Leading on the grippy Torridonian Sandstone at Reiff
Leading on the grippy Torridonian Sandstone at Reiff
Our Learn to Lead Courses are designed for anyone with climbing experience who wishes to progress their techniques and skills to become a safe and efficient lead climber. Over this two day course we will look at everything from route choice and equipment, through to gear placement and setting up belays. By the end of this course our aim is to give you the knowledge needed to lead climb. This will allow you to get even more enjoyment out of climbing.
View an example of our two day itinerary
Having some climbing experience is essential. We would recommend you have some experience of seconding outdoors or leading indoors to get the most out of this course. It’s ideal for indoor climbers looking to venture outside.
Our Learn to Lead Courses take place in and around the Torridon Mountains. This area is famous for its incredible climbing, it is a fantastic place to learn. With no shortage of brilliant routes at a variety of grades, you will have plenty of opportunity to practice and refine your skills. All within a realistic and inspirational environment. The largest village in the area is Gairloch, with excellent local facilities and amenities, including B&B’s, self catering, hotels, shops, pubs and takeaways.
Below is a sample itinerary but we always tailor these days around you and your individual strengths and weaknesses in order to make you a safe, independant lead climber.
Today we will cover many of the techniques needed to safely lead climb. We will begin by looking at equipment, guide books and route choice. We will then look at gear placement, which types of protection are most appropriate to use, and have plenty of practice both placing and removing them. We will also consider your own movement on rock, advising and coaching as we go. Then we will concentrate on rope work, setting up belays, anchors and equalising. We will end the day by setting up abseils.
Yesterday you will have learnt a lot of new information and today you will get the chance to practice it. Having a full day, we will climb lots and lots of routes, giving you plenty of opportunity to develop your skills. If there is a particular skill you need extra time on (for example placing a particular piece of gear) we will find the routes most appropriate to give you the opportunity to focus on it. We will also look at problem solving and issues which might arise.
In order to provide the highest level of learning and safety we maintain low ratios for our courses. Below you can see the details. Small numbers allow us to make sure you get the tuition you need and the course is tailored around your aspirations.
| Ratio | Price |
|---|---|
| 1:1 | £550 |
| 1:2 | £300 per person |
All technical equipment needed (e.g. ropes/harnesses/helmets) are included in the course fee. We will even provide a rack to be used however we would also encourage you to bring any equipment you have so we can discuss it’s merits and show you how to use it effectively. Any equipment you do bring will be inspected by your instructor to ensure its safety.