Intro to Trad Climbing
Intro to Trad Climbing
Take your outdoor climbing to the next level and discover traditional climbing in its purest form. Designed for confident top-rope climbers as well as more experienced indoor climbers, this course introduces you to placing your own protection and climbing on natural rock.
Set against stunning local backdrops, you’ll learn how to safely approach trad climbing, build confidence in a new environment, and develop the essential skills needed to begin climbing independently outdoors.
Led by expert instructors, you’ll gain hands-on experience with placing and assessing gear, building anchors, and managing risk—while climbing real routes in a supportive, small-group setting.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
- Learn essential trad skills – including gear placement, anchor building, and rope systems
- Build confidence on real rock – develop movement skills and adapt to outdoor climbing
- Understand equipment and safety – from selecting gear to managing risk at the crag
- Personalised coaching – with a small group ratio and tailored feedback throughout
- Climb at local crags – including the Avon Gorge and other sites close to Bristol.
COURSE FORMAT:
- Thursday evening (indoor session): Learn core skills and techniques in a controlled environment
- Full Saturday (outdoor session): Put your skills into practice on real rock at a chosen local crag.
Throughout the course, you’ll also cover key aspects of outdoor climbing such as guidebook use, access and ethics, environmental awareness, and essential safety procedures—giving you a well-rounded understanding of trad climbing.
By the end, you’ll have a solid foundation in trad techniques, experience using equipment in real scenarios, and clear guidance on your next steps—whether that’s progressing towards leading or building further outdoor experience.
