UK Rock Climbing

25/02/2024

Some climbing partnerships are just meant to be. A chance meeting with Mark Smith at the painted rocks last month came at the perfect moment. With many mutual friends and a similar outlook on life, I was in no doubt we'd get on and that Mark would be a solid person to climb with. For the last 4 weeks, we've ascended some absolutely epic routes and had some right adventures exploring this vast range. Here is the grand finale up the White Tower on Friday.

An incredible mini-adventure with Mark. a 90min walk-in gets you to this impressive chunk of rock. The route is 165m HVS and has 2 5a pitches with some spicy...

20/01/2024

Having a great time in the Anti-Atlas. Here all winter. Check out what's on offer here.👇

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20/12/2023

I find days out in winter mountains lead to a higher sense of camaraderie within a partnership or group. The shared challenge of the weather and difficulty of the walk in, approach, specific moves, spin drift and wind all add to the overall experience of the day.

Yes, some days in winter can be hard and some blue sky and sunny but all lead to incredibly rewarding days with great people. Stories of winter days are still shared each time I meet up again or chat with friends.

We’ve still got some places and dates available on winter climbing courses this winter.

Send us a message if you’re keen.

Association of Mountaineering Instructors

13/12/2023

Another day on the tools with Tony. Drytooling is great for tuning into the specific movement of winter climbing using your ice axes and crampons.

The terrain in winter is so varied that you’re not always following snow and ice, so it is important to build confidence and trust in using your winter tools on rock too. Specific, relevant practice is so useful as we often have long periods of time not using them.

Have you tried drytooling before?

09/11/2023

So the clocks have changed… what are your plans for winter?

Get training on the indoor walls, boards and fingerboards.

Keeping an eye on the forecasts to get out bouldering. Maybe some lamping? 🤔

Dusting off the axes and crampons ready for some winter.

Or have you booked a winter sunshine trip?

Let us know in the comments below 👇 😎

30/10/2023

We’ve recently spent a few days down in Oxfordshire stripping and route setting a climbing wall at a school.

What a brilliant facility for the students to be introduced to climbing and then develop their skills.

Sometimes it’s nice to have a few days without the potential for getting soaked by the rain.

Association of Mountaineering Instructors

04/10/2023

Winter Preparation Course 2nd-3rd December.

Get yourself ready for the coming winter season on this two day course in the Lake District.

Day 1 - Drytooling at The Works / Bakestone Quarry

Develop your drytooling technique and confidence in your crampons and axes on rock perfect for the mixed terrain often found on routes and ridges in the UK.

Day 2 - Mountain Day Scrambling.
Learn new ropework techniques or sharpen up existing skills ahead of the winter season through a mountaineering journey.

There may be winter conditions on the hill requiring axes and crampons so this may become a winter mountaineering day.

The days may swap order depending on the weather conditions.

£240 per person.

❄️ Book here -> https://www.trybooking.com/uk/CSQW ❄️

01/10/2023

Climbing and mountaineering courses in North Wales in October!

One of our Mountaineering and Climbing Instructors, Henry Giles, has some last minute availability over the next couple of weekends. Get in touch to arrange a bespoke weekend around your aims!

Scrambling course: bespoke scrambling days ticking off the classics of North Wales and bagging a summit too!

Trad improver: improve you trad climbing, gear placements and movement skills.

Sea cliff climbing: guided climbing experiences on the finest sea cliffs of North Wales.

Dates: 7th - 8th & 14th & 15th October.

If these dates or courses don’t work for you, still get it touch and we can figure something out!

Cost: 1:1 - £200, 1:2 - £240 per day.

Get in touch via email or send us a message to figure out the rest!

[email protected]

18/08/2023

It was an absolute pleasure to be out climbing with Sam yesterday at Twistleton.

We started by seconding a number of routes up to VS 5a and spent some time building anchors and placing gear before Sam tied in for his first trad lead.

He climbed Medusa, S 4a in great style, placing solid wires and cams with great thought and climbed in total control. He then was keen for more and headed up Zero Wall next door placing more great gear with good rope work as well.

Being part of someone’s journey to their first leads is so rewarding as it is a big milestone in anyone’s climbing. I can still remember mine 16 years ago, Nailbite VD, Ilkley Quarry.

What was your first trad lead?

Olly

15/08/2023

Day 2 saw us head to Pinnacle Ridge on St. Sunday Crag. After a drizzly walk in the ridge dried quickly in the wind. Nicky and Andy did a superb job of taking it in turns block leading the lower section of the ridge, consolidating skills from the previous day.

Taking coils, direct belays, Italian Hitches, moving together, building belays, body belays and reading the terrain.

They matched the terrain to their method of looking after one another brilliantly and moved efficiently up the ridge.

I took over the ropes for the main pitch and pinnacles to show them what Grade 3 terrain is like before they took over to lead the final section to the top!

Thanks for a top weekend team! 🙌

14/08/2023

Day 1 of a bespoke Scrambling course for Nicky and Andy and we headed to Raven Crag, Yewdale.

After a quick van classroom session to avoid the heaviest forecast rain we headed up the brilliant clean, grippy rock of this lovely ridge.

What a day of learning all about scrambling, moving together, harder pitches, taking coils, building belays, climbing movement in ascent and descent as well as some abseiling.

It set them up well for a more challenging day 2.

11/08/2023

1 last minute place has become available on the 19-20th August course following a cancellation.

Get in touch if you’re keen to take the next step in your climbing next weekend.

08/08/2023

Olly was out with Tony at the weekend providing a drytooling workshop at Bakestone Quarry and The Works in the Lake District.

Drytooling is a superb way of dialling into your climbing movement with lots of static movement requiring accuracy with your axes and crampons.

It’s also great to refresh using your winter tools a head of the coming season and to build up confidence in moving in your crampons on rock. No kicking or swinging here.

Look out for dates of some winter related courses in the next couple of weeks.

22/07/2023

With today's weather looking biblical, some members of our young academy team made a trip to Lancaster Bouldering Wall with Danny. Lots of interesting problems to get stuck into followed by a competition on the summer bouldering series. Great day out with a great bunch!

17/07/2023

It was a bit of a wash out this weekend.

Did you manage to get out on rock at all? Or head for an indoor session?

I managed a quick couple of hours at the local crag between the showers yesterday afternoon.

You know what they say: dry road, dry crag!

12/07/2023

What do you look for when placing your gear? What makes a good wire or cam?

Have you heard of DISCO before?

D- Direction of force if the gear was to take a fall.
I - Integrity of the rock. A piece of gear is only as good as the quality of rock it is in. Look for cracks and consider how much it goes into the ground if using blocks for belays.
S - Shape of the gear. Try the wire or cam in different orientations depending on the shape of the rock.
C - Contact area between the gear and the rock.
O - Observation skills. Reading the rock to identify where gear could go and then rating it.

Have a go at rating some of the gear in the photos?

Any that you’d particularly avoid? 😮

If you’d like to develop your understanding of placing gear and building belays we still have some places on our upcoming Learn to Lead Courses.

29-30th July
19-20th August

£220 per person.

Send us a message for some more info.

02/07/2023

Have you been out on the crags this weekend? It’s certainly been a blustery one!

Here’s some photos from our recent trips out.