Rock climbing skills courses and Mountain Training qualifications
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Snowdonia is home to some of the best grade 2 and 3 scrambles in the country – fact! What’s better is they’re close to the road, so you’ll be on rock in no time. What’s even better is the fact they can be joined up to create unforgettable days out, you can quite literally scramble from the bottom of the Ogwen valley to the summits of the Glyderau on nothing other than perfect rock. Does it get any better?! Our staff will lead all the scrambles, letting you focus on the joys of moving through the mountains. Trust our local knowledge to put the perfect weekend together for you Read more
This is basically a deep dive into mountaineering ropework and skills. By the end of it you should feel you have the knowledge to take on more demanding scrambles with confidence. We’ll cover everything from route choice and risk management to movement skills, and taking coils, this week should transform your current skillset and open the door to a new level of adventure in the mountains. Read more
Join us at the National Outdoor Centre for your introduction to adventure in the great outdoors. We offer: Expert supervision from fully qualified and psyched instructors The best adventure experience in North Wales All adventure equipment is included in the price Perfect environment to learn and enjoy something new! Maximum of 10 people per group | Ages 6+ | £40 per person per half day. For kids under the age of 16 years, please note that a parent or guardian has to take part in the activity as well. Don’t worry about the weather – your session will never be cancelled; we may need to make some adjustments to your chosen activities, but you’ll still have an awesome time. I.e. we have a great climbing wall that we can use if the weather is too wet. Read more
So you’re planning a trip to the Alps this year? Why not have a weekend with us in North Wales with an IFMGA Mountain Guide as part of your preparation before you go? We’ll spend time in the mountains on similar terrain to that you’ll find out in the Alps (except glaciers!) to master essential skills like moving together. Aiming to give you the confidence to get out to the bigger Alpine mountains and enjoy it. Read more
If you're a competent rock climber and are planning a big walling trip for the first time, or want to hone skills you've already learned, this weekend course is for you.
You'll get practical instruction and advice on aid climbing techniques, hanging stances, hauling and sleeping on the wall; delivered by our experts who are highly qualified climbing instructors experienced in big wall climbing. They will share their in-depth knowledge of big walling with you in the controlled environment of the climbing wall. You'll then progress to local crags where you'll put what you've learned into practice, ready to get the most from your trip. As they're so passionate about what they do, they'll add that personal touch too by helping you plan your trip using their first-hand experience, so you can get the most out of it.
Read moreThis one day workshop is aimed at climbers who work with and coach young people, but it's also useful if you only work with adults. It takes research and theory on the developing child, and the risk of injury if inappropriate activities or training techniques are used to coach them. You'll explore how this research can help shape the way you structure your work to coach children and young people. On a practical level, you'll gain more understanding of how body movement and position impacts upon climbing style, and how to apply this knowledge to achieve increased performance and to help prevent climbing injuries.
Read moreIf you've already attended our BMC FUNdamentals of Climbing 1 workshop, come back to broaden your knowledge of athlete development. During this one day workshop you'll develop your coaching techniques for indoor and outdoor climbing. We'll cover precise and accurate footwork, using different handholds, body positioning, and the different techniques used to climb on steep, vertical and slightly overhanging rock. This workshop is part of the training pathway for Mountain Training's Climbing Coach award scheme.
Read moreA one day Climbing Wall Instructor assessment with the Abseil Module included. Based at our centre in Capel Curig where we have all facilities on site. Read more
This two day, Mountain Training accredited course is ideal for you if you work at a climbing wall, or a venue with permanent or mobile climbing towers. You’ll be trained in the skills you need to supervise climbers on purpose built artificial climbing walls and boulders. The Abseil Module Training is included in this course, we’ll show you how to supervise abseiling on artificial structures. Read more
Open your eyes to what’s on offer as an outdoor climber; we’ll aim to boulder, go sport climbing, and show the basics of what trad climbing entails. Be warned though, many people leave completely addicted! Read more
Wondering how to transition to outdoor climbing? We’ll cover the foundations before moving on to everything from using bouldering mats and guidebooks to placing gear and building belays. You should finish the course with a good idea of where you can climb outside, how to set up top ropes, go sport climbing, and follow someone up a multipitch route. A midweek ratio change lets us tailor our coaching and take on more challenging routes, all pitched to the individual. You may even make some new outdoor climbing partners! Read more
We’ll introduce the essential skills to lead traditional climbs safely and confidently. Our friendly instructors will cover everything from placing nuts and cams to building ‘bomber’ belays and the tactics needed to lead a pitch. You should leave the course with a good idea of where to take your climbing and feel inspired to lead routes independently. Read more
This in-depth week is perfect for anyone who’d like a solid introduction to lead climbing – you should leave the course with a good understanding of how to lead safely and where to take your climbing. We’ll delve into movement coaching, technical ropework, and gear place placement for the first two days, then the ratio will lower from Wednesday onwards. We’ll split into teams of 3, with 2 participants per instructor, allowing us to tailor the routes and teaching to each person, progressing at your pace. Read more
Join our friendly instructors and discover the joys of climbing over a fun-filled weekend. We’ll climb on boulders and short crags, giving you a chance to try lots of climbs and styles, build confidence, have some movement coaching, and see how climbing kit works. We’ll climb in a maximum group size of one instructor to six participants, so you can expect plenty of individual attention and a great social! Read more
Rock climbing is one of the fastest growing sports in the UK and it’s not hard to see why. It’s fun, it’s sociable, and it’s done in beautiful places – what’s not to like? We’ll show you what climbing’s all about; we’ll go bouldering, sport climbing, trad climbing, and multi-pitch climbing. And if those words mean nothing to you now, that’s fine because by the end of the week, you will! We’ll start in a bigger group, then split into smaller teams of one instructor to two participants to take on more adventurous climbs and tailor what we cover. You should leave the course knowing why climbing’s amazing and be able to confidently fit a harness, tie onto a rope, and belay (keep your partner safe). Read more
Get your body moving and build your confidence on this two-day introduction to rock climbing for women course in Eryri (Snowdonia). Rock climbing is one of the fastest growing outdoor sports in the world, and no wonder; it’s one of the best ways to get fit, get social, and get outside. Join our friendly instructors and discover the joys of climbing over a fun-filled weekend in a supportive, friendly and fun environment. We’ll climb on boulders and short crags, giving you a chance to try lots of climbs and styles, build confidence, have some movement coaching, and see how climbing kit works. We’ll climb in a maximum group size of one instructor to six participants, so you can expect plenty of individual attention and a great social, all while pushing yourself at your own pace! Read more
We’ll chat through where your climbing’s at and focus on the areas you’d specifically like to work on. Our extensive local knowledge will allow us to pick the best routes for you to meet your aims and of course, have fun climbing. There’s a huge variety of amazing climbing all within a short drive of Plas y Brenin, rest assured you’ll cover lots of these two days. Ready? We are! Read more
A week of progressive and tailored coaching can genuinely take your climbing to the next level; whether that’s pushing into a new grade, developing your head game, or learning how to access new venues such as sea cliffs, this course is guaranteed to inspire and ensure you get the most from your climbing. It can also act as something of a climbing MOT, giving you the confidence to take on more challenging routes, knowing that you have a well-rounded skill set to deal with everything a crag can throw at you. Our friendly staff know the area intimately, and they’ll handpick the best routes for each individual. Rest assured, the pace and progression will be tailored to each person. Excited? We are! Read more
Let’s face it, booking your MCI assessment feels like a big step… because it is! We have all been there. But if you’re ready to come and demonstrate all you’ve accomplished in your consolidation period, it’s time to book. During the week, we’ll do our best to give you a supported and fair assessment. Read more
You're an aspiring Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor and you're aiming to excel when you take your assessment. So you'll need to learn from the best in their field, who set the standard for outdoor instruction and will share their specialist knowledge with you, putting you to work, and pushing you to achieve your goal. This nine day training course covers all the essential aspects of the syllabus for the Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor Award. You'll hone your skills in; the technical aspects of rock climbing and mountaineering , improvised rescue, teaching, the mountain environment, navigation and group adventurous activities. You'll work hard out in Snowdonia's spectacular mountains by day, and attend evening lectures and activities to supplement the practical with the theory that supports it. The duration, intensity and activity on this course make it unique among Mountain Training qualifications. It's a learning experience that stays long in the memory.
Read moreWelcome to a five-day rock climbing course tailored for young climbers aged 12-17 who are ready to make the leap from indoor walls to outdoor rock. In the picturesque surroundings of North Wales, our friendly, enthusiastic, and highly qualified instructors will guide you on a journey towards becoming a self-sufficient outdoor climber. You’ll discover the intricacies of climbing on different rock types, refine your technique, and confront the unique challenges of outdoor climbing. Additionally, you’ll have the opportunity to try thrilling climbing-related activities, such as sea-level traversing, gorge walking, and scrambling. You’ll leave this course well-prepared and enthusiastic about tackling outdoor crags with confidence. Read more
If you’d like to push your grade, improve your technique and develop your confidence on rock then this two day course is for you. You’ll get top level training and coaching from our highly qualified instructors in all aspects of rock climbing, from bouldering to sport to trad. We know the area incredibly well; trust us to choose exactly the right routes for you. Read more
If you’re a young climber looking to up your game, this course is the missing ingredient you need. Whether you want to enhance your ropework or boost your physical performance, we’re here to help. Our experienced instructors will guide you on boulders, crags, and various rock types in North Wales, providing you with a diverse set of climbing skills and techniques. Working in small groups ensures you’ll receive personalized attention and assistance in choosing the right adventure level for you. We’re committed to pushing your climbing abilities, refining your technique, and ensuring your safety at the crag. Read more
With this qualification you can develop peoples' climbing ability in all areas of single pitch climbing. This can include the coaching and supervision of traditional lead climbing. This is the ultimate qualification for all those who seek to be an advanced climbing instructor in all outdoor single-pitch environments. Read more
The Rock Climbing Development Instructor qualification is for experienced instructors wishing to develop a participant’s rock climbing proficiency. This development may extend to the teaching of lead climbing. The scope of this new award allows qualified instructors to develop climbers wishing to climb both sport and traditional routes. This Mountain Training accredited course will be delivered over four days and covers all the essential aspects of the syllabus. You will hone your skills in teaching the technical aspects of rock climbing on both sport and traditional routes. Based in the heart of northern Eryri (Snowdonia) we are ideally placed with a host of crags with both sport and traditional routes available. Given the varied locations it is always possible to find somewhere dry to climb. We also have a state of the art climbing facility which will be used for evening sessions and to enhance the outdoor delivery. Read more
A two day assessment with friendly and experienced assessors who love rock climbing and instructing. We create an assessment environment where you feel able to perform at your best, have a good time and learn loads extra on the way. During the assessment you need to show that you have all of the skills required to supervise safe climbing and abseiling sessions on single pitch crags and artificial structures in line with the syllabus. Read more
Whether you’re a parent, a volunteer or an outdoor centre instructor, this Mountain Training accredited course prepares you to supervise safe climbing and abseiling sessions on single pitch crags and artificial structures. Our friendly, highly qualified instructors will use their experience to equip you with the skills needed whilst we have a good time climbing on some great crags. The course runs over two days for those who have completed Climbing Wall Instructor Training as it doesn’t cover the indoor element of the qualification. Read more
Whether you’re a parent, a volunteer or an outdoor centre instructor, this course prepares you to supervise safe climbing and abseiling sessions on single pitch crags and artificial structures. Our friendly, highly qualified instructors will use their experience to equip you with the skills needed whilst we have a good time climbing on some great crags. This Mountain Training accredited course runs over three days for those who have not completed Climbing Wall Instructor Training. A two-day version is available for people who have completed their Climbing Wall Instructor Training. Read more
This immersive course is all about going climbing and gaining valuable mileage on rock. A ratio of one instructor to two participants allows us to go to multi-pitch crags and take on more demanding venues, such as sea cliffs. Rest assured, you’ll receive personalised coaching and instruction to take your climbing wherever you want it to go. You should leave the course feeling more confident and capable as a climber and eager to put it into action! Read more
This immersive course is all about developing your skillset at a level that’s tailored to you. We’ll start in a slightly bigger team for nice social scenes, then split into pairs and address any specific aims you have. This might include going to a more adventurous crag such as a sea cliff, pushing your sport climbing grade, or even leading your first route. You should leave the course feeling more confident and capable as a climber and eager to put your takeaways into action! Read more
Welcome to the week-long climbing camp designed for young climbers aged 12-17. At this camp, we’re dedicated to helping you develop your climbing skills through hands-on experience. Our approach combines expert coaching with plenty of climbing opportunities to reinforce your fundamental skills across different aspects of climbing. You’ll have the chance to conquer various rock types, from steep limestone to smooth slate and rough dolorite. Your adventure level is entirely up to you, and we may even introduce you to thrilling climbing-related activities like sea-level traversing, gorge walking, or scrambling. Plas y Brenin takes pride in customizing activities to align with your goals, all with the aim of taking your climbing to new heights. Read more
Our high staff to student ratio gives you a tailor made week of action to help you fulfil your winter climbing potential and move up the grades. We’ll develop your skills by sharing our passion for winter climbing as we find our way up the big grade III to IV routes on ice and mixed terrain. Climbing some of the longer classics will mean the need for speedy and efficient climbing, and you’re bound to pick up plenty of top tips along the way. This course will be delivered from our scenic winter base in Scotland, the Alltshellach hotel in North Ballachulish. Read more
You’ll discover all the ropework and climbing skills you need to get your winter climbing started on a variety of Scotland’s finest routes. Our experts will take you progressively through the skills of winter climbing, teaching you to move competently, swiftly and safely over all types of winter terrain. You’ll get masses of practical experience during the day, and we’ll share our expert technical knowledge with you through a series of evening lectures to reinforce what you’ve learned out on the mountains. This course will be delivered from our scenic winter base in Scotland, the Alltshellach hotel in North Ballachulish. Read more
Winter climbing in Scotland offers rewards and challenges comparable with the best anywhere in the world. From a revision of the basic skills, to more advanced skills for steeper ground, you'll make rapid progress over this five day course. You'll discover all the ropework and climbing skills you need to get your winter climbing started on a variety of Scotland's finest routes. Our experts will take you progressively through the skills of winter climbing, teaching you to move competently, swiftly and safely over all types of winter terrain. You'll get masses of practical experience during the day, and we'll share our expert technical knowledge with you through a series of evening lectures to reinforce what you've learned out on the mountains. This course will be delivered from our scenic winter base in Scotland, the Alltshellach hotel in North Ballachulish.
Read moreOur highly qualified, expert instructors will share their experience and knowledge of climbing, route choice, snow evaluation and conditions to ensure you make the most of what Scotland can offer. Through five days of climbing, you’ll hone your skills with plenty of mileage over snow, ice and mixed ground, all the time sharing the adventure and judgement as we find our way. Teaming up in pairs means you’ll gain the coaching you need at an appropriate level. We’ll aim to break the Grade V barrier and climb some of the best winter routes in Scotland. This course will be delivered from our scenic winter base in Scotland, the Alltshellach hotel in North Ballachulish. Read more
The course every rock climber should take! You’ll spend two days learning valuable self-rescue skills to get out of those tricky situations that should never arise but all too often do. If you have any doubt about how you’d react in an emergency, and how to cope if it all goes wrong, then fear not, this course should put your mind at rest. You should leave the course with more confidence in your ability to deal with a problem, so you can enjoy climbing and more adventurous crags all the more. Read more
Using a rope, ice axe and crampons when necessary, you’ll overcome the complex challenges that winter brings to the adventure. Read more
Presenting yourself for a Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor Assessment is the culmination of years of hard work and dedication, gaining it is a huge achievement. Everyone who’s done it will remember how they felt at the start of the course; anxious, excited, ready. Our team of experienced assessors know this, having been there themselves. We’re here to create the best environment for you to showcase your skills and abilities as a winter mountaineering professional. We want you to feel supported throughout the week and to finish the course feeling you’ve learnt and developed, and ideally with the big tick. The assessment will be run according to the Mountain Training syllabus and will be divided into a day of personal / guided climbing, a day of mountaineering, and two days of teaching. We recommend all candidates prepare thoroughly and fully understand the course syllabus. If you would like to discuss whether you’re ready to book an assessment, please feel free to contact Mountain Training or PYB directly. These courses are residential to ensure the highest standards of quality and safety for all candidates are fully maintained. Accommodation and catering is provided from the night before your course starts and finishes with breakfast on the morning after your course ends. Non-residential options can be discussed, please contact PYB directly. Read more
From celebrated mountaineering journeys in Glen Coe, to classic snow and ice gullies on Ben Nevis and Aonach Mor, and mixed climbing in the Southern Highlands, it’s all within easy reach. This means we can maximise our time on the hill, make the most of the conditions, and develop skills progressively and in context. Our team of WMCI trainers have a combined experience of over 100 winter seasons; rest assured, they’ll work with you to make the most of your time with us and create the best learning and coaching environment possible. We’ll cover the WMCI syllabus as practically as possible, with time dedicated to skills that are trickier to develop independently. Evening sessions will support the more theoretical sides of what’s covered on the hill. Expect to leave the course brimming with new knowledge, inspired, and, most likely, tired! These courses are residential to ensure the highest standards of quality and safety for all candidates are fully maintained. Accommodation and catering are provided from the night before your course starts and finishes with breakfast on the morning after your course ends. Non-residential options can be negotiated; please contact PYB directly to discuss. Read more
Got your own route in mind? We offer private instruction at very reasonable rates. Our bookings team will be happy to guide you.