Stanage Edge is the most famous and extensive of all the Peak District's gritstone escarpments. It is approximately 5km in length, offers more than 1,400 climbs and innumerable boulder problems, and given its proximity to the city of Sheffield, is one of the most visited crags in the UK.
The 'Popular' end of the crag is, as the name suggests, its most frequented area, offering classic route after classic route on stunning, monolithic buttresses. Above all, this is place to go for wonderful low and mid-grade crack and face climbs, but those seeking harder challenges will also find plenty to keep them occupied.
Weekends and bank holidays can be very busy, but such is the quantity of good climbing here that it should almost always be possible to find something free.
It goes without saying that polish can be a problem on 'favourites'.
Conditions and Aspect: this section of the crag faces predominantly south-west and is quick to dry. Furthermore, the constant human traffic generally keeps this part of the crag even cleaner than other nearby areas.
