Advanced Rock Climbing Residential

Advanced Rock Climbing, Peak District

Join us for our five-day Advanced Rock Climbing residential in the Peak District, a world renowned location for climbers! You will develop essential and advanced skills on different rock types, and we'll cover different climbing styles and safety mechanisms. Make new friends and challenge yourself, with our qualified and experienced instructors ready to help you take your passion for climbing to the next level.

Example itinerary (exact activities will depend on the weather and needs/ interests of the group):

Day 1: Movement Skills Coaching, Bouldering 

Our instructors will meet you in Hathersage and will give you an overview of the week. You'll then head out to one of the Peak District's excellent bouldering venues for the afternoon. Our instructors will work with you to develop your movement skills on rock, looking at useful techniques for different types of problems (e.g. smearing for slab climbs or heel hooking on overhanging aretes). In the afternoon we'll head to your bunkhouse where you'll settle in and cook an evening meal in teams. We'll also spend some time looking at the climbing grading system and some knot tying ahead of tomorrow.  

Day 2: Core Rock Climbing and Abseiling Skills

Today your instructors will recap some core climbing skills  (tying in, belaying using different belay devices, abseiling etc). There's a good chance that some of you will have plenty of prior climbing experience and some of you might only have done a bit or have never climbed outside- that is totally fine. Your instructor team will be able to tailor the days to match your current climbing skills and ensure you can progress at a rate that works for you. 

Day 3: Rock Climbing, Sport Climbing Skills

You'll spend today heading to one of the Peak District's sport climbing venues. Sport climbing in the Peak is usually on limestone crags, a very different rock type and climbing style to gritstone. You will learn about sport climbing techniques and depending on your prior experience, you may also want to explore leading and learning more about important safety systems (e.g. how to thread through anchors safely at the top of climbs).  

Day 4: Rock Climbing, Trad Climbing Skills

Back on the gritstone, it's all about placing gear, climbing routes and building anchors at the top of climbs. You'll learn about trad lead climbing, how to place wires and cams and what you need to think about when rigging anchors. There'll also be plenty of opportunity to second your instructors up routes to practice taking gear out and lead belaying.  

Day 5: Skills Development Day

You'll pack up the bunkhouse in the morning and then head out for your final day of climbing. You and your group will be able to decide what climbing you'd like to do more of and what area of skills you'd like to develop further. In the afternoon you'll have a debrief with the instructors and get some ideas how you could develop your climbing further and what your next steps might be. 

Evening activities 

Every evening you'll be cooking a meal at the bunkhouse (in teams). There'll also be some sessions that will teach you about some other aspects you need to think about when going climbing outside including crag etiquette, wildlife and conservation considerations (nesting birds in particular and where to check which crags are off limits) and what to do in an emergency. We'll also practice tying plenty of knots and ropework skills. Of course you'll also have plenty of time to relax at the bunkhouse with the rest of the group.

Location - You will be meeting in Hathersage, a village located in the heart of the Peak District National Park. Hathersage can be easily reached by train from Manchester or Sheffield.

Accommodation - You'll stay in a local bunkhouse. All bunkhouses have fully equipped kitchens and separate male/ female bathrooms (please get in touch if you require gender neutral facilities so we can look at options with you). Note that you will need to bring your own sleeping bag, pillow and towel.

Food - Food is included for the duration of your programme. We'll provide breakfasts, lunches and dinners and also have plenty of snacks. If you have any special dietary requirements, please let us know well in advance so we can cater for you, by filling out our consent form when booking.

Important: Our Open residential programmes are usually set up in a way that requires participants to be fully independent. If you (or the person you are booking for) requires any additional support or has specific needs, please contact us before booking so we can ensure we are able to put suitable support and adjustments in place.

Cost - £495.00