Burbage Valley

Sheffield’s local Favourite; something for everyone, the ultimate in convenience but still some wild moments to be had.

Heading west out of Sheffield the Burbage Valley crags are the first major venues you reach, and are justifiably popular with a range of outdoor users; climbers, walkers, runners, and just the general public. The three main Burbage crags each have their own character; Burbage North is famous for bouldering at all grades, an accessible-feeling crag with short routes mainly in the mid grades. Burbage South with its dark shady imposing buttresses hosts many hard and bold routes, with some easier traditional routes following crack lines, and bouldering mainly supplied by the scattered friendly boulder field below the crag, with good harder problems dotted along the edge. Burbage West is entirely bouldering, limited in scope but with fantastic rock quality and a high density of classic and much sought-after mid-to-harder grade problems.

Burbage North in particular is a classic evening venue where quick access and clean rock facing into the afternoon sun and westerly wind means it’s a fast drying life-saver for working climbers short on time. A quick stolen hour at Burbage after work as the evenings get lighter in spring is a genuine delight after a long dark winter.

Proximity to Sheffield means the valley does get very busy on sunny summer weekends and during the windows of settled weather in winter, and parking spaces are not unlimited. It is also very popular with dog-walkers, so watch where you tread in the first 100m from the carpark especially.