Climbing Courses

We can run the course at various locations throughout the lovely Snowdonia National Park as well as on the crags that line the North Wales coast.

Course Details

This is an information packed course of climbing instruction where you will learn and practise core climbing skills so that you have a solid base of climbing techniques and experience to build on after the course has finished. The aim of the course is to get you climbing independently either at the climbing wall or outside on single pitch crags. We can focus on sport climbing or traditional climbing as well as having a taste of both disciplines.
This climbing course will be tailored to give you both a taste of rock climbing and also the chance to learn all of the crucial climbing techniques and rope skills whilst in an exciting, yet safe environment.

We like to try and teach these skills whilst out climbing so that the information is as authentic as possible. Thus you will do plenty of climbing throughout the course - from the first day you can expect to be climbing routes whilst getting expert tuition on climbing movement techniques and learning the ropework and skills needed to stay safe when climbing.
Throughout the course we will help you appreciate and understand the wider issues involved in climbing; the grading system, climbing ethics, access, the environment, potential objective dangers and the correct use of your climbing equipment - in this way you will not only learn how to climb safely right from the start, but become a more rounded climber.

Course Details

Many your early lead climbs will be done with the instructor moving on a fixed line alongside you and helping out as required. The additional confidence gained from leading your first rock climbs with a climbing instructor close by, makes the experience safe,exciting and fun rather than nerve racking -and potentially dangerous-.

The course content and duration will depend on your experience and what you want to learn - leading sport climbing, leading trad climbs or both disciplines.

If your aim is to learn to lead on bolts, there are several sport climbing crags on the North Wales coastal areas and also in the slate quarries in Llanberis.

These two great sport climbing areas are ideal to learn how to climb on bolts outdoors. Once you get a few basic safety skills, you will be able to sport climb anywhere in the world. If you haven't lead climbed indoors, the skills you will get will of course allow you to lead climb indoors safely.

If you also want to learn how to climb with traditional protection (nuts, wires and cams) we can give you a good insight of what is involved in the same course.

Learning to trad lead placing your own protection involves a relatively big jump in terms of climbing skills but, once mastered, allows you to climb independently on many classic routes throughout the UK.

  • A course lasting 1-2 days will give you the chance to do a lot of rock climbing whilst learning how to use the core equipment (climbing harness, rope controllers / belay devices, ropes, carabiners, protection and sling), how to tie the crucial knots, how to set up belays (anchor points), how to keep your partners safe when belaying (controlling the rope) from both above and below and how to abseil or retreat from a climb.
    Time allowing and depending on your preferences, we can also look at how climbers protect the climbs with various devices (wires / nuts, cams / friends)

  • Equipment provided by us: The Rock Climbing Company will provide all technical equipment for the Climbing Taster course. This includes ropes, climbing hardware plus a helmet and harness for each client.

    The climbing on the course can be done with mountain boots, approach shoes or stiff trainers, however climbing is much easier with rock shoes and we can arrange hire rock shoes for you. Rock shoes use a smooth, high friction rubber sole that makes standing on small footholds much easier.

    Rock shoes can be hired at £5.00 a pair per course.

  • You will need to bring suitable clothing for the time of year - always bearing in mind that we will be in the mountains and a collection of warm clothing and a full set of waterproofs (top and trousers) could prove very useful. Loose, synthetic trousers that allow good movement are more comfortable and best; cotton jeans should be avoided - you can't move freely and once wet you will stay wet and cold. Hats and gloves are great for providing extra comfort and for regulating temperatures. The crags we use on the Climbing Taster course are generally within 20 minutes walk from the parking area and you will need suitable, supportive footwear for the approach walk. You will need a rucksack (30 - 40 litre capacity) with a bit of room free to carry some of the gear plus food and drink for the day. A thermos of hot drink is always a welcome relief if the weather is cool - cinnamon tea with plenty of honey is a good energetic and warming drink and hot chocolate is always great. There is a more complete list of equipment and clothing to bring on the Equipment for Courses in North Wales page.

  • Prices do not include, transport from your base, accommodation, food and drink , personal insurance or entry fee to the climbing wall.

  • Rock Climbing Taster courses are best taught in a ratio of between 1 to 6 clients to 1 instructor. This relatively low ratio allows us to keep the course interesting with everybody active. We can run courses for larger groups adding more instructors- just contact us for details.