Rock Climbing vacation
Rock climbing is a sport in which participants climb up or across natural rock formations or man-made rock walls with the goal of reaching the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route. Rock climbing is a physically and mentally demanding sport, one that often tests a climber’s strength, endurance, agility, and balance along with his or her mental control. There are many places to climb just read.
Great Places to Go Rock Climbing For Groups
By Robert Meldrum
Rock climbing has a lot to offer. The sense of accomplishment and elation of reaching the top are hard to match. Today many groups from social “packs” to corporate groups are looking into rock climbing for sheer enjoyment as well as team building experiences. Rock climbing can help built team work and friendships.
Photo: codinghorror.com
There are a number of locations in the U.K. that accommodate groups for both indoor and outdoor rock climbing. You can buy activity days that should normally have fully accredited instructors who can provide novices the chance to learn how to safely navigate there way up through a crag. These days out are good for corporate team building although can cost between 50 and 120 pounds per person. Below are listed a number of locations you may want to consider for your group rock climbing.
Indoor climbing
If you just want to get a small taste of climbing with reduced expense then indoor climbing can be a great way to go about it. Lakeland Climbing has an indoor course that offers private sessions for groups and families. Located in the Lake District in Kendal this facility offers beginners courses and individual sessions to build skills.
Peak District
Rock-climbing in the Peak District began with early pioneers in the 1890s, and has now expanded so that every weekend there is thousands of climbers on the crags. The Peak has a wide range of crags both large and small with well over 10000 recorded climbs – probably no-one knows exactly how many – and being close to several large population centres means that it is a popular place to climb.
The Peak provides a wealth of climbing for all. Valkyrie – Froggatt Edge in the north of the Peak is a good spot and gritstone crags in the Chew Valley can provide strenuous rather than hard gritstone routes.
Wales
Wales has a much more interesting terrain compared to the predominantly flat UK. There are many places and centres to go to. Hot spots include Snowdonia and North Pembroke.
Dinas Mot is one of the best crags in the Llanberis Area (Snowdonia). On the South side it rarely catches the sun and is best kept for a hot, sunny, summer day. There are several buttresses with different types of climbing, and the routes are long and multi-pitch. The area features climbs of 300 to 500 feet high with over 100 routes in all grades.
The most popular and best cliff in North Pembroke is Carreg-y-Barcud. The rock here is compact sandstone which has formed into huge uniform slabs which are covered in tiny edges and thin cracks. The Main Face of Carreg-y-Barcud is the largest slab in the area and has a superb selection of routes from E1 upwards.
Other Factors
If you are organising a rock climbing day out for a group you will also need to consider other factors. Transport to and from the centre, accommodation if you are staying for more than one day and food. If your group is large enough it can be easier to hire a mini bus or coach. You should however bear in mind the size of the vehicle and check that it can access the sites you have in mind. With regards to where to stay the climbing centre may have basic on site accommodation or you could find a hotel near by.
For more information on organising group travel visit MyGroupTour
Robert has worked in the travel industry for the past 5 years and has been involved in flight holidays, escorted tours, group travel and cruising. Website involvement includes: In Holidays Europe
