High Rocks
Re-Select CragDescription
These rocks are 2.5 km west of Tunbridge Wells, opposite the High Rocks Hotel. From Tunbridge Wells take the A264 to East Grinstead. After about 2km there is a left turn sign posted High Rocks. This goes over a railway bridge, after which is the car park on the right and the hotel on the left. The rocks are fenced off and admissions fee is charged by the hotel. Usually about £2 for a ticket. The continuation wall is not owned by the hotel, and its owners don't charge an admissions fee. It is not quite as pleasant as the main area but still is worth a look. These rocks are the highest around, although never more than 12m. The outcrop is around 600 meters long, but quite inconsistent towards the eastern end. The rocks mainly face north, and have quite a lot of tree cover. Which is good on some of those rare extremely hot summer days. But after rain it takes a long time to dry out. There are a lot of very steep, flat walls, with some extremely high grade climbing. So there is quite a number of problems left to be had. There are very few routes below 5b/c, so it is really a hard crag. Although if you like damp, awkward chimney climbs, then there is no-where better. The quality of the rock gets better the further west you go, but they are not quite as hard. The whole crag is a Special Site of Scientific Interest, and in the past there have been attempts to stop climbers using the area. This is due to some rare polygonal markings, which get destroyed very quickly by rope burns, also there are quite a few rare lichens and mosses which need protecting. So here as much as any sandstone outcrop a long sling over the arete is essential, and abseiling and lowering off should be kept to a minimum. As there are a very limited number of bolts a static rope would be useful to set up belays.
These rocks are 2.5 km west of Tunbridge Wells, opposite the High Rocks Hotel. From Tunbridge Wells take the A264 to East Grinstead. After about 2km there is a left turn sign posted High Rocks. This goes over a railway bridge, after which is the car park on the right and the hotel on the left. The rocks are fenced off and admissions fee is charged by the hotel. Usually about £2 for a ticket. The continuation wall is not owned by the hotel, and its owners don't charge an admissions fee. It is not quite as pleasant as the main area but still is worth a look. These rocks are the highest around, although never more than 12m. The outcrop is around 600 meters long, but quite inconsistent towards the eastern end. The rocks mainly face north, and have quite a lot of tree cover. Which is good on some of those rare extremely hot summer days. But after rain it takes a long time to dry out. There are a lot of very steep, flat walls, with some extremely high grade climbing. So there is quite a number of problems left to be had. There are very few routes below 5b/c, so it is really a hard crag. Although if you like damp, awkward chimney climbs, then there is no-where better. The quality of the rock gets better the further west you go, but they are not quite as hard. The whole crag is a Special Site of Scientific Interest, and in the past there have been attempts to stop climbers using the area. This is due to some rare polygonal markings, which get destroyed very quickly by rope burns, also there are quite a few rare lichens and mosses which need protecting. So here as much as any sandstone outcrop a long sling over the arete is essential, and abseiling and lowering off should be kept to a minimum. As there are a very limited number of bolts a static rope would be useful to set up belays.
| Area | Grade Range | No. Of Climbs |
| Stalactite Wall | - | 0 |
| The Turret | - | 0 |
| The Steeple | - | 0 |
| Battleship | - | 0 |
| Snakes | - | 0 |
| Chimera | - | 0 |
| Warning Block | - | 0 |
| Grand Canyon | - | 0 |
| Hut Boulder | - | 0 |
| Honeycombe | 3b - 6c | 34 |
| Isolated Boulder | 4a - 6b | 26 |
