Whilst you enjoy climbing in one of the many exciting locations North Wales has to offer, you will also learn and develop key technical and safety skills for your future climbing adventures. This Rock Skills course is a new, nationally recognised personal skills scheme from Mountain Training.

The Rock Skills scheme sits alongside the Hill & Mountain Skills scheme, as recognised routes into developing key, personal skills and confidence in your chosen environment.

Rock Skills courses are designed to provide structured training opportunities for people who want to learn more about the activity itself and become independent, confident climbers. There are three different levels so that complete beginners, and those with more experience, can choose their own starting point.

Introduction

Perfect for beginner climbers who’ve never climbed on rock, and those with limited indoor climbing experience.

  • Explore

    By the end of the course you can expect to be in a strong position to take a climbing wall belay test and be ready to attend a Rock Skills Intermediate course.

    What you’ll learn

    Background and Planning

    Learn where you can climb in the UK and Ireland, and how to effectively use guidebooks and mobile devices to find crags and routes. You’ll also learn crag etiquette and the work of the organisations that support us as climbers.

    Climbing Skills

    Our experts will teach you all you need to know to master fundamental movement skills and climbing styles.

    Footwear and Equipment

    Learn how to choose and use the right footwear, equipment and kit for your climbing.

    Technical Skills

    Learn the arts of tying into a harness, belaying, spotting and abseiling.

    Environmental Knowledge

    Understand the impact of climbers at the crag and the ethics, access and environmental considerations all climbers should know.

    Hazards and Emergency Procedures

    Learn how to identify hazards and manage the risks of the crags. You’ll also learn about common rock climbing injuries, how to get help and the role of Mountain Rescue and associated emergency services.

    Course Duration One (1) day
    Course Cost £95.00 per person
    Minimum Age 10 years
    Terrain Area Eryri (Snowdonia), North Wales (NW)

Intermediate

Designed for those with some experience of climbing who want to improve their movement and ropework skills and learn about becoming independent outdoor climbers.

  • Explore

    By the end of the course, you can expect to be in a strong position to second a lead climber on natural rock and participate safely in a climbing session.

    What you’ll learn

    Background and Planning

    Understand how to choose a suitable climbing venue and how to correctly use guidebooks and mobile devices to find crags and routes. You’ll also learn crag etiquette and the work of the organisations that support us as climbers.

    Climbing Skills

    Learn how to properly warm up and avoid injury, develop your movement skills and widen your repertoire of climbing moves.

    Footwear and Equipment

    Understanding rock boot fit, how to select the right equipment for improved performance and an introduction to traditional climbing protection.

    Technical Skills

    Learn how to build anchors and select runners, and the arts of ropework, belaying, holding falls, lowering, seconding a route and personal abseiling.

    Environmental Knowledge

    Understand the impact of climbers at the crag and the ethics, access and environmental considerations all climbers should know.

    Hazards and Emergency Procedures

    Learn to identify hazards and manage risk when climbing, abseiling and bouldering. You’ll also learn about common rock climbing injuries, how to get help and the role of Mountain Rescue and associated emergency services.

    Course Duration Two (2) days
    Course Cost £180.00 per person
    Minimum Age 12 years
    Terrain Area Eryri (Snowdonia), North Wales (NW)

Learn to Lead Sport Climbs

For climbers who want to lead sport routes on rock, improve their lead climbing confidence or refresh their leading skills.

  • Explore

    By the end of the course you can expect to be in a strong position to lead bolted sport routes on rock and indoors, using appropriate techniques and safe practice.

    What you'll learn

    Background and Planning

    Understand how to choose a suitable climbing venue and how to correctly use guidebooks and mobile devices to find crags and routes, the importance of the climbing partnership, crag etiquette and the work of the organisations that support us as climbers.

    Climbing Skills

    Learn safe and assured movement on the lead; how to optimise natural rests for clipping bolts and some tactics for efficient climbing when things get a little harder.

    Equipment

    Learn how to safely and effectively use ropes and technical equipment for sport climbing.

    Technical Skills

    Understand the intricacies of fixed equipment, anchors, ropework, belaying, holding/taking falls in a controlled environment, lowering, lower offs and abseiling.

    Environmental Knowledge

    Understand the impact of climbers at the crag and the ethics, access and environmental considerations all climbers should know.

    Hazards and Emergency Procedures

    Learn how to identify hazards, as well as decision-making and managing risk. You’ll also learn about common climbing injuries, what to do in the event of an incident, managing common problems, how to get help and the role of Mountain Rescue.

    Course Duration Two (2) days
    Course Cost £240.00 per person
    Minimum Age 14 years
    Terrain Area Eryri (Snowdonia), North Wales (NW)

Learn to Lead Trad Climbs

For climbers who want to master trad climbing skills, including how to place protection, build belays and move in an assured manner on rock.

  • Explore

    By the end of the course you can expect to be in a strong position to lead trad routes on rock, using appropriate techniques and safe practice.

    What you'll learn

    Background and Planning

    How to select suitable venues and routes, correctly use guidebooks and mobile devices to find crags and routes, crag etiquette, the importance of the climbing partnership and the work of the organisations that support us as climbers.

    Climbing Skills

    Learn safe and assured movement when leading climbs and ways to optimise natural rests for placing gear as well as some tactics for efficient climbing when things get a little harder.

    Equipment

    Learn about the ropes and technical equipment necessary for lead climbing, the contents of a lead rack and how to carry it, and how to select and use gear.

    Technical Skills

    Learn how to select and place suitable gear to protect leader and second, how to choose anchors and the arts of effective ropework, attaching to multiple anchors, belaying, holding leader and second falls in a controlled environment.

    Environmental Knowledge

    Understand the impact of climbers at the crag and the ethics, access and environmental considerations all climbers should know.

    Hazards and Emergency Procedures

    Learn how to identify hazards, as well as decision-making and managing risk. You’ll also learn about common climbing injuries, what to do in the event of an incident, managing common problems, how to get help and the role of Mountain Rescue.

    Course Duration Two (2) days
    Course Cost £240.00 per person
    Minimum Age 14 years
    Terrain Area Eryri (Snowdonia), North Wales (NW)

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