What to Expect on a Trad Learn to Lead Course (2, 3 & 5 Days)

A Trad Learn to Lead course is about developing the skills, judgement, and confidence needed to lead traditional climbs safely and independently. Unlike sport climbing, trad requires you to place your own protection, build belays, and make ongoing decisions — and this course is designed to help you do that progressively and responsibly.

Whether you choose a 2-, 3-, or 5-day course, the aim is the same: to help you move from seconding or mock-leading to leading trad climbs with confidence and good decision-making.

Lead your first trad climb under the watchful eye of a Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor

Who Is This Course For?

This course is ideal if you:

• Are confident seconding trad routes

• Have some outdoor climbing experience

• Want to start leading traditional climbs

• Feel unsure about gear placements, judgement, or building belays under pressure

You don’t need to be strong or climb hard grades — this course is about systems and confidence, not performance.

What Will You Learn?

Across the course, you’ll work on:

• Understanding trad climbing equipment

• Placing and assessing nuts, cams, and hexes

• Choosing good protection placements

• Rope management while leading

• Building safe, efficient belays

• Managing fear, hesitation, and decision-making

• Progressing from mock-leading to real leads

Skills are introduced in a logical, progressive way, allowing confidence to build naturally.

Course Length Options Explained

2-Day Trad Learn to Lead Course

A 2-day course is ideal if you already have a solid base and want a focused introduction to

leading.

You can expect:

• Ground-based and low-level gear placement practice

• Mock-leading routes

• Understanding protection quality and placement

• Introduction to building belays as a leader

This option suits climbers who want a clear framework and a safe starting point, with the intention of practicing independently afterwards.

3-Day Trad Learn to Lead Course

A 3-day course allows more time to consolidate skills and gain real lead experience.

You’ll typically:

• Build confidence placing protection in real situations

• Progress from mock-leading to leading easier routes

• Refine belay building and rope management

• Develop better judgement and decision-making

This option suits climbers who want a smoother, less rushed transition into leading.

5-Day Trad Learn to Lead Course

A 5-day course offers the most comprehensive learning experience and is ideal if you want to become genuinely confident and independent.

Across the week, you’ll:

• Gain extensive practice placing protection

• Lead multiple routes at a steady, supported pace

• Build strong habits around belays and systems

• Learn to manage nerves, fatigue, and real-world variables

• Develop a clear plan for future progression

This option is perfect if you want maximum value, deeper understanding, and long-term confidence.

Learn how to place trad gear and build belays

Public vs Bespoke Trad Learn to Lead Courses

Public Courses

Public courses offer:

• A clear structure and progression

• Small, supportive groups

• Fixed dates and locations

• Shared learning with like-minded climbers

These work well if you’re happy learning alongside others and want a well-organised pathway into leading.

Bespoke Courses

Bespoke courses allow the course to be shaped around you.

Before the course, we’ll discuss:

• Your climbing background

• Your confidence with gear and exposure

• Your goals and preferred pace

This allows us to tailor:

• Location and rock type

• Length (2, 3, or 5 days)

• Learning outcomes and progression

Bespoke courses are ideal if you’re learning with a partner, want specific objectives, or prefer a quieter, more focused environment.

Start to become an independent trad climber. Who knows where it'll take you!

How Demanding Is the Course?

Physically, routes are chosen to keep the focus on learning rather than difficulty. Mentally, trad leading can feel challenging at times — the course is designed to manage this calmly and progressively, with no pressure to rush or push beyond your comfort zone.

What You’ll Leave With

By the end of the course, you should feel:

• Confident placing and assessing protection

• Comfortable building belays as a leader

• Clear on when routes are appropriate for you

• Ready to practice and progress independently

• Equipped with good habits and sound judgement

What Comes Next?

A Trad Learn to Lead course naturally leads into:

• Build Better Belays

• Intro to Multipitch Climbing

• Climber Self-Rescue Skills

• Guided Climbing

It’s a major milestone in a climber’s progression — and one that opens the door to some of the most rewarding climbing the UK has to offer.