UKC

Climbs 21
Rocktype Limestone
Altitude 67m a.s.l
Faces SW

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Merchant Venturers Hall -opposite the outcrop and home to the great and good illuminated lizards © leland stamper

Crag features

Referred to as the "Red Crag" of "alien rock" in Avon '92, this is a little bundle of bold bouldering moves to spend an afternoon on. Low (3-5m) sandstone outcrop about 30m long. Hidden in the woods above Avon Gorge but just yards from the road. Easier to find than Gollum's Cave and much bigger. The bulging wall at the left-hand end offers most interesting problems. The rock is generally sound and unpolished and allows easy top outs. The undergrowth is rampant so a pair of secateurs is probably more use than a nut extractor. Broken glass is an issue so check where you may end up. The base of the cliff slopes in places, but the top of the cliff has very positive finishes once the ivy and brambles are cleared.

Approach notes

Legend has it that this outcrop hides the secret tunnel entrance linking the Merchant Venturers Hall to Giants Cave and Bristol City Hall. Unfortunately this is buried under the compost beside the outcrop dumped there by Merchant Venturer serfs.

Map ref 35641736. Park on Clifton Down Road. Opposite the Merchant Venturers Hall, (just before junction with Percival Rd) beyond the walkway is a horizontal stone plinth. Just to the right of this is a very large compost heap. Follow tracks to the right of the heap into the wood to find outcrop.

 

Update this Crag
Last updated on 13/Mar/2024
Cleared the Compost Heap of ivy in late September. Compost Right is home to a large colony of woodlouse, making the traverse of it a possible genocide. And I mean *large*- think the scarab beetles from The Mummy.
Jp - 17/Dec/20
Not bad for a lititle mess around. Can make up your own mono and pocket problems.
KeriV - 01/Jan/15
good to mess around on!
Stanners - 17/Apr/14
Are you sure? I thought it was part of the UpperCromhall sandstone. I'll correct my mistake.
leland stamper - 24/Jan/14
Limestone, not sandstone.
Choss - 07/Jan/14
A great little crag. Spent a few hours bouldering here, generally clear on top outs and the greenery at ground level had been chopped back by some lovely person. Will return to finish off some problems as started to rain. Wish there was more there :-)
ianlaw - 29/Oct/13
Spent another hour clearing brambles and glass
leland stamper - 07/Jun/13
Had a fun couple of hours here this afternoon. Would say be wary of broken glass around the place, not loads but there is some at towards the top in some places, removed what i could but still best to wary. Also brambles are pretty high in places.
Steve nevers - 04/Jun/13
Might have to come up and have a look, Is there any room next to 'George..' to put up a problem called 'Look At My Red F***ing Trousers'?
Steve nevers - 11/May/13
Climbed virtually every meter of the buttress on a couple of visits last year, really good quality sandstone, so sad it's no larger.
pheotleyr - 01/May/13
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