Rock climbing is an activity in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations. If you have ever looked longingly up at a wall or a mountain and wished you knew how to climb it, well now you can! There’s no better feeling than standing on top of a rock wall having scaled every inch of it yourself.
So why do people rock climb?
Rock climbing is a full-bodied workout, but also asks you to use your brain. It’s satisfyingly technical, has clear ways to progress and improve, and is really social too. After all, it’s always good to be friends with the person belaying for you!
The thrill of getting out into the wilderness is what keeps you hooked, for sure. Having a vertical adventure and feeling that you are engaging with something real, with nature– that’s got to be the element that motivates rock climbers most of all.
Rock climbing’s the fastest growing recreational sport in the world, so all those new climbers can’t be wrong!
But is rock climbing genuinely something anyone could do? How about a typical city worker with little or no climbing experience, could they give it a go?
I believe rock climbing is probably most beneficial for someone who works in a city. What better contrast is there for a desk-bound city worker than standing on top of a rock looking out over some of the UK’s most dramatic countryside on a Saturday afternoon?
There are so many different types of climbing, environments and weather conditions available that I believe everyone can find their own rock climbing heaven! Sometimes they get given different names, but that cover most of the options for amateur rock climbing.
With this range of rock climbing options, you get to pick and choose what you fancy trying. All forms have their risks, but these are definitely outweighed by the rewards they offer!
So long as you go with a qualified guide, there’s nothing to stop anyone going rock climbing and achieving something special this coming weekend. We’d certainly blow away any urban cobwebs, that’s for sure!
Why rock climb in the UK and not somewhere else?
Well the range of landscapes in the UK that you can rock-climb in are mind-blowing and challenging. North to south, east to west: there’s a wild range of rock types, difficulties and environments for rock climbing in the UK.
Take the wild walls of Scotland’s Cairngorms or the craggy summits in the Peak District. They’re all spectacular in their own ways. Many of the UK’s rock climbing destinations are also now set up specifically for rock climbers to enjoy, so it’s never been easier to get out there and enjoy them.
So how much does rock climbing usually cost?
Going with a professional guide normally costs around £60–£120 for a full day’s rock climbing. The actual price should be set by your guide in advance. This cost typically includes all the specialist rock climbing kit you could need: helmets, harnesses, ropes, shoes and so on. That’s worth checking.
Should you want to do it more often, it’s worth investing into the gear. Shoes and harnesses both start around £50 but can rise to well over £100 for the best rock climbing kit.
The UK Climbing website is a good place to read gear reviews, while Rock+Run, GoOutdoors and Urban Rock stock a fair amount of kit. Rock climbing’s popularity now means kit is much more available for a range of budgets.
Never cut corners with your kit, nor trying rock climbing without getting the right professional guidance.
How much of the basics do I need to know in advance? Do I need to buy any kit before climbing my first wall?
If you go with a qualified guide there’s no need to know very much in advance. You can arrive a complete novice that first morning and be rock climbing outdoors by the afternoon if you pick a beginner’s adventure.
If you treat the wall with due respect and follow your guide’s instructions carefully, there’s no great advantage in swatting up in advance on an indoor wall. It’s a different kind of rock climbing.
As for kit, most reputable rock climbing guides will provide the kit you need. Turn up in clothing that you feel is suitable to climb in and protects you from the elements and they’ll give you the rest.
Ok, great. So how long should does a typical rock climb take? Is it a one-day, weekend or week-long kind of activity?
I would say go for at least a day, but a weekend is better, especially if you’re new to rock climbing. Any longer for your first adventure and you’ll probably get too worn out– it’s good motivation to be left eager to get back out there!
Weekends are a good amount of time for beginners. They give you a bit more time to settle into the challenge, learn some new stuff and try it out before heading home with a real sense of achievement.
How does a rock climbing adventure weekend look like?
Well, normally you’ll meet your climbing guide at your accommodation or a location near where you’ll go rock climbing. They’ll give you a briefing, get a sense of experience levels, give you any kit you need and take you to the wall to get started. There should never be more than six climbers to one guide; for beginners, the ratio is normally lower.
Then your rock climbing day varies. Sometimes you’ll do drills to learn something that’ll help you on the wall later. In other instances, you’ll go straight into trying out routes that are suitable to your level. If you’re climbing with ropes then you’ll also learn to belay safely before anyone climbs very high. Safety first, always.
Over the course of a weekend, the guide will probably try and push you to try some graded climbs at the edge of your capacity and show you the variation of routes available.
This all sounds exciting! Can I interact with the rock climbing community or other enthusiasts like me?
Facebook groups, meet-up platforms and rock climbing forums are a good place to start. There’s bound to be a community near you that suits your experience, desires and social preferences. A quick internet and social media search should reveal your new rock climbing buddies.
Your guide will often be happy to chat about rock climbing– after all, it’s their passion! Once you have signed up for a weekend, you’ll normally have access to their expert opinions in blogs, articles, and social media, as well as ways to contact them directly to ask them questions. They can often help you to find like-minded climbers too, so you can start your own rock climbing community!
Getting away from the city is a big part of rock climbing’s attraction. Where can I stay on my first wilderness climbing adventure?
Airbnb is a great resource for good quality and affordable/luxury accommodation. Your guide may also be able to give you some local advice on where is best to stay too.
Sometimes, your guide or rock climbing company may offer accommodation as part of their package. That can be a great option because it reinforces the social aspect of rock climbing by staying altogether. The social side is a big part of rock climbing’s attraction.
Booking with the right guide is obviously important. Is there anyone you’d recommend to support my next rock climbing adventure?
Adventure companies and platforms like Wilderness Now will only work with the most qualified guides. Doing that means they know their guides will be safe, but have enough knowledge to not let the safety requirements suck the fun out of rock climbing. It’s about creating the right balance, and you only get that with experience.
For us guides, working with a company that values our qualifications and experience helps us to offer the kind of experience we would want if we were just starting out. Go with a company that has a thorough vetting process in general!
When’s the best time to rock-climb in the UK?
Again, we are biased, because we think you can climb in any season. Every season will offer you something different. Spring gives you the beauty of the blossoming landscape; summer has the best chance of climbing up dry, warm rocks; autumn’s changing colours are just beautiful, and winter brings specialist challenges like ice and snow climbing that you can’t get at any other time.
So, the best time to rock-climb is…all year-round!
The BMC also offers informative videos about rock climbing, reviews of the latest kit and other rock climbing related content.
Ok, sold! So how do I prepare for my next rock climbing trip, and can I be back at work by Monday morning?
Start searching rock climbing adventures near you and choose a weekend option. The following Monday you can search for something further afield or a little different. It’ll be the beginning of a whole new passion for you, we are sure of that!
