Any climbers here?

jp_bl_68 · 2 Nov 2011 at 14:27

I'm interested in learning how to climb and was wondering if any of you could offer any guidance.

There are a few indoor climbing walls in London that offer introduction courses for newcomers (The Arch, Mile End, etc.). Have any of you used any of these climbing centres and could you recommend one?

Bennie-Mac · 2 Nov 2011 at 14:31

Aww i got all excited thinking i might be of use, but i know nothing about those London centres. There are a few climbers on here though so perhaps you will get lucky with a Londoner

DotA · 2 Nov 2011 at 14:41

Dont know about the centres in London, but you will want someone to go with when you start as you will need someone to belay you on the ropes when climbing.

thedoc46 · 2 Nov 2011 at 14:41

I climb on top of my missus every night.

Does that count?

stockhausen · 2 Nov 2011 at 14:43

I'm told that that The Castle at Manor House in North London runs excellent courses and is good for top-roping and leading.

Mile End in East London is meant to be particularly good for 'Bouldering'.

Bennie-Mac · 2 Nov 2011 at 14:43

DotA said:
Dont know about the centres in London, but you will want someone to go with when you start as you will need someone to belay you on the ropes when climbing.

Surely the centres will have instructors to belay him?

paradigm · 2 Nov 2011 at 14:44

DotA said:
Dont know about the centres in London, but you will want someone to go with when you start as you will need someone to belay you on the ropes when climbing.

Depends on how you start I guess.

I learnt to boulder first rather than top-rope, this enabled me to make friends with people down at the center, obviously negating the need to have to take someone with me to belay.

platypus · 2 Nov 2011 at 14:46

The Castle is an awesome place to climb.

jp_bl_68 · 2 Nov 2011 at 14:47

Bennie-Mac said:
Aww i got all excited thinking i might be of use, but i know nothing about those London centres. There are a few climbers on here though so perhaps you will get lucky with a Londoner

Do you have any advice for a non-climber looking to get into it?

DotA said:
Dont know about the centres in London, but you will want someone to go with when you start as you will need someone to belay you on the ropes when climbing.

Can you team up with people once you get there? I don't know anyone who's interested in doing this with me.

floatindolphin · 2 Nov 2011 at 14:48

Do a course at the castle. Then climb there with 2000 people every evening!

platypus · 2 Nov 2011 at 14:48

Where are you in London?

jp_bl_68 · 2 Nov 2011 at 14:50

thedoc46 said:
I climb on top of my missus every night.

Does that count?

Depends how big she is

paradigm said:
Depends on how you start I guess.

I learnt to boulder first rather than top-rope, this enabled me to make friends with people down at the center, obviously negating the need to have to take someone with me to belay.

That sounds great. I'm happy to do that for the time being.

platypus said:
The Castle is an awesome place to climb.

Thanks for the suggestion

jp_bl_68 · 2 Nov 2011 at 14:52

platypus said:
Where are you in London?

I'm in Croydon.

DotA · 2 Nov 2011 at 14:52

jp_bl_68 said:
Do you have any advice for a non-climber looking to get into it?

Can you team up with people once you get there? I don't know anyone who's interested in doing this with me.

Yer its fine, just at my center it was a pain in the ass to find people to belay with you. when i went with a friend i had no problem.

Mr_Moose · 2 Nov 2011 at 14:58

jp_bl_68 said:
I'm interested in learning how to climb and was wondering if any of you could offer any guidance.

Only advice I would give is just to book up to the begineers course and go for it.

I done this in Edinburgh a few months back now and loved it. Booked up the beginners course myself, went along and you're in a group of people who're in the same boat.
Get chatting to the people on the course and you may end up with someone you can meet up with for a regular climb.

paddy · 2 Nov 2011 at 15:00

I've heard good things about the Castle in London

Looks like they do Taster sessions and Introductory courses:
http://www.castle-climbing.co.uk/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=108

There looks to be a Croydon Mountaineering Club which would probably be a good place to start
http://www.ukclimbing.com/listings/info.php?id=257

Few walls marked on the map there as well

jp_bl_68 · 2 Nov 2011 at 15:07

The Castle looks good but it's quite far away. It's about 15 miles travelling right across London on public transport.

Has anyone used The Arch? It's just around the corner from London Bridge Rail.

m0rte · 2 Nov 2011 at 15:12

I've just started climbing recently and loving it! Started off using the wall in Watford where I work but we regularly (weekly) use the Swiss cottage wall which has a good variety of surfaces.
Like most walls you need to do an induction session so they can put you on the system as a member who knows the basics and you also need a climbing partner - 1 climbs 1 belays.

edit: The only time there might be staff or other climbers who can belay for you are during the scheduled climbing events such as 'Adult club' or similar. Its generally a sport done in pairs.

Bennie-Mac · 2 Nov 2011 at 15:15

jp_bl_68 said:
The Castle looks good but it's quite far away. It's about 15 miles travelling right across London on public transport.

Has anyone used The Arch? It's just around the corner from London Bridge Rail.

That looks much more like a bouldering place to me, the walls don't seem particularly high and the thick crash mats suggest this as well. Still it would be good for a beginner as bouldering will really help you work on your technique.

In my opinion i think it would be worthwhile going there first to get a feel for it, but nothing compares to climbing your first high wall

shoes · 2 Nov 2011 at 15:20

thedoc46 said:
I climb on top of my missus every night.

Does that count?

Do you need ropes and pulleys for that?

Any climbers here?

Capodecina