I’ve climbed a collection of problems on the boulders below Peel Crag on the wooded slopes above Tarnbeck, just over half a kilometre north of Seathwaite in the Duddon Valley.
Approach: From the parking opposite the Holy Trinity Church (just north of the Newfield Inn) take a footpath accessing a field, which then flanks the river heading southwest for 50m to a footbridge. Cross the bridge and follow the path north along the edge of the river for around a 100m. Here, where the path swings left towards Wallowbarrow, leave the main path and continue along a minor trail to a gate. Go through/over this and continue along the western edge of the river for 300m, and as you enter woodland the crag will be seen up to your left. There are a number of problems and routes along its length, but those described below are situated on a tower like boulder at the crag’s far northern end – over a dilapidated dry stone wall, on a perched terrace overlooking the river.
- A Bag of Unicorns (7B/+) On the extreme left of the block, Start sitting under the roof and climb the left side of the block direct. Hard moves to get up and around the lip of the boulder.
- Coronacoaster (7C) Start at per the previous problem but once established move right and climb the centre of the tower using the right arête.
- Netherworld (8A/+) The toughest of the bunch starts at the back of the right side of the roof and climbs out to the arête and finishes up this on its right side.
