Outdoor Rock climbing classes & lessons
Rock Climbing is one of the fastest growing sports in Britain, offering exciting and challenging activities that are enjoyable, inclusive and helps people to keep fit.
Our expert instructors provide participants the opportunity to try a new sport in some of the best outdoor climbing venues in Bristol and surrounding areas.
From beginners who want to try Outdoor Rock Climbing for the first time through to intermediate climbers who want to get onto the cliffs for themselves, Clifton College Outdoor Activity Centre is able to deliver a bespoke experience for all. You don’t need any experience, just be super keen to do lots of climbing!
How long do the rock climbing sessions last?
- Half-day sessions = 2 hours
- Full-day sessions = 4 hours
What should I bring with me?
- Warm outdoor wear which is comfortable to climb in – at all times of year e.g. loose fitting trousers (shorts in summer), wicking base layers, fleeces which are comfortable to climb in Warm hat, gloves, sun hat
- Waterproof jacket and trousers
- Sunscreen
- Water bottle
- Rucksack
- Trainers or Rock Shoes (if owned)
Rock Skills Course:
With regards to the rock skills course it is a programme that approved instructors are able to follow to deliver recognised training to people at various levels. The two we would be looking to deliver would be the introduction level and the intermediate.
The aim of these courses is to promote safe and effective climbing in the participants. It includes information on how to plan a trip outdoor climbing, techniques to improve your climbing, equipment that you need, technical skills required to climb outdoors, environmental knowledge as well as hazard perception and emergency procedures.
Both levels stick with the same structure but the intermediate just brings in more detail. Upon completing the Rock Skills introduction the participant will have some background of climbing like where you can find information about places you are able to climb, what the mountaineering councils do, how to use guidebooks and crag etiquette. They will have developed fundamental movement skills as well as an introduction to climbing styles.
Rock Climbing Skills
Teach about climbing shoes and other equipment, how to choose a pair of shoes that are suitable for outdoors as well as other equipment like harnesses, helmets, ropes, etc. The technical skills covered include necessary rope work, correct top and bottom rope belaying, effective spotting and abseiling safely.
The environmental knowledge section looks at the effect of climbers at the crag, the things we should consider, the leave no trace principles and access considerations. The hazard perception element looks at identifying potential hazards at climbing and bouldering venues, managing risk while bouldering and gaining an understanding of common injuries.
Then we start looking at what to do in an emergency like how we call for help and understanding how Mountain Rescue is organised in the UK and Ireland. At the intermediate level these are then looked at to further participants knowledge and abilities developing towards the next course which is learning to lead.
To book or for more information, please contact us at activitycentre@cliftoncollege.com or 0117 315 7666.
Clifton College Outdoor Activity Centre have achieved Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge (LOtC), Adventuremark and Adventurous Activities Licencing Authority (AALA) accreditation.
The LOtC Quality Badge is a national benchmark that recognises good quality educational experiences and
effective risk management.
AALA is a statutory licence required by all adventurous activity providers who run licencable activities. We are licenced to run Outdoor Rock Climbing and Abseiling. For more information on what our accreditation means about us visit AALA’s website at https://www.hse.gov.uk/aala/.
Adventuremark is a non-statutory safety scheme for adventurous activity providers on activities outside the scope of AALA.
