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guided climbing can be arranged for
yourself, with a friend or even as a gift for someone else. Just call
or email with
the dates you have in mind and we'll take it from there. You'll
find daily guiding prices on the booking page
and all climbing equipment is provided free (in winter this includes
technical axes and crampons if you haven't got your own). Whatever
level you
climb at, a guided
day out helps you make the most of your
available
time
and lets
you experience true climbing adventure
without ever leaving the British Isles.
guided Scottish winter climbing can be arranged anywhere in the Highlands, whether it's to tick
a 'Cold Climbs' classic or for a mission to discover the far North
West. Being guided is a chance to broaden your winter
climbing experience and leave the leading and any tricky decision
making to
someone else.
I'm quite
happy to guide on routes of grade I to V on snow and ice, and
up to V 5 mixed, conditions permitting. Available on a daily basis
although a minimum of 2 days may be necessary if your winter climbing
skills need refreshing (particularly if you've a long or more serious
route in mind).
guided rock climbing in North Wales is available on a daily basis with
the emphasis being purely on climbing some of the best of
Welsh rock. The choice of hundreds of great climbs is yours - Grooved
Arete (V Diff), Crackstone Rib (S), Main Wall (HS), Mur-y-Niwl (VS), Dream
of White Horses (HVS), Superdirect on Dinas Mot (E1), Cenotaph
Corner (E1), Vector (E2) - You
can still have a little coaching or instructional content thrown
in, or just enjoy the whole
climbing experience in magnificent
mountain and coastal scenery.
guided rock climbing in Scotland can be arranged anytime in the spring or autumn provided that you book a minimum
of three days. The possibilities to explore,
discover, escape
and relax
on a Highland climbing break are
endless. Personal favourites
are cragging
on
perfect
rock
at Diabeg,
an idyllic
fishing village on
the coast of Wester Ross. Or climbing the huge rocky slabs of Sron
na Ciche on the Isle of Skye, especially when it's the last pitch of the afternoon
with the sun spreading across the rock face.
Classic Rock and Hard Rock these famous
70's books highlighted some of the finest routes in Britain of
their grade and soon became the definitive list of 'must do sometime'
climbs. Not that a rock
climbing trip to Snowdonia ever needs to be justified but come
along on a 'Classic Rock' or 'Hard Rock' day and enjoy some
of the best of British
rock climbing. A day's guided climbing (or two) lets you try
as many of these great climbs as you'd like.
- Classic rock climbs
are within the easier grades (V Diff to VS) and appeal to anyone
who appreciates great traditional multi-pitch rock routes. Snowdonia
boasts 22 climbs from
the original 'Classic Rock' book and has numerous other gems of a similar
class.
Despite
the
justified
popularity of some of these climbs (Flying Buttress, Creagh Dhu Wall,
...),
a day's 'Classic Rock' itinerary also offers the chance to experience
the wilder side of Snowdonia, with climbs high on Lliwedd, Glyder Fach
or Glyder Fawr.
... and if you're prepared to stray from the
original list, there's equally impressive outings such as Outside
Edge Route (V Diff) in Cwm Silyn and Amphitheatre Buttress
(V Diff) on Craig-yr-Isfa, or the seldom visted mountain gems Central
Arete (V Diff) on Glyder Fawr and Rectory Chimneys (V Diff) on
Crib-y-Ddysgl.
- Hard rock routes
are graded VS and above, with Snowdonia having the highest concentration
of quality multi-pitch climbs at these grades anywhere in
Britain.
The (supposed) original intention of the 'Hard Rock' book was to lure
the reader to new crags and fresh adventures. We'll follow this premise
and in addition to the original 'Hard Rock' list you can climb
comparable routes on the same spectacular crags. On Dinas Mot, there's
not only Diagonal (HVS) but the equally impressive Superdirect
(E1). A visit to Tremadog in pursuit of Vector (E2) would
be even more rewarding by also climbing either the Plum (E1), Merlin
Direct (HVS) or the Fang (HVS). Nothing quite
rivals A Dream of White Horses (HVS) at the grade but add
an ascent of the outstanding Scavenger
(HVS) and you've got close to the perfect cragging day.
Old Man of Hoy the esoteric
journey to climb the Old Man of Hoy ranks as one of the coolest
climbing adventures in Britain. This sandstone column stands 137m above
the Atlantic
at the most westerly
point of the Orkneys. 4 days is advisable to allow time for ferry
crossings and to keep a day in hand in case of poor weather. You'll need
to be already seconding 5b but there'll be plenty
of opportunties for some useful skills training along the way.
Mainland Sea Stacks on the
north west coast of the Highlands lie two other legendary sea stacks
- the impressive Old Man of Stoer, and Am Buachaille (the herdsman)
which stands alone in Sandwood bay, the mainland's most remote
beach and a John Muir Trust property. A 3 day trip is enough for both
climbs and to have a day in contingency (which if isn't
used, can be spent cragging at the excellent sea cliffs at Reiff). You'll
need to be already seconding 4c and the ability to swim 20m might be
handy.
Skye mountains, sea, great rock,
magical light... Skye is unique and in our own backyard. There's
countless
corries and ridges to explore with rock climbs
of near alpine length and quality. The scrambling is as good as it gets
anywhere (if not the best) and a traverse of the main Cuillin ridge ranks
as the mother of all British mountaineering journeys. The best times
to go are May and mid Sept to Oct when the weather's traditionally
more stable. 3 to 5 day trips can be organised for climbing, or scrambling,
or a ridge traverse, with a little skills training along the way
if you want it.
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