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

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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