Training Exercises for Bouldering
Going to the bouldering gym to crush your project is a satisfying and fun way to climb, but what about those days when you want something a little less intense while still...
Read More
Indoor Climbing Wall Tag
7 Reasons I Chose my Climbing Gym
There has been a recent explosion of bouldering gyms around Sydney, and having climbed at each of them, let me tell you why I travel one hour each way to get to the gym I chose. It’s in Lane Cove, and it’s called 9 Degrees...
Read More
Bouldering. 101.
Noticed a new bouldering gym pop up in town and want to try it? Good. New to bouldering? Even better. Here’s a cheat sheet for you: The wall Natasha Hirst Photography The indoor bouldering gym usually hosts a 20 foot (or 6.1 metre) wall. It is an artificially constructed...
Read More
Bouldering Vocabulary
Natasha Hirst Photography Enjoying the bouldering wall, but not sure what the lingo's all about? Here's a quick guide to get you started: Barn door: when the body swings open from the same hand and foot being positioned on the wall Beta: information about the moves, approach...
Read More
Fearless Fridays: Ten tips for nervous climbers
It being winter here in the northern hemisphere, my social media feed is full of news and images of the white stuff – people climbing it, hiking across it, skiing down it (me, jealous much?!). I came across one such article (link at the end)...
Read More
Women's Climbing Symposium 2018: A Report
The Women’s Climbing Symposium is a UK based event with speakers from across the world talking about their climbing experiences and renowned coaches helping to develop individual climbing skills, aiming to ‘Connect, Develop and Inspire’ women in the climbing community. The event is organised by...
Read MoreBusting Climbing Myths #4: Trad, Lead, Sport, what do these terms all mean and do I need a partner?
As with any sport, there is always a whole bag of new lingo to pick up and climbing is definitely a guilty candidate. There are many different types of climbing and some may suit your lifestyle and time more than others. Whatever one you like...
Read More
Busting Climbing Myths #3 - Everyone is looking at you…
“No one is thinking about you. They're thinking about themselves, just like you.” Unfortunately, this doesn’t always apply in the climbing world. Our third myth is slightly different, in that it isn’t a myth. To be truthful, people are watching you, but it doesn't mean it's a bad...
Read More
Building the first Bouldering Gym in the Falklands
Falkland Islander Lisa Watson is a keen boulderer and editor of the Falklands local newspaper. She and her partner Jonny Summers are on a mission to build the Islands first bouldering gym. So what's it like climbing in the Falklands?
Indoor ice climbing in the UK
The UK has some fantastic locations for ice climbing, but what if you live a long way from the mountains and your time is short? There's a growing number of indoor ice climbing facilities where you can hone your skills before heading out on an adventure in the mountains. Have you tried them and fancy writing us a review?
Vertical Chill Ice Climbing // Manchester // Review
I am super excited about an upcoming trip to Norway when I'll get to up my game from Scottish Winter Mountaineering and get out on easy water ice for the first time. I'm lucky to live not too far away from Vertical Chill Ice Wall in Manchester, so I headed over to learn the techniques needed for climbing ice and get some tips for the extra gear I might need.
White Spider // London // Review
I have wanted to climb at the White Spider ever since I began climbing in London, but it always felt a little bit too far as it is completely on the other side of town for me. But finally, I managed to coordinate things so I could climb there on a Friday night on the way to an outdoor climbing destination. And we managed to get there on the day the gym was celebrating its anniversary...
Women's Only Masterclass // White Spider Climbing
Fancy improving your climbing techniques?
Fancy learning from one of the UK's top climbers Emma Twyford?
Reading Climbing Centre // Review
The Reading Climbing Centre surprised me with its variety of routes and the difficulty of the problems - I will definitely have to come back to this one! I just wish it wasn't quite as far away from where I live in London...
Rokt Climbing Gym review
What's the best thing about Rokt...
- Privacy in the silos for top rope climbing
- Lots of bouldering across a good range of grades
If we could improve one thing it would be...
Westway // Review // West London
Westway is located within the Westway Sports & Fitness gym complex in West London, and offers bouldering, top rope and lead climbing on a variety of walls, including a 17 metre long overhanging 'comp' wall.
The Castle Climbing Centre // Review // North London
The Castle Climbing Centre is the best known climbing gym in London, set inside an imposing-looking building which was built between 1852 and 1856 to act as a pumping station for drinking water in this area of London. It has it all - top ropes, leading and bouldering, and even its own organic garden.
Do I love bouldering now?
If you read part 1 last month you will have a good understanding that, while I'm pretty outdoorsy and active, I was completely unaware of the point of bouldering and how it fits with my ambitions of climbing mountains. I set myself the challenge to give it a go - here's how I got on. If you want to find out the challenge I set, and why, you can read my previous blog post Why Should I go Bouldering. I have no illusions about doing anything as advanced as this:
The amazing Esme Hart bouldering at the 2016 Paraclimbing Championships at Manchester Climbing Centre.
People do keep saying that bouldering will help me with my climbing, so I wanted to find out what all the fuss is about.
Mile End Climbing Wall // Review // East London
Mile End Climbing Gym is my local gym, so I have spent a lot of time there and I guess I am a little biased about it, but if I'm honest it took me a while to fall in love with this place. When I first started climbing this gym seemed altogether more scary to me than the Arch, perhaps because the routes on some of the walls are taller, but now I love the climbing and the atmosphere in this place.
Indoor Rock Climbing in Sheffield
Sheffield is a mecca for climbers with fantastic crags within easy reach of the city centre. When the sun isn't shining there are also three really great indoor climbing venues around Sheffield to continue to train. If you've visited one of these gyms why not write us...
Read More
The Reach Climbing Wall // Review // South London
The Reach is my favourite climbing gym in the entire city, except from the fact that it is such a pain to get to! But that does discourage many people from going, which means you do not have to queue for routes, as you do in some other London gyms, and can enjoy your climbing in peace.
The Leeds Wall Review
What's the best thing about The Leeds Wall...
- A really great place to meet people, as it's popular with Climbing & Mountaineering Clubs
- Lots of top rope & lead routes across a good range of grades
If we could improve one thing it would be...
The Arch Climbing Centre // Review // South London
The Arch is purely a bouldering gym, one of the biggest ones in London. It currently has three buildings – The Biscuit and Building One near Bermondsey station in South London, and The Arch North in Burnt Oak in North London.
Indoor Climbing in Brighton
Brighton is a seaside resort on the south east coast of the UK in Sussex. It has a vibrant climbing community focussed around two climbing centres. There is also fairly quick access to London, so check out our London guide too. Also of note are the lively and inclusive women's climbing group, Vertigirls and the LGBT group Not So Trad, which has a strong female membership.
White Spider // Women's Club
London is a big place and there are loads of places you can go to climb indoors. Sometimes having the incentive of knowing there's a women's club can be just what you need to go and climb more, or to climb better. The friendly staff...
Read More
Women's Night - Big Rock Milton Keynes
The awesome Big Rock Climbing Centre, Milton Keynes, will be hosting a Women Only evening on the 26th September 2015 as part of the This Girl Can campaign. The center will be entirely staffed by women for the evening and will be staying open after normal hours from 7pm to 9pm, with the whole center open for experienced climbers and those who want to have a taster in an all female environment. The social climbing team will be on hand for those experienced climbers who need a belay whilst Taster Sessions will be running for those new to the sport.
Women Rock at Redpoint Bristol
In Events, South East
It's all happening in Bristol this International Women's Day...
Read MoreWomen Rock at The Climbing Barn
In Events, North West
The lovely staff at The Climbing Barn in Bingley have told us about their AMAZING offer for International Women's Day climbing: Saturday 8th March FREE ENTRY to all women after 2pm Here's what they say: ...
Read MoreWomen Rock at Durham Climbing Centre
In Events, North East
Women Rock! Saturday 8th March 1pm-2pm Ladies Climbing Session Including Equipment & 1 hour Coaching + Climb On after ONLY £5!!! Here come the girls! To celebrate International Women’s Day, Durham Climbing Centre is offering a 1-hour ladies coaching session including equipment with the option to climb on after for the bargain...
Read MoreWomen Rock at The Climbing Academy - Glasgow
TCA sets a new bar for women climbers this International Women's Day...
Read More
Women Rock at The Climbing Academy - Bristol
In Events, South West
TCA sets a new bar for women climbers this International Women's Day...
Read MoreWomen Rock at Warrington North West Face
In Events, North West
Got any climbing aches and pains? (who hasn't??) Get yourself down to Warrington's North West Face, just off the M62, on Wednesday 5th March 6pm 8pm for your FREE consultation. Info Below: Before you participate, read the small print ...
Read MoreWomen Rock at Boulder Brighton
In Events, South East
There are loads of things on offer for International Women's Day at Boulder Brighton: New women climbers get their first session half price! 8th & 9th March Free women's coaching from Belinda Fuller Saturday 8th March at 2pm (www.beclimbing.co.uk), normal entry fees only! No need to pre-register. Boreal shoe demo Saturday 8th,...
Read More
FREE Performance Coaching at Aber Rocks
In Events
Ladies Free Performance Workshop In celebration of International Women's Day (8th March), Aber Rocks are taking part in our UK wide 'Women Rock' promotion by running two free climbing performance workshops in the week before. The workshops will allow you to improve your bouldering technique and...
Read More
Women Rock at Boulders // Cardiff
In Climbing News, Events
90minute Taster Session Boulders in Cardiff are offering a 90-minute Taster Session for International Women's Day for £5 with proceeds going to the Charity Women's Aid, which supports women and children experiencing domestic violence. There are 16 spaces available, so if you're a woman who wants...
Read MoreKilnworx Climbing Centre Stoke - Review
I recently had an email from a man called Jin, inviting us to Kilnworx Climbing Centre in Stoke for their new Women's Club. We were very excited and went along to see what they have to offer at their inaugural Women's Club Night. Here's what we found out:
Kilnworx is a Social Enterprise. What this means is that it's essentially not for profit.
It has a great feel and we could see from talking to Jin and the other staff and volunteers that they have big ideas for this place and they're passionate about it.
It's set in a church and some of the features (which you won't be able to see yet, as it's still under construction) are truly magnificent.
Kilnworx in Stoke - New Women's Climbing Club
We're absolutely thrilled to announce that Kilnworx Climbing Centre in Stoke are starting up a Women's Club. Kilnworx is Stoke's newest climbing centre and will be hosting the exciting climbing club for women every Tuesday. Grand Opening Event: Tuesday 9th July 6.30-8.30pm You're invited to join us...
Read MoreLiverpool Awesome Walls Review
What’s best about Liverpool Awesome Walls…
- The pinnacle
- Dry tooling room
If we could improve one thing it would be…
The café – proper food, real coffee, healthy food, home made cake