__Preface__ Why a climbing guide for the Sauerland? Quite simply because it is worth it! Thanks to the commitment of the DAV and IG Klettern climbing organisations, the last few years have brought us a whole range of new climbing opportunities that are certainly of great interest to local climbers, but are also well worth the journey for those from a wider catchment area. Unfortunately, the Bruchhauser Steine are not included in this guidebook and the beautiful classic rocks of the Hönnetal valley are still banned for climbers at the moment. But beyond that, a lot has happened in the Sauerland, which is widely known as the land of a thousand mountains. In Borghausen, Warstein and Wingeshausen, to name but a few examples, a variety of climbing opportunities have been created. The quality of the rock in the disused limestone quarries is astonishingly good and often richly structured karst and fissure surfaces are exposed. Rough, sharp and firm limestone allows climbing opportunities par excellence. Sometimes a bit of soil has to be swept away, but with time the routes become cleaner and cleaner. And finally, the currently most difficult route in all of NRW (North Rhine Westphalia) is in one of the disused limestone quarries. In Unterer Elberskamp in Finnentrop-Heggen, Theo Konstandakopulos has left a very beautiful testimony to the high art of climbing with the route Katharsis (10+). In Aue-Wingeshausen it is rough porphyry that allows versatile climbing. And last but not least, the Steinschab and the Lenneplatte with their friction walls complete the possibilities in the new climbing region Sauerland. Much has happened since the last edition of this book in 2014! Unfortunately, this also includes negative news, such as the closure of the Waldsteingruppe in the Hönnetal valley or the termination of the usage contract for the Meisterstein near Winterberg. Here, a new attempt by the DAV, as well as political support, would be necessary. But new areas and sectors have also been added, such as the small, fine opportunity at Mälo and the Borghauser Risse sector in the climbing area of the same name. Not high but well equipped with 19 very interesting routes, the new Wennefelsen area near Eslohe awaits visitors. Two new crags were also added at the Werdohl Lenneplatten and with a total of 64 routes, a popular climbing destination has developed here. The Oberhagen area directly in the town of Warstein is currently being developed. Of the 240 planned routes, around 210 have now been completed. The area will be the largest in NRW. Here in this guide we are only presenting this area in general terms, without topos so far. Thanks are due to all the helpers and volunteers who have assisted with the maintenance and equipping of routes. Thanks are also due to the developers of the new climbing routes who participated in the extensive work and left behind many a beautiful route. In particular Karin Herbig from Siegen, a great climber and an excellent expert on the Sauerland region, has made a considerable contribution with her commitment to the maintenance and development of new routes. And many thanks also to the two sections of the DAV (German Alpine Club): the Hochsauerland Section and the Gummersbach Section. They have assumed organisational responsibility for all areas in the Sauerland, providing personnel and financial support for the maintenance and development measures. __Note__ Some of the crags are located in protected areas. In these, as well as in in other climbing areas that are located on private property, access rights may change or seasonal closures, e.g. bans during bird breeding, may be imposed. The publication in this guide is primarily a documentation of what has already been climbed and does not include any guarantee for current access rights. You can find out about these on websites that are updated, such as DAV-Felsinfo.de. Please also pay attention to any signposts on site as well as the areas that are explicitly declared banned, for example for the Hönnetal and the Bruchhauser Steine! The information in this book has been compiled to the best of our knowledge and belief. Like everything else in the world, climbing opportunities change. Handholds disappear, bolts are renovated and much more. Please note: climbing is a self-responsible sport that is also fraught with danger. Therefore, climbing is always at your own risk! Have fun with the fascinating natural sport of climbing! __Use of the Guide Book__ The grades are given in the UIAA-scale. In front of the route names there can be a star for worthwhile routes. In principle, the routes are listed from left to right. Often there are small commentaries on their characteristics. On the photo topos the routes are colour coded: Blue up to 5+, Red from 6- to 7+, Black from 8- to impossible. Projects are drawn in grey resp. white.