Getting started or getting serious

We can offer a range of indoor and outdoor courses to suit all ability levels, from complete beginner through to experienced climbers looking to extend their technical skills. Our courses form a progressive learning experience but are equally suited to those wishing to select just a single course to increase knowledge or experience in a specific area.

INDOOR COURSES

Taster Session

If you have never climbed before and want to see if you like it, or if you just want to 'give it a go', these taster sessions with an instructor are ideal. This is a one hour session with all equipment provided.

Beginners Course

Two day course comprising two and a half hours per session

Beginners Plus Course

Three week course: two hour session per week

These are our most popular courses aimed at providing the novice climber with the basic skills necessary to use a climbing wall without an instructor. The course covers safe use and care of equipment, belaying techniques, including the use of ground anchors, holding/taking falls and basic knots. There will, of course, be plenty of climbing too.

Intermediate Course

Two week course: two hour session per week

An ideal course when moving from our Beginners Courses. You will be introduced to movement skills and climbing technique along with an increased knowledge of equipment and rope-work.

Climbing Workshops

One session, two hours in length

We run a wide variety of climbing workshops to provide specific skills development. These cover areas such as abseiling, self-rescue, advanced rope-craft, performance coaching and competition basics.

Learn to Lead on Bolts

Two week course: two and a half hours per session

Having watched the more experienced climbers leading at your centre, this course gives you the chance to start lead climbing with expert instruction and supervision. The course will cover selection and use of equipment, correct clipping, belaying technique and taking/holding leader falls. This course is a must for those interested in starting to lead climb outdoors.

High Sports Instructors Award

Two week course plus assessment

If you are interested in bringing groups of climbers to climb at any of our centres this award will enable you to do that. It is a site specific award and will not necessarily enable you to take groups to any other indoor climbing walls.

The aim of the course is to promote the safe use of our climbing centres by groups under supervision.

The course will cover belaying, climbing, group management, equipment, rope-work and basic rescue techniques. A further module will cover abseiling.

Climbing Wall Award (CWA)

January 2008 was the launch of this new MLTE supported award aimed at providing a consistent and transferable qualification between indoor climbing walls.

We will be delivering this course throughout 2008. For more details see the MLTE website at: www.mlte.org

Outdoor Courses

Sandstone Taster

This course is the ideal starting point for outdoor adventures. Learn how to rig a pitch at the Kent sandstone crags and enjoy a full days climbing under the supervision of one of our SPA instructors.

Sandstone Days are run for adults and juniors.

Gritstone Weekend

Interested in extending your climbing experience? This course will provide a full weekend's activity on the grit. Develop your climbing technique and gain an understanding of guidebooks, crag selection and setting up a pitch.

Sport Climbing Weekend

A climbing experience on the bolted routes around Swanage and Portland. Understand how to use the local guidebooks and rig these pitches. Further extend your climbing technique.

Single Pitch Leading

Lead climbing is a serious undertaking. This course will provide a solid grounding in the equipment and techniques required for safe lead climbing using natural protection. This is a full weekend course and is run by an MIA qualified instructor.

Multi-Pitch Leading

The final course available in the High Sports set and it represents the ultimate climbing experience on the larger crags requiring multi-pitch rigging. This course is ideal for those wishing to extend their current leading experience and will cover leading techniques, gear placement, setting up a belay, rope management and communication. This is a full weekend course and is run by an MIA qualified instructor.

NB: Transport and accommodation are not included for these courses

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