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Intro to rock climbing - Anchors and topropes - Learn to lead - Intro to multi-pitch - Performance coaching - - Example courses - Private guiding
Intro to rock climbing courses
A typical introduction to rock climbing course will cover a variety of different aspects of the sport so that you can develop as a well-rounded climber. You will spend some time focussing on your rock climbing technique, taking time to develop good technique and movement skills. Time will also be spent on learning the required ropework skills and knots, as well as discussing your choice and use of climbing equipment. You will also focus on belaying and the skills involved in seconding routes, such as gear removal and tying into anchors. Throughout your course you will have the chance to do lots of climbing at a variety of venues. This will get you well on the way to becoming a self-sufficient climber.
Many clients like to spend 4-5 days on an introductory rock climbing course, often with a rest day scheduled in the middle. This gives you the chance to recover and get the most from your course. Contact us to discuss a course like this. At the end of the day, your course is tailormade to suit your needs so it’s up to you - it’s a good idea to discuss your course beforehand with us and we can always play things by ear on the day.
Anchors and topropes
Learning more about setting anchors and topropes will get you well on the way to being a self-sufficient climber after completing your course. This will also introduce you to vital skills for progressing to leading routes, both single pitch and multi-pitch.
Learn to lead
If you have spent a lot of time climbing on toprope or seconding a climbing partner, you may like to learn to lead in a safe environment and under the supervision of an instructor. There are plenty of excellent places near our Scottish and Welsh bases to learn to lead as there are plenty of suitable crags with well-protected routes to begin on. Contact us if you would like to discuss learning to lead in more detail.
Intro to multi-pitch
Once you are comfortable with seconding single-pitch routes and you feel ready, you may wish to learn more about multi-pitch climbing.
Performance Climbing Courses
These are designed to help you climb better and harder. Most people improve several grades during a course and develop a knowledge of what is required to continually improve their climbing. Tactics, technique, redpointing processes, mental training and much more.
If you are interested in performance coaching, drop us a line to discuss how you would get the most out of your course.
Example courses
An example rock climbing course in Scotland:
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Day 1
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Single Pitch Trad Climbing at Tulliemet
We started the course at this single pitch trad cliff - a perfect venue to build confidence while climbing and get to grips with belaying, removing gear and seconding. Part of the day was spent looking at rope systems for rigging toprope setups.
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Day 2
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Introduction to Multi-Pitch Climbing at Dunkeld
Today we headed to Polney Crag which has some excellent 2 pitch climbs and is the perfect venue for learning the skills for multi-pitch climbing. We climbed 3 multi-pitch routes between VD and Severe standard while learning about gear placement, multi-pitch belay stances, ropework and descent from climbs by abseil. Our choice of venue paid off as the day was mostly dry while the rest of the country got rained on!
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Day 3
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Learning to Lead - Sport Climbing at Bennybeg
The well bolted climbing at Bennybeg proved to be an excellent place to become acquainted with climbing on the sharp end of the rope. We covered movement skills, clipping skills, risk analysis, belaying a second from above and below, onsight climbing and redpointing.
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Day 4
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Learning to Lead - Trad Climbing at Treprain Law
It was due to be wet and windy to the north so we headed south to Treprain Law and as a result we climbed in dry, if a little blustery weather. The culmination of the course was in putting together the skills learned over the past 3 days and leading some nut and cam protected climbs. The leader was supervised close-up by an instructor on a fixed line and practiced placing gear on the lead, tactics for moving and resting, setting up belays with rope and slings and belaying a second from above.
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An example rock climbing course in North Wales:
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Day 1
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Trad climbing on Holyhead Mountain
The weather was a bit threatening in the mountains so we headed over to Anglesey and Holyhead Mountain where the sun was shining. We climbed some short multi-pitch routes from Diff to VS, covering some ropework, seconding skills and climbing technique.
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Day 2
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Learning to lead at Little Tryfan
Both clients were keen to learn to lead so we headed to Little Tryfan in the Ogwen Valley. After practicing gear placements, they led two multi-pitch routes with their instructor on a fixed line beside them.
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Day 3
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Bouldering and sport climbing in the Llanberis area
The morning was spent at the RAC boulders near Capel Curig. This was a great chance to improve climbing performance and consider tactics for training and development of technique. In the afternoon we headed to the Llanberis slate quarries to climb some newly bolted routes and use what we’d learned in the morning on the small edges of the slate. We also led some sport climbs, again with the instructor on a rope to one side. Finally, the clients tried to ‘push their grade’ on a much harder sport climb on top-rope.
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Day 4
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A mountain day in the Ogwen Valley
Today was a perfect sunny day and a great opportunity to use everything we’d learned on a long mountain day. Starting at the base of Idwal slabs and finishing on the classic C’neifion Arete we completed about 15 pitches with some scrambling in between. A grand day out.
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Day 5
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Tremadog cliffs
Today had a wet start so we headed to Tremadog where the routes often dry faster than in the mountains. First, we climbed the challenging Striptease (VS 5a) which was dry despite some rain due to its overhanging nature. The weather cleared up in the afternoon so the clients had the chance to lead Hail Bebe, a multi-pitch V Diff.
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