Five steps to start climbing

Posted by Will Harris on 07/07/2021

Fancy giving climbing a go but don't know where to start? Follow these five easy steps to kick off a lifetime of vertical adventures.

1. Hit the wall

Climbing walls provide a safe and friendly environment in which to start climbing, offering gear hire and introductory courses to teach important safety skills.

FIND: your nearest climbing wall and read our free guide to starting climbing

WATCH our Indoor Climbing Skills Playlist on BMC TV:

2. Take a course

Ready to take the next step and head outside? Take a course with a qualified instructor to learn how to safely climb on real rock. Find a BMC subsidised outdoor climbing course near you.

3. Join a club

So you’ve got some basic skills and want to find other people to share your new-found passion for the outdoors with. Why not join a climbing club?

4. Get psyched

Check out inspiring videos on the BMC TV channel. It’s also a great place to find advice on a wide range of climbing skills. You can also follow us on Instagram for inspiring locations and the latest opportunities from around the climbing community.

Watch Rad Days on BMC TV:

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5. Take the next step

In such a diverse sport there is always something new to try. Fancy a bit of ice climbing, or always dreamed of scaling an Alpine giant? The possibilities are endless.

Our free booklet New Rock Climbers will also set you up with the essential know how for climbing outdoors. Or sign up for to the Get Climbing emails to access our free handbook so you can find out everything you need to know to get started.

If you ever have an incident requiring outside assistance then know who to call for help.

WATCH our Trad climbing skills playlist on BMC TV:

We’re making it easy for you to connect with friendly climbing and walking clubs in your area. Fast friends and fun-filled weekends guaranteed. Take a look at our latest project: Find Your Adventure.

Take the next step

📧 Sign up for our regular Find Your Adventure email

We’ll send you an email every Monday for six weeks, taking you from finding a club, to your first meetup and even weekend away.

Find Your Adventure

📌 Locate a friendly club near you and get started

Can't wait?

Check out the articles in this six-part series:

🥾 It's time to find your adventure

⛰️ Let's find you a club to join

🥾 Your first visit

⛰️ Learning and skills

🥾 Ready to head to the mountains

⛰️ Start your adventure

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