SANDSTONE - SOUTH EAST ENGLAND

BOWLES ROCKS

3 miles S-W of Tunbridge Wells

This outcrop was once a beautiful and secluded quiet cliff, S facing with uninterupted views across corn fields in rural Sussex. Now it is very much the focal centrepiece of a professional outdoor centre with buildings in front of most sections of the rock, plus a dry ski slope and accomodation chalets just up the driveway. (The ski area is actually done rather nicely - Scotland should take note, with charm and wood used). The outcrop is very nicely managed as a charitable trust, and has installed walkways and belay points at the top. You are usually charged to climb here, with the money collected going towards the trust. Sometimes the trust is uses its own professional instructors to teach on various parts of the outcrop, and they take priority over others.

ROUTES

The climbing is excellent here. As you enter the outcrop, the size is quite impressive. There are suprisingly few routes however - only 70-80 ish. They are nearly all classics though, and give a very good spread across the grades. There are classics of every difficulty here. The grass lawn below offers a very good area to picnic, laze about, talk, and generally watch everyone else climb. An ideal spot to come to for the first time, and if it may suddenly pour with rain.