In many ways Water-cum-Jolly is Chee Dale\'s neglected little sister; the routes and buttresses are shorter, there are fewer of them and often the rock is of a lesser quality. On the plus side, a good path runs through the valley and the whole place has a beautiful open aspect. There is a contrast in the character of the climbing on the various buttresses. At one end you have the public path-side technicalities of Rubicon, at the other you have the isolated tree-shrouded walls on the south bank where you are usually totally hidden from view.

Climbing has taken place here for many years, starting with mid-grade free routes and harder aid routes which then became part of the 1980s boom. Since then, most sections of rock have been developed and many of the old routes that were hybrid trad-sport in nature are now fully bolted. There are a still a few relics in terms of old gear, but most of the popular routes are now in good shape.