Develop your climbing skills further with a specific course; whether it's learning to use guide mode safely, pushing your climbing grade seconding harder routes or building better belays to develop confidence and efficiency climbing multipitch routes. We never stop learning, and learning something new is all part of our development as climbers.
*Click on the headings below to take you to the relevant climbing skills info*
£100pp*
1 Day
1:6
* Price indicated is for public course dates. For private/bespoke/1:1 bookings, prices start FROM £250 per day, +£30 per person extra per day.
Get in touch to enquire or click the BESPOKE BOOKING button above.
CLIMBING RIGGING COURSE
COURSE OVERVIEW:
You will spend a full day learning specific rock climbing rope rigging skills on Dartmoor to set up your own top and bottom roped climbs. By the end of this course, you will be able to place, assess and remove traditional climbing gear, build basic climbing anchors for top and bottom rope systems and keep yourself safe at the top of a crag.
WHO'S IT FOR?
-
For those who want to rig single pitch climbs for their children and/or friends
-
You are working towards your Rock Climbing Instructor award
-
You want to safely set up a bottom rope to work the moves on a climb above your limit
-
You are not yet ready to start to lead climb but still want to go climbing with friends
This course is primarily focusing on rigging climbs for bottom and top roping. There will be the opportunity to climb but that is not the main focus of the day.
COURSE CONTENT
On this course, we will cover the following:
-
Planning where to climb
-
Safety at the top of a crag
-
Climbing knots
-
Placing climbing protection
-
Using natural anchors
-
Assessing in-situ anchors such
-
Building anchors
-
Top and Bottom rope systems
-
Common problems and how to avoid/solve them
-
Access and the Environment
-
Hazards and Emergency
WHAT TO EXPECT:
-
A full day of practicing setting up rope anchors for top and bottom rope climbing
-
Progressive learning in rope rigging
-
A focus on keeping yourself safe at the top of a crag and rigging safe systems
-
Safe, friendly atmosphere with others passionate about climbing
-
A focus on your safety
-
Opportunities to build confidence setting up your own climbs under the watchful eye of an experienced Mountaineering Instructor
-
Low group ratio to focus on your personalised instruction
BUILD BETTER BELAYS
£150pp*
1 Day
1:2
* Price indicated is for public course dates. For private/bespoke/1:1 bookings, prices are: 1:1 = £250 per day | 1:2 = £280 per day (£140pp per day)
Get in touch to enquire or click the BESPOKE BOOKING button above.
COURSE OVERVIEW:
This course is designed for climbers who have experience multipitch climbing who want to develop their belay building skills to improve efficiency on multipitch climbs. You will learn how to have tangle free belays, be efficient and safe at changeovers on the belay, and build bomber anchors. Being efficient at belays makes multipitch climbing more enjoyable, safer and speeds up the climb. Good stance management and efficient belay building is the difference between walking off in day light or missing last orders at the pub! (or generally it's the difference between topping out before the rain hits or climbing the last pitch in the rain!)
This 1 day build better belays course is designed for you to look at different ways to build belays, to make you more efficient at stances and to trust the gear! We will look at the most effective way to utilise the belay ledge (or lack of!) and build belays accordingly. Whether this is with the rope, slings or both, In-reach or out of reach, and how to connect yourself and your partner (or partners) to this belay. We will look at your gear placements, stance management and discuss the options we have at each belay.
WHO'S IT FOR?
-
This build better belays course is for those who have experience leading multipitch routes and want to develop their skills
-
You may have never used a hanging belay and/or struggle to trust the gear at belays
-
You have possibly got into a tangle at belay ledges (twist in the ropes or snagged coils), not had enough rope or gear to build what you wanted, or even got stuck behind a slow team and had to share a belay, or belay somewhere not described in the guidebook.
-
Experienced climbers looking to develop their skills
COURSE CONTENT:
On this build better belays course, you will learn the following skills:
-
Reading a guidebook and route reading
-
selecting a good spot to belay
-
Selecting and placing gear
-
Using in-situ gear
-
Building belays with slings and rope
-
In-reach and out of reach anchors
-
Attaching to anchors (in-reach and out of reach)
-
Belaying a second
-
Attaching a second to the belay
-
Stance and rope management
-
Leader changeovers
-
Block leading process
-
Lead climbing tips
-
Emergency procedures
WHAT TO EXPECT:
-
Full day of building belays on multipitch climbs
-
Progressive learning in building belays and stance management
-
A focus on staying safe at belays and improving efficiency
-
Safe, friendly atmosphere with others passionate about climbing
-
A focus on your safety
-
Opportunities to build confidence in stance management and belay tasks under the watchful eye of an experienced Mountaineering Instructor
-
1:2 ratio to focus on your personalised instruction
£150pp*
1 Day
1:2
* Price indicated is for public course dates. For private/bespoke/1:1 bookings, prices are: 1:1 = £250 per day | 1:2 = £280 per day (£140pp per day)
Get in touch to enquire or click the BESPOKE BOOKING button above.
GUIDE MODE MASTERCLASS
COURSE OVERVIEW:
This course is for multipitch trad and sport climbers who are new to guide mode and want to start using it safely on multipitch climbs. Guide mode is often looked at as a technique used by Guides and instructors, but you can use it on your climbing partner too if you know how and when it's acceptable. If that last bit of the sentence seems a bit confusing: 'How and when it's acceptable' then this course may be for you. Guide mode can be confusing, it also seems so simple. However, a few factors need to be taken into consideration and the process understood. You will learn how guide mode works, how to build your anchors to use it, belaying in guide mode, and lowering in guide mode. We will also look at common problems, when not to use it and it's limitations.
WHO'S IT FOR?
-
This guide mode masterclass is for those who have multipitch climbing experience
-
Experienced climbers who want to understand how guide mode works
-
Sport climbers going on a multipitch sport climbing trip abroad and want to learn how they can be more efficient at belays
-
You may be taking out less experienced friends, belaying 2 partners or just wanting to develop your skills
COURSE CONTENT:
On this guide mode masterclass course, we will cover the following skills:
-
Selecting and placing gear
-
Building belays
-
Using guide mode on sling and rope anchors
-
Belaying a second
-
Lowering a second
-
Belaying 2 climbers
-
Lowering a climber with 2 people seconding
-
Attaching 2 people to a belay avoiding twists and tangles
-
When NOT to use guide mode
-
It's limitations
-
Simple rescues using guide mode
WHAT TO EXPECT:
-
Full day of building belays on multipitch climbs and bringing up and lowering partners in guide mode
-
Progressive learning in building belays, stance management and using guide mode devices
-
A focus on staying safe at belays and improving efficiency
-
Safe, friendly atmosphere with others passionate about climbing
-
A focus on your safety
-
Opportunities to build confidence in stance management and belaying under the watchful eye of an experienced Mountaineering Instructor
-
1:2 ratio to focus on your personalised instruction
COURSE OVERVIEW:
This course is for experienced climbers looking to push into the next grade. You'll learn that you are closer to the next grade than you think and that you are, in fact, capable of climbing it. You will learn the skills to manage your head game when above gear, how to manage fear, assess risks whilst leading, and gain experience climbing by building a base of grades and progressively pushing into your new grade.
WHO'S IT FOR?
-
This Push Your Grade course is for those who have lead climbing experience at Diff to Hard Severe (HS)
-
Generally, people will fall into one of the below grade categories:
-
Diff/VDiff - wanting to climb Severe (S)
-
Severe - wanting to climb Hard Severe (HS)
-
HS - wanting to climb Very Severe (VS)
-
VS - Hard Very Severe (HVS)
-
HVS - E1
-
-
Mountaineers wanting to climb longer mountaineering routes with pitches of graded climbing
-
Climbers wanting to try a different style of climbing or rock type which holds them back as an all round climber. Examples being going from limestone to granite, or a crack climber wanting to climb more slabs
-
An individual who just needs a confidence boost and for someone to show them that they can climb that grade!
COURSE CONTENT:
On this 'push your grade' course, we will cover the following skills to get you up the route:
-
Choosing an appropriate route
-
Movement and footwork coaching on rock
-
Resting on a route
-
Efficient clipping
-
Efficient climbing movement
-
Choosing a trad rack for your grade
-
Selecting and placing gear
-
Trusting trad gear
-
Lead climbing
-
Understanding falling and it's impact on climbing performace
-
Managing fear on route
-
Seconding a route at your chosen improvement grade
-
Possibly leading a route at your target grade
-
How to back off lead safely and your options whilst leading
-
Building confidence
-
Gaining climbing milage
WHAT TO EXPECT:
-
A day spent climbing routes around your grade to build a base to gain confidence
-
A focus on efficient climbing and managing fear and risks
-
Opportunities to second and bottom rope harder grades
-
Progressive learning in climbing techniques
-
Safe, friendly atmosphere with others passionate about climbing
-
A focus on your safety
-
Opportunities to lead climbs under the watchful eye of an experienced instructor
-
1:2 ratio to focus on your personalised instruction
COURSE OVERVIEW:
This course is for experienced climbers who have climbed with a single rope and wants to progress to longer, wandering multipitch routes that require 2 ropes. You will learn the skills to manage 2 ropes, how to clip them, the purpose behind using half ropes, what to do with all that rope at belays to avoid twists and tangles, and how to abseil with 2 ropes.
When we start multipitch climbing, or venturing onto sea cliffs or into the mountains, climbers usually start to use 2 ropes. These are generally half ropes or triple rated ropes. 2 ropes allow for bigger abseils (tie the 2 ropes together), climbing as a 3 (one on each rope, usually 2 single or triple rated ropes), and they minimise rope drag on wandering pitches.
WHO'S IT FOR?
-
This 'double rope technique' course is for those who have lead climbing experience on single or multipitch crags with 1 rope and want to start using 2 ropes in your trad climbing
-
Those of you who have some experience using double ropes and want to become more efficient to avoid twists and tangles at belays
-
Experienced climbers wanting to progress to sea cliff and mountain routes that require the use of 2 ropes for efficient and safer climbing
COURSE CONTENT:
On this double rope technique course, we will cover the following skills:
-
Choosing a route
-
Selecting a rope (well, ropes)
-
Lead belaying with 2 ropes
-
Leading with 2 ropes
-
How to clip both ropes and the purpose behind it
-
Building belays
-
Belaying a second on 2 ropes
-
Belaying 2 seconds
-
Attaching to anchors
-
Attaching a second to an anchor
-
Abseiling
WHAT TO EXPECT:
-
A day spent climbing with 2 ropes to understasnd the different uses and ways we can use them together
-
A focus on building your confidence and experience belaying and leading on double ropes
-
Progressive learning in double rope techniques
-
Safe, friendly atmosphere with others passionate about climbing
-
A focus on your safety
-
Opportunities to practice belaying and lead climbing with 2 ropes under the watchful eye of an experienced instructor
-
1:2 to focus on your personalised instruction
COURSE OVERVIEW:
This course is for climbers who may have some skill fade or are coming back from a break in climbing. A trad refresher course can get you back climbing, possibly leading, and enjoying climbing again! This is a fully bespoke course, tailored to you and your needs. Whether it's just getting back on rock and going through the process, building belays, placing gear or even just abseiling.
WHO'S IT FOR?
-
This 'Trad Refresher' course is for anyone who has had a bit of time off from climbing and isn't up to date with current best practices
-
Wants to validate their knowledge under the eyes of an experienced instructor
-
You don't have to have lead climbed before. This course is also ideally suited to someone who has never lead climbed before but has seconded routes with other climbing partners and wants to get back climbing.
-
Someone who has a trip coming up and wants to practice some skills
-
Climbers who haven't climbed multipitch in a while
COURSE CONTENT:
On this 'trad refresher' course, we can cover anything you want, examples include:
-
Choosing a route
-
Movement and footwork on rock
-
Resting on a route
-
Efficient climbing movement
-
Selecting and placing gear
-
Building belays
-
Attaching to anchors
-
Lead climbing
-
Multipitch Climbing
-
Simple rescues
-
Belay changeovers
-
Stance management
-
Abseiling
-
Emergency procedures
-
Anything else you can think of!
WHAT TO EXPECT:
-
A full day climbing, focusing on your aims and objectives
-
A tailor made day for you, designed to meet your needs and give you the best learning environment
-
Progressive learning in climbing techniques
-
Safe, friendly atmosphere with others passionate about climbing
-
A focus on your safety
-
Opportunities to practice climbing skills under the watchful eye of an experienced instructor
-
1:2 ratio to focus on your personalised instruction
COURSE OVERVIEW:
This course is for experienced climbers who think the biggest thing holding back their climbing progress is the fear of falling. You will learn to trust trad gear, your belayer, falling and it's impact on your mentality, and how to fall. Falling off is easy, but it's the factors building up to this moment, and during, that we need to be able to control and anticipate. Such as placing bomber gear, anticipating hazards enroute, rope awareness, your belayer, mental awareness and even how to avoid falling, as examples.
This course will take place at a venue where we can rig safety lines, place trad gear and fall safely. Giving you the trust you need in your placements!
WHO'S IT FOR?
-
This course is for anyone wanting to learn to trust their trad placements and build confidence to push through to the next grade!
COURSE CONTENT:
On this learn to lead course, we will cover the following skills to get you off the ground:
-
Choosing a route
-
Movement and footwork on rock
-
Efficient climbing movement
-
Selecting and placing bomber gear
-
Lead climbing
-
Safe fall practice
-
Weighting trad gear
-
Simulated falling and seeing the importance of the climbing chain of safety
-
Mental training and climbing psychology
-
How to avoid falling
-
Backing off a lead
-
Indoor leading and falling (optional)
WHAT TO EXPECT:
-
A day of placing trad gear, weighting it and learning to trust your placements
-
Simulated fall practice on the safety of a bottom rope
-
Progressive fall practice with safety lines in place
-
Safe, friendly atmosphere with others passionate about climbing
-
A focus on your safety
-
Opportunities to practice leading, falling and placing gear under the watchful eye of an experienced instructor
-
Low ratio group numbers to focus on your personalised instruction
