2026 Route Setting across Liverpool, Sheffield, Stockport and Stoke
If you’ve climbed at any UK Awesome Walls centre this year, you’ve probably noticed that the holds keep changing and the setters seem to be fuelled by equal parts caffeine and mischief! With fresh routes and boulders appearing faster than most of us can recover from a session, it feels like the perfect time to look at our 2026 route setting (so far).
It’s time for a celebration of the creativity, chaos and character that make each wall feel like its own little climbing universe.
Liverpool
Big walls, big mileage, big smiles!
Liverpool has been quietly building a reputation as the place to go if you want to climb a lot. The tall walls mean you’re never short of a pump, and the setting team has embraced this beautifully. Expect friendly f4s that warm you up without scaring you off, f5s that feel like proper climbing, and mid‑six routes that give you that satisfying mix of flow and fight.
Liverpool’s style this year has been all about movement that makes sense. Nothing tricky for its own sake. Nothing that feels like a setter woke up in a crazy, obnoxious mood! Just good, honest climbing that rewards footwork, balance and a bit of determination.
If you’re chasing endurance, this is your playground and if you’re chasing confidence, even better. If you’re chasing the top of the big wall, well, you’ll get there eventually. Probably.
Sheffield
Where the grades go high, and the boulders go steep.
Sheffield is the wild child of the family. Our data shows everything from V0 jug ladders to V7 roof beasts, and the rope grades stretch all the way into the f8s and f9s. It’s a climbing centre that doesn’t apologise for being ambitious.
You’ll find slabs that make you whisper “please stick”, vert lines that feel like puzzles, and overhangs that make you question your life choices (a good dose of type 2 fun!). The bouldering is especially lively, with problems that get absolutely hammered by the community. Some blocs have dozens of attempts logged, others have a proud little zero in the send column, waiting for the right climber to wander in and make history.
Sheffield is where you go when you want to try hard, fall off, laugh about it, and try again. It’s also where you go if you want to see someone else try something outrageous while you pretend to stretch.
Stockport
The friendly all-rounder with a secret competitive streak.
Stockport might not shout as loudly as Sheffield or tower as high as Liverpool, but it has its own unmistakable charm. The setting here has always been about variety. One minute you’re on a delicate slab that makes you feel like a ballet dancer, the next you’re wrestling a compression problem that feels like a full-body argument.
The centre has a knack for producing routes that are just the right amount of cheeky. The kind where you get halfway up, realise the setter has played a small trick on you, and then laugh about it once you’ve clipped the chains.
Stockport is also brilliant for families, beginners and anyone who wants a welcoming atmosphere without losing the chance to push themselves. It’s the kind of wall where you can bring a friend for their first session and still find something that challenges you, too.
Stoke
The dark horse with a big personality!
Stoke is the centre that surprises people. Walk in expecting a quiet session, and you’ll find yourself in the middle of a lively, colourful, ever‑changing playground of routes and problems. The setters here love a bit of flair. Expect bold moves, playful sequences and the occasional “how on earth do I start this” moment.
Stoke’s setting style leans into fun. Big spans, big holds, big grins. But don’t be fooled. There’s plenty of technical depth hidden in the circuits, especially in the mid‑grades, where the setters seem to enjoy teaching you lessons about body position without warning you first.
It’s also a centre with a strong community feel. Customers chat between attempts, share beta, commiserate that failed attempt, and celebrate each other’s sends. If Liverpool is the endurance lab and Sheffield is the try‑hard arena, Stoke is the wall where climbing feels like a social event.
Four walls, one shared spirit
What ties all four centres together is the sheer enthusiasm for creating climbs that people actually want to get on. Whether it’s a juggy f5 in Liverpool, a steep V4 in Sheffield, a clever f6a in Stockport or a playful problem in Stoke, the setting teams are clearly having fun, and we hope that energy shows up in every route.
Climbing at Awesome Walls this year has felt like being part of a living, breathing project. New holds appear, old favourites disappear, and every visit gives you something fresh to try. It keeps you moving, keeps you improving and keeps you coming back.
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