Description: Although not quite making it into the premier league of Peak Gritstone edges, Gardom’s nevertheless offers some fine situations and superb climbing, particularly in the VS - E3 range. This is a long, disjointed escarpment, its tree-shrouded buttresses separated by areas of rough ground and dense woodland. The trees, beautiful to behold in their autumnal foliage, are a mixed blessing, providing shade on hot days and seclusion from the sounds of traffic on the nearby Baslow-to-Sheffield road, but also holding in moisture after rain, meaning the rock can be green, even in summer. Gardom’s is an excellent venue for those climbers seeking a little privacy in which to practise their sport: not only is the crag invariably less busy than nearby edges such as Froggatt and Curbar, but its scattered buttresses mean that even on the rare days when there are more than a handful of teams present it is not uncommon to feel as though you have the crag completely to yourself.
Conditions and Aspect – Gardom’s Edge: The predominant orientation is west, though some buttresses have several aspects, meaning that from midday onwards shade or sun can be generally found to suit the prevailing conditions. Though the aforementioned trees signify longer drying times after periods of rain, this is potentially a four-season crag: sunny winter afternoons here can be delightful. Conversely, still summer evenings will almost certainly have you grasping for the midge repellent.
Note: although this group of topos is named ‘Gardom's Routes’, we have also featured a few of the more notable boulder problems, especially those which lie on the main edge itself. More detailed coverage of Gardom's bouldering can be found elsewhere on 27Crags.
