Horseshoe Quarry Rock Climbing

This a very large, quarried crag, hosting around 290 limestone sport routes, a handful of trad lines, and at least one decent multipitch sport adventure. The rock quality here varies from good to poor (belayer helmet highly recommended), and there are some very worthwhile pitches. Sport grades range from 5.5 (upper tiers only) to 5.12b, though the highest concentration of good quality sport routes (Main Wall area) go at around 5.11. The trad routes range from 5.9 to 5.11b, and the multipitch sport is all around 5.10a. Much of the fixed protection is old but good, and bolted anchors exist at the top of the climbs.

It can be very busy, but it's a large, flat, open quarry, with lots of routes, so claustrophobia is not a problem -- have a game of footie in the middle if you wish. Aesthetically, Horseshoe is pleasant. The quarrying ended some time ago, so the landscape is renaturalised to a large degree. The various areas cover a range of exposures, but the primary areas have a south-westerly exposure for good afternoon sun, if the cloud cover isn't too thick. It is a bit windy, though not in comparison to the exposed gritstone edges (Stanage, etc.), and so can dry fast.