Wintour's Leap
Encyclopedia
Wintour's Leap is a noted rock climbing
location and viewpoint. It is located on the English
side of the Wye Valley
, north of Chepstow
, near the village of Woodcroft
in Gloucestershire
.
Sir John Wintour who, hotly pursued on his horse by Parliamentary
forces, according to local myth survived a leap off the cliff and, landing safely in the Wye below, swam to his safety in the nearby Chepstow Castle
. In fact, Wintour did escape from the Roundheads by using the river nearby on two separate occasions, but from less spectacular positions at Lancaut
and Sedbury
.
Sir John Wintour was a second son and so descendants from his line along the Waite family traditionally name their second sons with the middle name 'Wintour', although the name has been given to female descendants also.
rock climbing
area. It contains over 300 recorded routes most of which are multi pitch. It is has a high proportion of quality climbs up to 100 meters in length with something to offer all levels of climber. From south to north, the climbing areas are Woodcroft quarry, Fly Wall, GO Wall, South Bay, Far South Bay, North Wall, and far North Wall. Woodcroft quarry is behind Fly Wall and is the most recently developed area; routes are still being added (2009). The majority of the routes in the quarry are bolt protected sport routes of varying degrees of quality. The Fly Wall is the most convenient trad route area with a small number of well travelled (often polished) routes at HS & VS (See Grade (climbing)
), and some good HVS - E5 routes. These two areas have recently (2009) come under the threat of development into a land fill site.
Great Overhanging (GO) Wall is the largest cliff at Wintour's and contains 4 and 5 pitch extremes. The routes here are multi pitch 'trouser fillers' all of which are technical and steep. Many break through the massive overhangs near the top of the wall. The routes are in the range E2 - E6, but also includes the iconic 'must do' route 'Burning Giraffe' at HVS. The southern bays contain a number of easier and very good multipitch routes in the grade range of Mod - E2. The north wall consists again of rather steep multi pitch routes. Although there are 2 HS routes, and a number of very good VS routes. The far end of north wall is again very steep with stepped overhangs. The rock is also very compact, not lending itself to traditional protection. There is a lot of fixed gear here.
Rock climbing
Rock climbing also lightly called 'The Gravity Game', is a sport in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route without falling...
location and viewpoint. It is located on the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
side of the Wye Valley
River Wye
The River Wye is the fifth-longest river in the UK and for parts of its length forms part of the border between England and Wales. It is important for nature conservation and recreation.-Description:...
, north of Chepstow
Chepstow
Chepstow is a town in Monmouthshire, Wales, adjoining the border with Gloucestershire, England. It is located on the River Wye, close to its confluence with the River Severn, and close to the western end of the Severn Bridge on the M48 motorway...
, near the village of Woodcroft
Woodcroft, Gloucestershire
Woodcroft is a small village in the Forest of Dean district of Gloucestershire, England. It is located on the eastern bank of the River Wye, opposite Piercefield House, two miles north of the Welsh town of Chepstow...
in Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
.
History
Wintour's Leap is named after RoyalistCavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
Sir John Wintour who, hotly pursued on his horse by Parliamentary
Roundhead
"Roundhead" was the nickname given to the supporters of the Parliament during the English Civil War. Also known as Parliamentarians, they fought against King Charles I and his supporters, the Cavaliers , who claimed absolute power and the divine right of kings...
forces, according to local myth survived a leap off the cliff and, landing safely in the Wye below, swam to his safety in the nearby Chepstow Castle
Chepstow Castle
Chepstow Castle , located in Chepstow, Monmouthshire in Wales, on top of cliffs overlooking the River Wye, is the oldest surviving post-Roman stone fortification in Britain...
. In fact, Wintour did escape from the Roundheads by using the river nearby on two separate occasions, but from less spectacular positions at Lancaut
Lancaut
Lancaut is a deserted village in Gloucestershire, England, located alongside the River Wye, around two miles north of Chepstow. It occupies a narrow-necked promontory formed by a curve of the river, which acts as the border between England and Wales. Little remains of the village today, except...
and Sedbury
Sedbury
Sedbury is a village in the Forest of Dean district of west Gloucestershire, England. It is located on the eastern bank of the River Wye, facing the Welsh town of Chepstow...
.
Sir John Wintour was a second son and so descendants from his line along the Waite family traditionally name their second sons with the middle name 'Wintour', although the name has been given to female descendants also.
Ownership
Wintour's Leap is owned by Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and forms part of the Lancaut SSSI Nature Reserve. The cliffs of Wintour's Leap are frequent nesting grounds for Peregrine Falcons and provide niches for rare Whitebeam trees. Climbing access is by permission of Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust negotiated and supervised in consultation with the British Mountaineering Council. Climbing restrictions may apply.Rock climbing
Wintour's Leap is a very popular limestoneLimestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
rock climbing
Rock climbing
Rock climbing also lightly called 'The Gravity Game', is a sport in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route without falling...
area. It contains over 300 recorded routes most of which are multi pitch. It is has a high proportion of quality climbs up to 100 meters in length with something to offer all levels of climber. From south to north, the climbing areas are Woodcroft quarry, Fly Wall, GO Wall, South Bay, Far South Bay, North Wall, and far North Wall. Woodcroft quarry is behind Fly Wall and is the most recently developed area; routes are still being added (2009). The majority of the routes in the quarry are bolt protected sport routes of varying degrees of quality. The Fly Wall is the most convenient trad route area with a small number of well travelled (often polished) routes at HS & VS (See Grade (climbing)
Grade (climbing)
In rock climbing, mountaineering and other climbing disciplines, climbers give a climbing grade to a route that concisely describes the difficulty and danger of climbing the route...
), and some good HVS - E5 routes. These two areas have recently (2009) come under the threat of development into a land fill site.
Great Overhanging (GO) Wall is the largest cliff at Wintour's and contains 4 and 5 pitch extremes. The routes here are multi pitch 'trouser fillers' all of which are technical and steep. Many break through the massive overhangs near the top of the wall. The routes are in the range E2 - E6, but also includes the iconic 'must do' route 'Burning Giraffe' at HVS. The southern bays contain a number of easier and very good multipitch routes in the grade range of Mod - E2. The north wall consists again of rather steep multi pitch routes. Although there are 2 HS routes, and a number of very good VS routes. The far end of north wall is again very steep with stepped overhangs. The rock is also very compact, not lending itself to traditional protection. There is a lot of fixed gear here.