by Alan | Aug 16, 2023 | Discussion
Mention caving to a person in the street and they’ll most probably frown and say “you’d never get me in a cave.” To that I’d answer “you’re missing out.” Caving gets a bad press. In recent years there’s been a string of cave-based horror films such as The Descent and then a Thai football team trapped in a flooded cave. Every few years the media plays upon people’s already entrenched fears of the underground. There’s also a feeling that all caving is extremely tight, very wet and generally miserable.
It’s true to some extent – some caves are tight, muddy and miserable but not all of them and if you aren’t into that kind of thing then you just don’t go into those caves. The truth is that there are caves of all flavours. Some caves are very vertical and challenging, but some are horizontal – nothing more than a walk underground. Some caves are so astonishingly huge that you can spend several hours underground without ever touching the sides.
What nearly all caves have in common is that they are places of amazing natural beaty. Caves are a haven from human development and what you are looking at is a place that has been that way for tens of thousands of years, secret places full of seclusion and wonder. I’ve been involved and every outdoor activity there is over the years but it’s only caving which continues to surprise me and I still have regular genuine moments where my breath is taken away. Underground waterfalls, impossible rock formations, pristine fossils. Most importantly for me caving allows me to feel a genuine feeling of exploration – which in our small and overpopulated country, is a rare thing. We can take you to these places whatever your ability or expectation here.
by Alan | Apr 19, 2023 | Discussion
Indoor climbing walls are great for training, great for socialising and a perfect place to begin climbing. But really, climbing isn’t all about the physical act of ascending a wall. Climbing is about being immersed in the environment, not only because we have some of the most beautiful scenery in the world here in the UK, but also for the sounds of mountain and moorland, the smell of the heather and the tactile feel of hundred million year old rock. Climbing is an outdoor activity.
Many of our climbing customers are regular indoor climbers who come to us to make the transition to outdoor climbing. Outdoor climbing to the beginner can seem daunting. Those wishing to break into outdoor climbing will have seen climbing magazine pics and Instagram posts of climbers ascending crags and cliffs and notice a bewildering array ropes, knots and equipment – wondering how it all works. It’s easy to feel like outdoor climbing with ropes takes many years of experience to understand, but the fact is – it’s not complicated. Most beginner climbers can pick up ropework, knots and equipment use really quickly – they just need to be shown.
Climbing outside is about climbing, it’s not all about fancy ropework and shiny gear. My advice is don’t be put off by not having technical skills at the start; if you have climbing within you but you are nervous about making the leap to outdoor climbing, then just go ahead and do it – you just need a small amount of guidance first. If you have the will to climb then you’ll be able to get competent enough to become an independent outdoor climber. A good way into outdoor climbing is to join a climbing club, the BMC is the best resource for this here: BMC. If you’d like more personalised, tailored and faster way in to outdoor climbing we run very poplar, tailor made rock climbing courses here Climbing Courses Peak District If you need to chat about your options just drop me an email – my name’s AL. al@gritstoneadventures.co.uk
