make it Funky 8c Lead | worked 2006
First ascent.
Full Empire 8c Lead | worked Aug 2015
First ascent.
Cool Water 8b+ Lead | worked 29th Aug 2023
First ascent.
Third ascent. With Adam Long and James McHaffie.
Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
First ascent.
Kindred 8B+ Boulder | worked 12th Apr 2025
Third ascent.
Working Class Sit Start 8B Boulder | worked 2009
Close of Business 8B Boulder | worked 2010
First ascent.
Mr. Lambtastic 8B Boulder | worked Aug 2020
First ascent.
Superman 8B Boulder | worked 19th Oct 2022
The Boss 8B Boulder | worked 20th Apr 2024
First ascent.

Pumpy. Blowing hard on the top. Thought this was going to be a touch harder but didn't quite feel like the + today. I have a feeling this climb suits me, both in the style of climbing and morphology so grade may be conservative. Nice to do the full line. Good effort to James and Sam finding the original and Tim on the extension.

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/C73w9B7NK1y/

[2] https://northwalesbouldering.com/newsitem.asp?nsid=1076

[3] https://www.instagram.com/p/C73ptwPtsEf/

With Ivan Tresch.

After a big night out in Leeds Ben felt unable to manage a day at university so instead travelled down with Ivan Tresch to try this problem. Unfortunately conditions were a little warm for their liking, so on finding some duct tape in their bag, they made little umbrellas out of tape to keep the crucial slopers in the shade! [1]

References

[1] https://open.spotify.com/episode/1o7RLJApyhQ2CEBAwVKzvz?

Inertia Reel Traverse 8A+ Boulder | worked 2004
First ascent.
Around 4 sessions.
Separate Feehality 8A+ Boulder | worked 2019
Second ascent?
Leviathan SDS 8A+ Boulder | worked 15th Oct 2022
First ascent.
Chip Shop Buddy 8A Boulder | worked 2005
First ascent.
Fourth go.
First ascent.
Wade in the Water 8A Boulder | worked 2020
First ascent.
Three Hundred Pounds of Musclin’ Man 7C+ Boulder | worked 2005
First ascent.
Victorian Overmantel 7C+ Boulder | worked 24th Feb 2023
My Buddy the Apple 7C Boulder | worked 2004
First ascent.
My Prune 7C Boulder | ground up Jan 2007
First ascent.
Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
First ascent.

The first time the route had been re-climbed since the flake broke.

References

[1] https://twitter.com/dmmclimbing/status/402829127793016832

[2] https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2013/11/ben_bransby_climbs_parthian_shot-68542

[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6r-McDgBc0

[4] Ben commenting on the style of his ascent, September 2023 https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/ukc/james_pearson_climbs_parthian_shot_e10_6c-763419?v=1#x9822066

When it came to reclimbing it after the first flake broke I did as James [Pearson] says - climbed the original line up Brooks crack, trav left and up. I placed a higher side runner in Brooks, I can't remember exactly where but I think it was a body length or so higher than where you trav out. My thinking was it would keep me off the ground if I fell off the crux and the flake broke, but from higher would be less help. My excuses where that from big trad/adventure routes you often wiggle 'off route' by a couple of meters to place gear, I was a bit more of a wimp (wife, kid, dogs etc), and I found the route hard (I'm not as good as James, Jacopo [Larcher] etc). I placed gear in the flake on lead but then did fall off the crux. The fall was less pleasant with the side runner as it did pull me right a little into the arete below rather than just into space/against the flat wall, but it was a lot better than hitting the deck. I left the gear in for the next go, when I did manage it, so although pre placed on the ascent it was only the 3 or 4 pieces that I had placed and equalised as best I could on lead...

Second ascent.

Bransby used a fence post wedged in the gulley to protect the start.

References

[1] https://twitter.com/dmmclimbing/status/448116087448956930

[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvnGcCz2kDs

Chupacabra E8 Lead | worked 16th May 1998
First ascent.

An incredible onsight effort. Ben fell off with a hand on top of the crag!

References

[1] On The Edge Issue 92, page 80

First ascent.

First ascent without the bolt.

Abbed in trainers to remove bolt + look at moves. Didn't clip the peg either. Led straight off but had a little moment when the last move before break was harder than it had looked. [1]

References

[1] https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/stennis_ford-713/the_jackals-341050

Underworld E8 Lead | worked Aug 1999
First ascent.

Placing all gear on lead.

Second ascent.

Ben watched Dave MacLeod top rope the route before flashing it with the gear in place, improvising a different sequence. He then climbed up to the gear to place it on lead. Dave had found a small wire on the lip that was not used on the first ascent and Ben suggested this brought the grade down to E7/8.

References

[1] https://www.planetmountain.com/en/news/climbing/ben-bransby-flashes-e9-in-britain.html

[2] https://open.spotify.com/episode/1o7RLJApyhQ2CEBAwVKzvz?

[3] On The Edge Issue 103, page 10

[4] https://www.instagram.com/p/CrawCi5KCgF/?img_index=4

First ascent.

Took a lob first RP, then Caff did then stripped gear and I did.

References

[1] Climber October 2002, page 10

Skin and Wishbones E8 Lead | worked 2007
First ascent.
Il y a Stazi E8 Lead | onsight Apr 2007

After our extensive testing of the slider this turned into a pretty safe thing although I think Pete [Robins] saying E7 is possibly a little low (although it is Pete so what you would expect) Comparing to other E7 7as such as Little Women and Groove is in the Heart (fell off the last move on wed) it felt very slightly easier, Fb7b+ rather than Fb7c?, but a fair bit bolder - both the above are very safe, lots of runners and short falls, the Promise has one ok runner and a ground sweeping (although quite short!) fall. We only felt happy taking the fall on the Promise after a few 'practice' falls from right by it and with 5 pads and a ladder below (I would have been happy with no or one pad on the sunday).

I think for James' ascent (not trusting the runner, no pads) you could probably add an E grade or two (I am sure with UKB grade SCIENCE we could work out how many exactly). [1]

References

[1] https://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,10607.msg176038.html#msg176038

[2] https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/features/the_promise_-ground_up-_video-1499

Flashed, having done From a Distance before.

Second ascent.

Snowballed.

References

[1] https://vimeo.com/63314131

Selladore E8 Lead | worked 18th Oct 2023
Pieces of Eight E8 Lead | worked 4th Jun 2025
Never Never Land E7 Lead | worked 1995
Beginner's Mind E7 Lead | worked 8th May 1995
Trench Warfare E7 Lead | worked 1996-1999

References

[1] On The Edge Issue 67, page 73

I had ground to a halt at the end of the second pitch of a new line in Pembroke. I was only about 30ft from the top but couldn't quite find a way through. Finally decided to belay on the slight ledge I was on, it was a bit marginal - rps and small wires behind the one flake. Pete seconded the pitch and looked at the ground above and the state of the belay and declared he was down climbing 20ft to the last good runner (6a ground so not trivial) and we would abb off that. As he set off down he knocked my glasses off. I've not got great eye sight -7.5 in both eyes so when it was my turn to reverse Pete had to guide my feet to the holds, whilst I was facing a decent factor 2 fall onto the belay. Managed that and set up the ropes for the abb. Pete assured me it was all fine so sent me down first. Obv the ropes went straight into the sea so I had to swim in to a ledge, when Pete got down I had to pull him into the ledge so he stayed nice and dry. Rest of weekend I was forced to just second routes as I had no spares with me. [1]

References

[1] https://ukbouldering.com/threads/glasses-string.34794/#post-717870

Right Cheeky E7 Lead | worked 6th Feb 1999
First ascent.
First ascent.

References

[1] On The Edge Issue 88, page 10

Rod's Roof E7 Lead | worked 28th Mar 1999
First ascent.
First ascent.

References

[1] Climber August 1999, page 15

Internationale E7 Lead | onsight 15th May 1999
Burn at the Stake E7 Lead | ground up Jul 1999
Second go.
Ray's Roof E7 Lead | ground up 2000
Second ascent.

Headtorch ascent as snow began to fall. Protected via a rope tensioned between two pieces of gear in adjacent routes, a rig Leo Houlding had worked out and tested the previous summer.

References

[1] On The Edge Issue 106, page 12

[2] https://www.instagram.com/p/ClYd5CCKipm/

Do the Rocksteady E7 Lead | worked 2001
Second ascent.
Messiah E7 Lead | ground up 20th Apr 2002
Second go.
With Ivan Tresch.

In a day.

Ben and partner Ivan Tresch were caught being light-fingered in a local shop and were given a court date a couple of days later. Unsure how the court appearance might go, they decided to make a quick one day ascent before going to court in case their freedoms were more limited after the appearance in front of the law. [1]

References

[1] https://open.spotify.com/episode/1o7RLJApyhQ2CEBAwVKzvz

Paralogism E7 Lead | flash 11th Dec 2005
Little Women E7 Lead | worked 16th Nov 2007
Monkey Journey to the West E7 Alternate Leads | worked 21st Sep 2008
First ascent. With Pete Robins.
Groove is in the Heart E7 Lead | worked 10th Dec 2008

Up and down the start a few times, not sure if that makes onsight still or ground up.

How Many Roads E7 Lead | worked Nov 2019
First ascent.
General Incompetence E7 Lead | worked 24th Jul 2020
With Ian Parnell.

Ben lead middle crux pitch. Got to within 20ft of top. Lots of blocks falling from top pitch. Retreat and escape along beach illuminated intermittently by lighthouse. Whole things fell down shortly after. Memorable.

First ascent.

First ascent without using the bolt for protection. Ben had tried to chop it but the bolt turned out to be sturdier than it looked, so he led it with the bolt taped over.

References

[1] On The Edge Issue 88, page 10

First ascent.

References

[1] On The Edge Issue 88, page 10

References

[1] On The Edge Issue 88, page 10

Pigeon E6 Solo | worked Sep 1999
First ascent.
The Thumbnail E6 Alternate Leads | onsight 4th Aug 2000
First ascent. With Ian Parnell, Gareth Parry and Matt Dickinson.

After onsighting it Ben then downclimbed it too because he wanted to keep his boots clean!

References

[1] https://open.spotify.com/episode/1o7RLJApyhQ2CEBAwVKzvz?

[2] https://www.instagram.com/p/CrawCi5KCgF/?img_index=2

Breakaway E6 (approx) Lead | onsight 17th Jul 2002
M35 (A35) E6 Lead | worked 2006

In approach shoes

Bobok E5 Alternate Leads | onsight 2000s
Second ascent.
Ai No Corrida E5 Solo | onsight 2004
First ascent.

Ben’s first new route.

Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Pedigree Chum 8c+ Boulder | worked Mar 2012