Access to Foredale quarry was always a sensitive issue with the local farmer and several of the owners of cottages passed on the previously agreed access route. The ever increasing popularity of the quarry brought these issues to a head in 2011 with the farmer withdrawing his permission for climbers to cross his land on the hillside above the farm and adjacent to Foredale Cottages. The farmer, at this time, was not the owner of the quarry itself but in 2014 he acquired full ownership of the land and continues to oppose climbing there.

Most of the upper perimeter of the quarry, except the land on the hillside directly below on the old access route, is mapped as Access Land under the CRoW Act..  Climbers entering the quarry over the access land from above since 2011 have generally reported no challenge. One group were approached by a young farmer (not, apparently, the one who imposed the ban) who told them that climbing was not permitted because of nesting birds and rare plants but after a polite discussion they were allowed to continue climbing.