Climbing comes in several forms, each with its own style, gear, and focus:

• Indoor Climbing: Takes place on artificial walls. Includes:

  • Top-rope climbing – You’re attached to a rope already anchored at the top.

  • Lead climbing – You clip the rope into quickdraws as you go.

  • Bouldering – Climbing short, challenging routes without ropes but with crash pads for protection.

• Sport Climbing: Outdoor climbing on pre-bolted routes. You lead climb using a rope and clip into fixed protection. Focuses on movement and technique without having to place gear.

• Trad Climbing (Traditional): You place your own gear in the rock for protection as you climb. Requires technical knowledge and a higher level of risk management.

• Bouldering (Outdoor): Short climbs ("problems") done close to the ground using portable crash pads. It’s strength and movement-focused and doesn’t require ropes or harnesses.

• Alpine and Multi-pitch Climbing: Longer climbs often done in mountain environments. Requires rope systems, route-finding, and endurance, and sometimes involves mixed terrain (rock, snow, ice).

Most people start with indoor climbing or bouldering because it’s accessible, safe, and easy to learn in a controlled environment. It allows you to:

• Learn basic movement and balance

• Understand how to use a harness, tie knots, and belay

• Build strength and confidence without needing outdoor gear or knowledge

After a few indoor sessions, you can transition to outdoor climbing with a qualified instructor or course. On adventuro you can find a lot of indoor to outdoor transition courses.

Not at all. Climbing is more about technique, balance, and footwork than upper body strength, especially at the beginning. You’ll naturally build:

• Grip strength

• Core and stabiliser muscle strength

• Flexibility and balance

• Problem-solving skills

Many beginners are surprised how quickly their movement and confidence improve.

If you’re taking a taster session or course, most centres and guides provide gear. For indoor climbing or bouldering, you’ll typically need:

• Climbing shoes – Essential for grip and precision

• Harness – For roped climbing

• Chalk bag – To keep hands dry

• Belay device and carabiner – For managing the rope (often provided during lessons)

Outdoor climbing requires more gear, especially for sport and trad climbing, including ropes, helmets, quickdraws, and in trad, cams and nuts.

Beginner sessions will usually cover:

• How to wear a harness and tie in (usually with a figure-eight knot)

• Belaying and catching a fall

• Basic footwork and body positioning

• Reading routes and managing fear or exposure

As you progress, you’ll learn:

• Lead climbing techniques and clipping safely

• Route planning and problem-solving

• Communication and partner checks

• Placing and assessing gear (for trad)

• Rope systems and anchor building (for multi-pitch or alpine)

Indoor climbing is great for learning movement, technique, and safety systems. It also helps you build fitness and confidence.

When transitioning outdoors, you’ll need to learn additional skills like:

• Reading natural rock and route features

• Using outdoor-specific gear (e.g. quickdraws, trad protection)

• Building anchors and managing ropes in varied terrain

• Assessing environmental risks like rockfall, weather, and loose rock

A guided course is the safest way to make the jump from gym to crag.

• Bouldering:

  • No ropes or harnesses

  • Short routes (2–4 metres)

  • Focus on power, technique, and dynamic movement

  • Ideal for solo sessions and quick progress

• Roped Climbing:

  • Uses a harness, rope, and belay system

  • Routes can be much longer (up to 30m or more)

  • Focus on endurance, efficiency, and mental control

  • Usually done in pairs or groups

Many climbers do both—bouldering helps improve strength and technique, while roped climbing builds endurance and rope skills.

NICAS (National Indoor Climbing Award Scheme)

Ideal for young climbers or adults starting indoors. It's a progressive scheme delivered through climbing centres.

• NICAS Levels 1–5 cover:

  • Basic climbing movement

  • Safety and equipment knowledge

  • Belaying and communication

  • Progression into lead climbing

  • Route reading and problem-solving

• A parallel scheme, NIBAS, is available for bouldering.

These aren't required but are widely recognised and structured for development.

Personal Outdoor Climbing Development

There are no mandatory qualifications for recreational outdoor climbers, but you can take skills courses or certificates to build specific competencies:

Rock Skills (Mountain Training)

Designed for personal progression in outdoor climbing:

• Rock Skills Introduction – Learn the basics of outdoor climbing and bouldering.

• Rock Skills Intermediate – Build competence in seconding trad or sport routes, belaying, and abseiling.

• Rock Skills Lead – Teaches how to lead trad or sport climbs, place gear, and build anchors.

These are great if you want to transition from indoor to outdoor climbing with structured guidance.

First Aid & Rescue Skills

Many instructors (and increasingly, competent recreational climbers) also take:

• Outdoor First Aid (16+ hours) – Especially important for remote crags.

• Self-rescue and improvised rescue workshops – For dealing with incidents on multipitch or trad climbs.