Rock Climbing Courses & days with Will4Adventure
Whether you’re a complete beginner, new to the outdoors, wanting to take the kids rock climbing or itching to lead your first route: there’s a rock climbing course here for you. Low ratios ensure high quality instruction and high quality tuition at a personal level. All our Peak District rock climbing courses are outdoor courses, and focus on the fundamentals of how to rock climb, in order to help you climb at your best.
Taster days – families, newbies, groups
These are our taster days to rock climbing in the Peak District, ideal for a family or group looking for something different to do outside.
From £180 per day for up to 3 people
Rock 1 – Introductory 2 Day Course
Learn to climb on this introductory 2 day Peak District climbing course. Perfect introduction to the fundamentals of rock climbing techniques for climbing outdoors.
From £145 pp (min 2 people) or £180 1:1 (for 1 day only)
Rock 2 – Intermediate Rock Climbing Courses
Two day introductory course to trad climbing, seconding routes, belaying the lead climber with added focus on placing gear and rigging anchors.
From £165 pp (min 2 people) or £180 1:1 (for 1 day only)
Rock 3 – Learn to Lead Climbing Courses
Two day climbing course, perfect for climbers who are now moving confidently on the easier rock climbing grades who wish to learn to lead-climb outdoors.
Price for 2 people: £420 (2 days)
Rocks & Ropes refresher climbing days
This one-day Peak District climbing course is a technical course aimed at ropes & rigging, but also the perfect recap for rusty leaders!
From £180 per day for up to 3 people or 1:1 for £170
Multi-pitch Rock Climbing Days & Courses
Long routes in the mountains of Snowdonia. Further your skills and experiences up high with one of our Mountaineering Instructors. Days like these just don’t get better!
Price per day: £210 per 2 people
Bouldering Days & Courses
The Peak District is a world-class venue for bouldering. From novice to master-class, we have the instructor for you to help you get the most from this sport.
Price pp: £85 (min 2 people)
Challenge: 10 in 10 in 10
Can you climb 10 routes, over a 10km route inside 10 hours? Join us for this unique rock climbing challenge day in the Peak District.
Price pp: £85 (min 2 people)
The Rock Climbing Masterclass
Performance coaching indoors or out, to maximise and develop your rock climbing, whatever your previous climbing experience for all levels of climber.
Price per day: £250 per 2 people
Taster day – families, newbies, groups, improvers
Tailor made rock climbing courses in a day. Perfect for the holiday-maker to the Peak District, for those looking for a taster to rock climbing or for a family or group looking for an adventure on one of the classic Peak District edges. These days are super for complete novices, split into three sessions: bouldering, abseiling and roped climbing. Cracking good days out!
From £180 per day for up to 3 people (for more than 3 people then please add £20 per person extra)
Contact us with your preferred date(s) and we’ll get back to you asap with all the details.
Alternatively, book yourself onto a private day being guided on wonderful multi-pitch climbs in the mountains of Snowdonia or the Lake District… for £210 per day (for up to 2 people).
Rock Climbing Course 1 – Introduction to Climbing Skills
“Just to let you know we had an absolutely fantastic weekend! … We’d also like to comment on how professional and competent Matt is, we felt quite safe under his guidance and learnt loads! … Thanks again – keep up the good work, hope to see you again soon.”
– Tim & Linda O’Gorman.
Learn to climb on this introductory Peak District climbing course, perfect for the complete beginner: everything from tying in to a harness and belaying, to the fundamentals of rock climbing techniques to help you on your way up the rock face. All our beginner courses start with a bouldering session to get you used to the rock before we start you on the roped routes. Also included:
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- How to belay and tie in to your harness
- Efficient use of foot holds to support your weight
- Balance exercises and position of centre of gravity
- Different types of hand hold and how to use them
- Lots of climbing on graded routes!
- Abseiling
Location: the gritstone edges of the Peak District National Park
Price per person: £145 (minimum two people)
Leader/client ratio: 1:4
Base Camp: Castleton, Derbyshire
Alternatively, book yourself onto this 2 day course … 1:1 from £340
Contact us with your preferred date(s) that suit you and the numbers and we’ll get back to you asap with all the details
Rock Climbing Course 2 – Improvers
“Thanks for a fantastic weekend – they just get better and better.”
– Chris W.
You’ve covered the basics already, you’re no novice, but maybe you’re not quite ready to lead climb. This course introduces you to trad climbing and seconding routes, with some focus on placing gear and rigging anchors. It also gives you the opportunity to have someone look at your skills and confidence to advise whether or not you’re ready for the next stage . . .
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- Warming up
- Techniques for different climbs
- Gear placement and removal
- Seconding routes
- The principles of rigging anchors
Location: the gritstone edges of the Peak District National Park
Price per person: £165 (2 days)
Instructor/client ratio: 1:4
Meeting point: Hathersage, Derbyshire
Alternatively, book yourself onto one day … 1:1 for £340
Contact us with your preferred date(s) that suit you and the numbers and we’ll get back to you asap with all the details
Rock Climbing Course 3 – Learn to Lead
“Dave has taught us a lot and was an inspiration to us…..we now have the basis of the necessary skills to which we hope leads to a safe and long climbing career!!”
– Denise and Michelle
Having learned the basics and honed your skills some more, this course is designed to primarily teach you how to lead climb on natural protection and set up belays and stances. This climbing course may be of particular interest for those proficient at the local indoor climbing wall now itching to climb outdoors (and quite right too!) Nothing beats the real thing … two days of lead climbing covering the following:
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- Equipment – the rack
- Gear placement
- Belaying the leader
- Rigging a stance
- Personal abseils
Location: the gritstone edges of the Peak District National Park
Price for 2 people: £420 (2 days)
Instructor/client ratio: 1:2
Meeting point: Hathersage, Derbyshire
Private bookings for pairs welcome – please contact us with your preferred date(s) that suit you and the numbers and we’ll get back to you asap with a plan.
Rock Climbing Course 4 – Rocks and Ropes The Twilight Zone
This one-day Peak District climbing course will teach or revise you on how to rig anchor points so that you may enjoy safely continued lead climbing or top rope climbing outdoors. It is a technical course more than a climbing course and will be of great benefit to graduates of the Rock 2 Improvers course who wish to progress further. But also for graduates of Rock 3 – Learn to Lead who think their skills may be a little rusty, this will be the perfect recap.
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- Refreshing the basics
- Knots
- The rack
- Placing gear
- Rigging anchors
- Ethics
- Further climbing practice
Location: the gritstone edges of the Peak District National Park
Price: From £180 per day for up to 3 people (for more than 3 people then please add £20 per person extra)
Instructor/client ratio: 1:4
Meeting point: Hathersage, Derbyshire
Alternatively, book a day to yourself … 1:1 for £170
Contact us with your preferred date(s) and we’ll get back to you asap with all the details.
Rock Climbing Course 5 – Multi-pitch Rock Climbing
Introduction to Summer Mountaineering
“Will, Recovering from a great weekend – tired but exultant. Learnt a lot, and gained a lot of confidence. Steve was an excellent instructor – supportive, encouraging and very clear. I need to get back out on the rock IMMEDIATELY … !” – C.
By now you will be climbing with confidence (outdoors) and may have experience at placing your own trad protection. You have done it at the local crag and you have known for a long time where it was all leading . . .
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- Basic skills recap
- Guide books and route selection
- Route finding
- Anticipating problems
- Ropework and stance management
- Solutions to simple problems
- Escaping the system
- Use of prussiks
- Crag evacuation
- Traverse problems
Location: the Welsh mountains of Snowdonia
Price per day: £210 per 2 people
Instructor/client ratio: 1:2
Meeting point: Capel Curig, Snowdonia
Contact us to book yourself onto a private day being guided on wonderful multi-pitch climbs in the mountains of Snowdonia or the Lake District. Let us know your preferred date(s) and the numbers and we’ll get back to you asap with all the details.
Bouldering Days & Courses
Rock climbing at ground-level: bouldering is the best way to maximise your rock climbing experience. We introduce all our courses with a bouldering session, but these courses aim to take you that step further to really work on those movement skills. The Peak District is a world-class venue for bouldering and if you’re looking for coaching to gain that edge, then these bouldering sessions are for you. From novice to master-class, half-day and full-day sessions are available, never exceeding a ratio of 1:4.
Location: the gritstone edges of the Peak District National Park
Price per person: £85 (minimum two people)
Price per half-day pp: £55 (min 2 people)
Instructor/client ratio: 1:4
Meeting point: Hathersage, Derbyshire
Alternatively, book yourself onto one day … 1:1 for £180
Contact us with your preferred date(s) that suit you and the numbers and we’ll get back to you asap with all the details
10 climbs, in 10km, in 10 hours
Can you climb 10 routes over a 10km route inside just 10 hours? Here’s your chance to try!? Join us for this excellent Peak District rock climbing challenge and mini-adventure. No previous experience is necessary. We will provide all the kit, expertise and plenty of encouragement!
Location: the gritstone edges of the Peak District National Park
Price per person: £85 (minimum two people)
Instructor/client ratio: 1:4
Meeting point: Hathersage, Derbyshire
Alternatively, book yourself onto one day … 1:1 for £180
Contact us with your preferred date(s) that suit you and the numbers and we’ll get back to you asap with all the details
The Rock Climbing Masterclass
Performance coaching for sport, trad, bouldering, indoors or out, to maximise and develop your rock climbing, whatever your previous climbing experience for all levels of climber. On these 1 day climbing courses, instruction and coaching is geared to target and develop the key elements: technique, balance, movement, and your mental mental approach. We like to work at a ratio that does not exceed 1:2 so that we can tailor the experience as closely to your needs as possible.
Location: the gritstone edges of the Peak District National Park
Price per day: £250 per 2 people
Instructor/client ratio: 1:2
Meeting point: Hathersage, Derbyshire
Alternatively, book yourself onto one day … 1:1 for £210
Contact us with your preferred date(s) that suit you and the numbers and we’ll get back to you asap with all the details
Rock Climbing – some jargon explained
Many people come to rock climbing by way of their local indoor wall or climbing gymn. They don’t realise it – but something that is seemingly so simple as a concept is a package of differing styles, grading systems and ethics too. So here are a few words on what you could be getting into …
Wall climbing
This is what you do when you climb indoors. At your indoor wall you’ll find routes with pre-rigged climbing ropes and routes with just a series of bolts in the wall. The former is what is largely known as top-rope climbing. This is extremely safe since you are always attached to a rope. The bolted walls are for lead climbers. Climbing on bolts outdoors is known as sport climbing – and there is an alpha-numeric grading system for this style of climbing.
Climbing outdoors
Rock climbing outdoors is split largely into three groups: bouldering, traditional (‘trad’) and sport climbing. Bouldering is climbing low outcrops of rocks or boulders without the need for a rope. Bouldering can be done solo with just a mat, or more safely and socialably with friends who will “spot” for you. (Spotting is the process of essentially allowing you to fall, but falling safely and hopefully on the mat that’s beneath you).
Trad climbing
Trad stands for traditional. For some trad is synonymous with desperate routes, polished rock, moss, rain, the wrong gear carried, short daylight hours with sunlight haemoraging from the sky and just a stiff upper lip that is the margin between life and death. Very occasionally it’s like this, but mostly it’s about getting out on a local crag and enjoying a wonderful adventure. Really (in my subjective opinion) this is what rock climbing is all about. Trad climbing is where people lead routes and safeguard themselves by placing protection (gear) as they go. The second climber then climbs up and retrieves all this gear. (It’s very expensive). The grading system for trad climbing is a complicated mixture of adjectival grades and numbers … It’s a bit like the offside rule in football: it takes time to learn it but once you do you wonder what all the fuss is about. We’ve mentioned sport climbing – no gear is needed since the route is pre-bolted. It’s comparatively rare to find any sport climbing venues in the UK – though they do exist. Better is to travel overseas – where there’s an abundance of sport routes to be found on the continent and Europe.
Will4Adventure rock climbing courses
All our rock climbing courses take place outdoors on real rock. Rock 1 courses have you climbing on a top rope system (with a rope always safely above you). Rock 2 courses take the adventure a little further and you will second routes as well as learn how to place gear. On Rock 3 climbing courses you’ll learn to lead climb placing your own protection as you climb. If you have to climb a rock face in many goes because it is too high to get to the top in one go – this is called multi-pitch climbing and this is taught in our Rock 5 mountaineering course.
Be it an adventure weekend you’re seeking, a weekend in the fresh air or a brilliant new hobby to take you outdoors you couldn’t do much better than join us for one of these Peak District climbing courses. Rock climbing is also perfect for the corporate day out – get in touch for ideas and details.
Further Reading
Whether you’re a complete beginner, new to the outdoors, wanting to take the kids climbing or itching to lead your first route, there’s a rock climbing course here for you. Low ratios ensure high quality instruction and high quality tuition at a personal level. All our Peak District rock climbing courses are outdoor courses, and focus on the fundamentals of how to rock climb, in order to help you climb at your best.
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- Taster day – families, newbies, groups, improvers
- Rock Climbing Course 1 – Introduction to Climbing
- R#Family_Rock_Climbingock Climbing Course 2 – Improvers’ Course
- Rock Climbing Course 3 – Learn to Lead
- Rock Climbing Course 4 – Rocks and Ropes – recap the ropework
- Rock Climbing Course 5 – Multi-pitch Rock Climbing
- Peak District climbing challenge – 10 routes, in 10 km, in 10 hours
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