Brimham Rocks

United Kingdom / England / North Yorkshire / Harrogate

Quick Info

Country United Kingdom 🇬🇧
Rock type Gritstone
Climbs
Boulder problems 8 (7B+ to 8B+)
Trad climbs 12 (E1 to E8)

Quick Info

Country United Kingdom 🇬🇧
Rock type Gritstone
Climbs
Boulder problems 8 (7B+ to 8B+)
Trad climbs 12 (E1 to E8)
Contributors
255 contributions since 22nd February 2024.
62 contributions since 18th August 2025.

Map

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Climbs

20 recorded climbs.

This timeline is missing some first ascents where the date of the ascent is unknown.
Year Climb Grade Climber Style Date
1957 Frensis Direct E1 Allan Austin Lead 14th Apr 1957
First ascent.
1958
1959–1968
1969
1970 Brutaliser E3 John Syrett Lead 4th Nov 1970
First ascent.
First ascent.

Bernard Newman:

John's ascent of Joker's Wall at Brimham was steeped in legend, for he would regularly jump off from high on the crux during early solo attempts - he was after all the Rubber Man, and could survive ground falls from heights that would have hospitalised lesser mortals. [1]

John Stainforth:

John Syrett did first ascent of Joker's Wall (at last!). On the first attempt of the day he fell off, his Clog 0 tore out and he fell to the ground. Then he practised on a top rope, and then he soloed it. [2]

References

[1] Mountain Issue 104, page 13

[2] https://www.ukclimbing.com/photos/dbpage.php?id=61585

[3] Mountain 19 (1972), page 14

1972
1973–1987
1988
1989 The Bottom Line E7 Dave Pegg Lead | worked 26th Nov 1989
First ascent.
First ascent.

References

[1] Mountain Issue 135 (1990), page 15 /library/11120/mountain-135

First ascent.

References

[1] Mountain Issue 135 (1990), page 15 /library/11120/mountain-135

First ascent.

References

[1] Mountain Issue 135 (1990), page 15 /library/11120/mountain-135

1991
1992–1997
1998
First ascent.

References

[1] On The Edge Issue 88, page 79

The Green Giant E7 Chris Savage Lead | worked 14th Mar 1999
First ascent.
First ascent.

References

[1] On The Edge Issue 88, page 10

Rod's Roof E7 Ben Bransby Lead | worked 28th Mar 1999
First ascent.
2000 Walk in Silence E8 Matt Troilet Solo | worked 19th Mar 2000
First ascent.
2001
2002–2020
2021
First ascent.

Strong choice of symmetrical first ascent date.

2023
First ascent.

Ultimately though its a line I'm hugely proud of seeing through, and I really enjoyed the time I had at Brimham figuring it out. I mean the hardest big line on grit is kid friendly and has a cafe and toilets, what's not to like!

These three lines [Bombadil, The Magna Strata, Weeping Arete] help represent my older vision for the niche of climbing I've fallen into without any chat about the number. Hopefully climbers can just look at the features and forms on the rock. Like hundreds of thousands do at Brimham each year on other rocks, and just get why it's something worth appreciating that - not only does the feature exist - but it's also a great physical challenge to climb up it. [2]

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/reel/C84sQzVNY-J/

[2] https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2024/07/dan_varian_makes_first_ascent_of_weeping_arete_8b+-73726

2025
First ascent.
Climb Grade # Recorded Ascents Ascents Recorded Between
Weeping Arete 8B+ 1 8th June 2024
Ironside 8A+ 1
Index 8A 1 22nd February 2022
Kittens Galore 8A 1 13th March 2026
Dead Man Walking 7C+ 1
Dolphin High traverse 7C 2
The U-Tube 7C 1
Bellyporker's Progress 7B+ 1 19th May 1990
Climb Grade # Recorded Ascents Ascents Recorded Between
Tender Homecoming E8 4 7th April 1990 – 18th April 2023
Walk in Silence E8 1 19th March 2000
The Bottom Line E7 3 26th November 1989 – 1st January 1997
The Chisel E7 1 27th March 1999
Rod's Roof E7 1 28th March 1999
The Green Giant E7 1 14th March 1999
Wasted Years E6 1 1st January 1999 – 1st January 2000
Pig Slip Cow Punk E6 1 1st April 1990
Sky, Ground, Sky E6 1 5th September 2026
Joker's Wall E4 1 17th April 1971
Brutaliser E3 1 4th November 1970
Frensis Direct E1 1 14th April 1957