Need to brush up on your crag skills after a winter on the wall? Whether you’re making the move outside for the first time, or looking to rise up the grades this summer, we’ve got loads of essential skills and equipment advice for you right here on the BMC website.
Climbing outdoors can be one of the most thrilling and satisfying forms of climbing, combining the gymnastic style of indoor climbing with inspiring natural settings. However, it is a more complex activity and a much more challenging environment than the climbing wall, which can make it seem quite daunting to someone who has not done it before.
So, to help you become a better climber, we've collected our most useful rock climbing articles here in one convenient place. Make sure your skills are rock solid by reading the information and advice in the following articles, and have fun putting your skills to the test:
The Basics
Different types of climbing activities explained
Scrambling - the middle ground between walking and climbing
How to go from walking to scrambling
7 reasons to try scrambling and where to start
The 5 biggest pitfalls to avoid when scrambling
Beginner climber FAQs
Five steps to start climbing
Young people climbing
Becoming a mother and a climber
Warming up for climbing
Getting started
New Rock Climbers
Try a BMC subsidised course
Climb skills: how to move outdoors
Climb outside: how to start climbing outdoors
UK traditional climbing grades
Top 10 British bouldering venues for beginners
Getting started: bouldering outdoors
Bouldering good practice
How to improve your climbing on Gritstone
Getting started: sport climbing outdoors
Top 10 British sport climbing crags for beginners
Be safer sport climbing
Steve McClure: 5 things I wish I'd known about sport climbing when I started
Sport climbing
Getting started trad climbing
Top 10 British trad crags for beginners
Natalie Berry: making the Transition to trad climbing
9 evening crags that catch the later light
Climb then beer: 5 of the best UK trad crag and pub combos
Climbing when it's wet
Clothing & Equipment
What gear do you need to climb outdoors?
Ropes
Ropes & belay devices
Racking your gear
Helmets
Harness guide for climbers
Climbing shoes: is pain insane?
Caring for your equipment
Retiring textile equipment
Skills & Hazards
Health benefits of climbing
7 skills you need to climb outside
Performance bouldering
Protecting a scramble
6 spicy scrambles in Britain
Scrambling articles on BMC website
Building a belay
Belaying & Abseiling: get it right!
Belaying: pay attention!
Abseiling
Video: Tying a Figure of Eight knot
Video: Tying on with a Bowline
Using slings when climbing
Spot a bad bolt
How to use bolted lower-offs
How to lower off from a sport climb
First trad routes: 7 tips to stay alive
Seven tips for leading your first trad route
That first traditional lead
How to: safely use micro wires
Top ten sea-cliff climbing skills that you need to know
The art of falling
How to lighten your climbing rack
How to take someone climbing
First aid for rock climbers
Spanish secrets: top 5 best mid-grade sport climbing destinations
Top tips for your first multi-pitch adventure
Five of the best adventurous multi-pitch sport crags in Europe
5 of Europe’s best long rock routes
Offwidthing
How to climb E1
10 secrets to climbing 7a
Dark knights: eight tips for night bouldering sessions
Autumn is awesome for grit
How to keep scrambling over winter
Access & Environment
BMC Regional Access Database (RAD)
RAD: Android and iPhone apps
BMC publishes national Crag Code
Nesting birds: advice for climbers
Climbing Information Films: Birds
BMC Green Guides
Video: Conservation and Climbing
Books & DVDs (from the BMC online shop)
Climbing Outside
BMC technical advice booklets
Rock Climbing Essentials DVD
Rock Climbing: Essential Skills & Techniques
Self Rescue for Climbers
DON'T MISS:
WATCH: BMC Travel Insurance built for the mountains
VIDEO
Rock Up Abroad with BMC Travel Insurance
Wherever the hot rock calls, make sure that you go prepared with our travel insurance before you head off.
You can get cover with a BMC Rock policy from just £56* for a week.
BMC Travel Insurance comes in five policies: Travel, Trek, Rock, Alpine and Ski and High Altitude.
*Policy details: £55.21 for 7 days European Rock policy, price for up to age 69.
For full terms and conditions see our Evidence of Cover
Europe by Train
Seat61 has a plethora of information, ready-planned for you to make your train journeys to Europe plain sailing. We fully recommend checking out the routes available and booking in advance to get the best deals on cheaper tickets.
PLAN YOUR TRAVEL: Use public transport routes from Seat61 to help you plan your low-impact travels
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