Windgather Rocks, Climbing area in Hartington Upper Quarter, United Kingdom
Windgather Rocks is a climbing area on the Derbyshire-Cheshire border featuring gritstone cliffs that rise steeply from the moorland below. The crag offers numerous climbing routes across its exposed rock faces, with heights ranging from 7 to 15 meters.
The site functioned as a sandstone quarry during the Victorian period from about 1880 to 1900, providing slate stone for roofing materials in the nearby village of Kettleshulme. This quarrying era shaped the exposed rock formations visible today.
The crag contains 54 traditional climbing routes that have shaped local climbing practices and contributed to the development of climbing techniques in Peak District.
Access to the climbing area requires a short walk of about two minutes from parking areas located in lay-bys directly below the crag after driving steeply uphill. These parking spots are straightforward to find and provide direct access to the site.
The rocks display north-south faulting patterns and contain thin coal seams in their upper layers, revealing the area's past as a coal-bearing region. These geological features give the formation a distinctive character beyond its value as a climbing destination.
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