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Ready to Rock: outdoor climbing

Ready to Rock courses are run in a partnership with Mountaineering Scotland and the Association of Mountaineering Instructors (AMI).

Please note: Ready to Rock courses are for people aged 18 or older only.

Locations: The exact locations for the courses will be decided prior to the events by the instructors depending on weather and rock conditions, but they will take place within the general area stated. You will be contacted by the instructor in advance with all the details.

Introduction to rock climbing

Ready to Rock - outdoor climbing courses Scotland

This one-day course is for anyone who has never climbed before or who has done a little climbing indoors but would like to try climbing outdoors on real rock.  

Instructor to climber ratio 1:4

The course will cover:

  • Fitting harness and helmet
  • Tying in to the rope
  • Belaying from below and lowering
  • Abseiling
  • Crag etiquette and use of guidebooks
  • Movement coaching on real rock

Dates and booking:

  • 24 July 2021- Fort William area with Max Hunter -Booking closed
  • 8 August 2021- Fort William area with Max Hunter - Booking closed
  • 2 October 2021 - Booking open

Progression rock climbing

This one-day course is designed to take competent indoor climbers or those with some experience of outdoor climbing and help them develop their outdoor traditional climbing. 

 Instructor to climber ratio 1:4

Please note: This is not a lead climbing course but a progression on the way to becoming a lead climber. 

The course will cover

  • Recap of the basics (see Introduction to Rock Climbing)
  • Placing and removing gear
  • Building and equalising belays
  • Abseiling with a prussik
  • Belaying from the top of a route
  • Movement skills coaching

Dates and booking:

  • 25 July 2021- Fort William area with Max Hunter - Booking closed
  • 3 October 2021- Fort William area with Max Hunter - Booking open

Learn to lead sport climbing

This one-day course is designed to take climbers who can competently climb indoors and translate these skills to outdoor sport crags. 

Instructor to climber ratio 1:4

The course will cover:

  • Lead belaying
  • Lead sports climbing
  • Threading lower offs
  • Movement coaching

Dates and booking:

  • Details coming soon

Learn to lead trad climbing

This two-day course is designed to take climbers who can competently lead climb indoor or on sports routes and have some experience of climbing outdoors and introduce them to leading traditionally protected routes.  

Instructor to climber ratio 1:2

The course will cover:

  • Movement technique on read rock
  • Footwear and equipment
  • Belaying a trad lead
  • Lead climbing
  • Placing and removing traditional gear
  • Setting up belays
  • Setting up retrievable abseils
  • Background planning

Dates and booking:
  • 4 -5 Sept 2021 Fort William area with Max Hunter - booking open


The instructors

The instructors for these courses will hold an MIA or MIC and be members of AMI, the Association of Mountaineering Instructors. You'll find the name of the instructor for each course next to the venue and date for that course.

> Check out instructor profiles.


Five great reasons for climbers to join Mountaineering Scotland

As a rock climber, there are many good reasons to join Mountaineering Scotland, which is the representative body in Scotland for mountaineers, hill walkers, climbers and snowsports tourers. There are numerous discounts which can repay your annual subs in one shopping trip, and a whole host of other membership benefits.

> Discover more about joining Mountaineering Scotland.

Membership of Mountaineering Scotland