Most of the crags of the Chew Valley are natural moorland gritstone edges sitting high above the valley, overlooking the Dovestones reservoirs, but there are also some quarried areas. This is not an area to climb when the weather is wet or windy, and the crags need a sunny spell to get into decent condition. The relatively long walk-ins tend to keep the crowds away.

The Chew Valley lies on the western side of the Peak District, about 20 miles to the east of Manchester, near the villages of Greenfield and Saddleworth. Most of the crags require a stiff uphill walk (30 minutes or so) to get to, but the quarries are more easily accessible.