Climbing

Climbing

What is it? 

Climbing originated as a practical activity used to move up steep terrain, but it has developed into a multifaceted pastime over the years. It's now practiced as a sport, a recreational activity, for exercise and as an explorational tool, with many people taking holidays to visit naturally good climbing areas outdoors. 

What does it involve?

At a base level, climbing consists of using either apparatus or your own body to ascend something otherwise inaccessible. The methods of climbing can vary, and often depend on the type of material one is climbing on, such as ice, nets, ropes, boulders, mountains, trees and buildings!

Why do it and what are the benefits?

Climbing involves a lot of movement, so is great for exercising the entire body! It also improves physical coordination and a whole host of mental attributes such as determination, spatial awareness and concentration.

What equipment do we need?

Trying out climbing generally involve travelling to a specialist venue or hiring an instructor to take a group out into the real world, so it's rare that you will need to provide equipment! However, you should always check with the provider beforehand, and its a good idea to make sure your students are wearing appropriate clothing for the weather and the activity.

Who is it suitable for?

The development of indoor climbing walls can allow young children the opportunity to have a go at climbing in a more suitably controlled environment than outdoors, but in general, all ages should be able to have a go at climbing!

Costs?

Taster climbing lessons shouldn't be too much per person, with a decent price generally between £10-20. Full day experiences or a course of lessons will vary a lot more, so check out the venues around you thoroughly. 

Issues/Things to think about? (unsuitable for age groups, medical conditions etc)

Indoor climbing ranges are reasonably safe with good supervision and medical assistance on hand, but going climbing outdoors could be riskier if you may suddenly need help with a student's medical needs - bear the needs of your group in mind when deciding what kind of experience to take them on!

How do we include?

There is a rising culture for disability within climbing, and many establishments now have assistance for those with physical and learning difficulties to help them have a go at climbing. Including everyone should be reasonably easy if you can find a venue that can help you! 

Doing it abroad?

Mountainous countries will have more natural climbing areas than the UK - an outdoors foreign climbing experience will be exciting for interested students!

Main website:

http://www.ukclimbing.com is the main source of information for UK climbing, but be sure to check out individual venue websites for their specifics. 

Venues with this Activity

Chiltern Pools is a leisure centre in Amersham.

Our diving pool has one, three and five metre boards. Leisure pool has flumes, fountains and a water creek! Also has sporting opportunities such as the climbing wall.

It’s a fantastic forested site overlooking the River Tay, at the heart of Perthshire’s ‘Big Tree Country’. As well as all the usual exciting PGL multi activities, this is our only centre with the Sequoia Scramble (a vertical challenge suspended between 2 Sequoia trees) and the catwalk, which tests your balance high above the ground!

Active Spirit, based near Aviemore in the centre of the Cairngorms National Park in the Scottish Highlands, provides a friendly and relaxed opportunity for you to explore a wide range of Outdoor Activities in spectacular surroundings.

A very warm welcome awaits you at Glencoe Outdoor Centre, set amongst the spectacular loch and mountain scenery of Glencoe in the Scottish Highlands, an area of outstanding natural beauty. Surrounded by fabulous terrain for adventure activities, with most available “on the doorstep”, we offer a broad range of outdoor pursuits, on both land and water.

Venturing Out is a mobile adventurous activities provider offering high quality, affordable outdoor activity experiences to a broad client base. We are based in East Lothian, close to the magnificent city of Edinburgh.

We are Scotland’s National Outdoor Training Centre located in the heart of Cairngorms National Park. Learn, develop or qualify in an adventure sport of your choice. Our goal is to inspire adventure by teaching beginners, coaching intermediate/advanced and delivering training and assessment courses for leaders and instructors.

We have been providing exhilarating outdoor activities, residential activity holidays and activity courses for nearly 30 years. We have an exciting range of outdoor activities: Kayaking, Coasteering, Sailing, Gorge Walking, Canadian Canoeing, Climbing, Abseiling and more.  

Compass has been offering warm hospitality for over 40 years to schools, families and groups of all ages. We are confident that your stay with us will be an unforgettable one. Set in the Cairngorm National Park in the midst of rolling hills, clear lochs and rugged mountains,

Adventure Scotland Ltd is one of Scotland's leading providers of outdoor activities, team and personal development. We offer tailor-made and off the shelf events to the corporate sector, appreciating and organising to their high expectations. In addition to this, we also offer a range of activities and adventures for discerning individuals and groups.

Carol and Richard run 'carolclimb' from Buckbarrow, Wasdale, Cumbria. From a 18thC farmhouse in the beautiful Wasdale Valley in the Western Lake District. We run Skills Courses and Adventures throughout the Lake District, Northern England and Scotland for all ages and abilities.

Established in 2001, Can You Experience Co. Ltd has quickly become a reputable and successful outdoor activity operator and provider, situated at breathtaking, world famous, Loch Lomond in Scotland. 

EBO specialise in outdoor pursuits, extreme sports, military adventure training, team building and outdoor instructor training courses. Outdoor activities are available in Cornwall, Devon, Wales, and Scotland.

Caring for young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties

Wilderness experiences has been registered with Ofsted as a provider of education for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) since 2001 as a mobile children's Home, based in Carlisle, Cumbria on the edge of the Lake District National Park and just south of the border with Scotland.

Whether it’s a half day rock climbing for the first time with your family or a week learning to lead an ice climb in Scotland, we aim to make your experience both personal and challenging, safe yet exciting.  We enjoy our work and hope we pass this enthusiasm on to our clients

Our outdoor activities and schools programmes offer powerful and meaningful outdoor learning experiences for school children. We understand the importance for children to be exposed to, and enjoy, outdoor environments and no one can underestimate the effect it can have on our young people.

Venture Scotland UK runs an outdoor-based personal development programme for young people aged 16-30, who face complex and difficult problems.

We build the confidence and skills of young people and aim to empower each individual we work with to make positive and lasting changes in their lives.

Wilderness Scotland is Europe’s No.1 Adventure Travel Company specialising in offering an inspiring range of holidays, journeys and wilderness experiences in the most remote and beautiful regions of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. 

The Council has had an outdoor education service on Arran for nearly 50 years. The development of the service over that time has ensured that it has its own unique atmosphere and ethos - one that all who attend can learn to value regardless of age and background. Most cherish the experience and atmosphere of the centre and for many it lives with them for the rest of their lives.

A Birmingham-based activity centre, right in the heart of England. With over 75 acres of reclaimed semi rural land with facilities such as our  100m dry ski slope, archery courses, events tower, team building area, jungle challenge course, climbing walls, residential centre and adventure trek. 

Climbing can offer a stimulating alternative to conventional school sports as well as helping to fulfil National Curriculum requirements.

Climbing is a refreshing change to your conventional, mainstream school sports. The adrenaline rush piques the children's interest and with the benefits of raising self esteem, building confidence and developing both team work and social skills it's the perfect activity for groups of young people to get involved in.

The Raymond Priestley Centre is beautifully located on the western shore of Coniston Water. Operated by the University of Birmingham it provides bespoke residential courses for undergraduate and postgraduate students.

A friendly start point for your cool new hobby: indoor climbing facility featuring dedicated and supportive kids' clubs, bouldering, lessons and taster sessions, abseiling, lead rope, slabs and overhangs.

Creation Indoor Climbing Centre boasts a variety of excellently equipped options and loads of ways to enjoy them, applying to all levels and ages!

A staggering array of activities under one (enormous!) roof, from bowling and laser tag to mini golf and dodgems, to the cinema, football and indoor climbing!

Star City Birmingham is home to an amazing assortment of great family activities all under one roof! Including:

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