Lake District Rock Climbing Guiding
£270
Feb - Nov
Explore the Lake District, take in the stunning views, and develop your mountain skills.
Looking for something specific? We can tailor private guiding and instruction to you.
DISCOVER THE LAKES
BESPOKE TRIPS
CLIMB IN THE LAKE DISTRICT. Our expert guides will design a tailor-made programme for you. Whether you want to climb multiple classic routes in a day or have a specific objective, we’ll make it happen.
GUIDING FOR ALL LEVELS
Our private guiding is for everyone, from first-time climbers to those wanting to challenge themselves on difficult routes.
Itinerary
We’ll spend a full day out in the hills climbing routes of your choice, or routes recommended by your guide. Climbs are chosen to suit your skill level, goals and the conditions on the day. We’ll aim to climb some great routes, keeping things relaxed and enjoyable.
Before your booking, we’ll be in touch to get to know you a little better, discuss your goals, and help plan the day. On the morning of your booking, we’ll usually meet at a convenient cafe to chat through the itinerary, sort out any gear, answer any final questions, and make sure everything’s set for a fun day ahead.
From there, we’ll head out for a full day in the mountains. Our guided rock climbing days typically last around eight hours, with plenty of time to enjoy yourself and take in the surroundings. Along the way, your guide will talk you through movement skills, necessary rope work, and share lots of useful tips and tricks to help you move safely and confidently on rock.
Make sure to bring plenty of food and water to keep you fuelled throughout the day. The weather in the mountains can be unpredictable, so pack plenty of layers and don’t forget your waterproofs.
Overview
We’ll spend the day climbing routes that match your goals and experience. Whether you want to enjoy as many classic climbs as possible or climb specific routes, we’ll build a plan around you. The Lake District National Park offers an incredible range of climbing across the whole area. Wherever you’d like to climb, we can guide you there, choosing the best venues for the conditions and your objectives. Our days out can just focus on climbing or they can be are a mix of guided climbing and instruction, allowing you to develop your climbing skills whilst enjoying some of the best rock climbing in the country.
Classic routes we could climb
Here’s a selection of routes in the Lake District available for guiding:
Little Chamonix (VDiff), Shepherd’s Crag. popular multi pitch, great for beginners.
Troutdale Pinnacle (S), Black Crag. Great 6 pitch climb with spectacular lakeland views
Tophet Wall (HS) Napes Needle. A classic intermediate level multi pitch through steep, exposed terrain.
Eliminate A (VS 4C) Dow Crag. One of the best routes of it’s grade in the country.
Gimmer String (E1 5B), Gimmer Crag. Technical and engaging climbing on a big, quick drying cliff.
Who’s it for?
With such diverse climbing terrain in the Lake District, we can tailor our guided rock climbing bookings for people of any experience level. From first outdoor climbs to advanced guiding and coaching, we will select routes that match your goals and ability. Or if you have a specific objective in mind, mention this in your booking or get in touch and we’ll build a plan together.
Price and Location
Private guiding is available anywhere in the Lake District. It costs £270 for 1:1 guiding and £320 for 1:2 guiding.
What’s Included?
Expert coaching and guiding with a qualified and insured Instructor
All technical equipment: ropes, helmets, harnesses, and trad gear
Course photos on request
Advice and support before and after the course, we’ll set up a whatsapp group where you can ask us any technical questions
What’s not included?
Climbing shoes - we can provide advice on local outdoor shops where you can rent shoes
Personal clothing - if you need advice on what to bring check out our kit lists or drop us a text/email
Food and drink
-
We’ll spend the day climbing routes that match your goals and experience. Whether you want to enjoy as many classic climbs as possible or climb specific routes, we’ll build a plan around you.
The Lake District National Park offers an incredible range of climbing across the whole area. Wherever you’d like to climb, we can guide you there, choosing the best venues for the conditions and your objectives.
Our days out can just focus on climbing or they can be are a mix of guided climbing and instruction, allowing you to develop your climbing skills whilst enjoying some of the best rock climbing in the country.
-
We’ll get in touch before your day out to introduce ourselves and finalise a plan. On the morning of your booking, we’ll meet at an agreed location, this will depend on the weather and where you’re staying. We’ll take a few minutes to get to know you, organise any equipment you need, and check any gear you’ve brought along.
Climbs are chosen to suit your skill level, goals and the conditions on the day. We’ll aim to climb some great routes, keeping things relaxed and enjoyable. A guided climbing day typically runs from 9am to 5pm, with time to take in the views, refuel with snacks and enjoy the day at your own pace. Whether you’d like to pack in lots of routes or take things steady and savour the experience, we’ll shape the day around you.
-
Here’s a selection of routes in the Lake District available for guiding:
Little Chamonix (VDiff), Shepherd’s Crag. one of UK’s most popular multi pitch climbs, great for beginners
Troutdale Pinnacle (S), Black Crag. Great 6 pitch multi pitch climb with spectacular lakeland views
Tophet Wall (HS) Napes Needle. A classic intermediate level multi pitch through steep, exposed terrain.
Botterill’s Slab (VS), Scafell Crag. A sought after VS on one the highest crags in England.
Eliminate A (VS 4C) Dow Crag. One of the best routes of it’s grade in the country.
Behind the Lines (HVS 5A), Hodge Close Quarry. Lake District Slate at its finest, one of many fine routes to climb at this great crag.
Gimmer String (E1 5B), Gimmer Crag. Technical and engaging climbing on a big, quick drying cliff.
-
With such diverse climbing terrain in the Lake District, we can tailor sessions for any experience level. From your first outdoor climbs to advanced guiding and coaching, we select routes that match your goals and ability. Have a specific objective in mind? Get in touch and we’ll build a plan together.
-
1 person: £260 per day
2 people: £320 per day -
Guiding and coaching with an insured and professional guide
Local transport to and from your accommodation if needed
Ropes and technical equipment
Helmet and harness
What’s not included?
Climbing shoes
Personal clothing
Food and drink
Check out some photos from previous private guiding days below!
-
We can provide all the essential climbing equipment, including harnesses, helmets, ropes, and technical gear. If you have your own gear, that’s great, as it’s better to practice using the equipment you’ll be using on your own adventures in the future. You’ll need to bring your own climbing shoes, walking boots or approach shoes along with suitable clothing (plenty of warm layers and waterproof jacket/trousers), food, and drink.
We usually spend around 8 active hours outside, so make sure to pack a good lunch, some snacks, and at least a litre of water.
If you’d like advice on what clothing to bring, feel free to get in touch and for more info check out our comprehensive kit lists.
-
We can usually run climbing days in wet or windy conditions, as there are plenty of sheltered venues throughout the Lake District. If the forecast looks cold and wet, make sure to bring extra layers and good waterproofs.
Wet weather means we get colder faster and use more energy, so it’s worth packing a bit more food than you would for a normal day out. We can also practice useful skills at one of the many indoor centres in the Lake District.
If the weather becomes unsuitable, we’ll reschedule your course for another date or offer a full refund.
-
If you need to cancel more than 4 weeks before the course, you’ll receive a full refund. Cancellations between 2 and 4 weeks incur a 50% refund, minus a £10 admin fee. Unfortunately, cancellations less than 2 weeks before the course are non-refundable.
-
We usually contact you a few days before your booking to introduce your guide and explain the plan. On the day of the booking, we aim to meet at a local cafe in the morning. This gives us a chance to introduce ourselves, discuss the plan for the day, and get to know you a little better so we can tailor the booking to your goals and experience.
If an early start is needed, we’ll arrange a quick call a day or two beforehand to confirm the details.
All information will be provided before the course, and if you have any questions feel free to contact us.
-
We work with a trusted group of professional freelance instructors — all fully qualified, experienced, and insured. All our instructors are members of AMI (Association of mountaineering instructors) or BMG (British Association of Mountain Guides). Your guide will get in touch before the course to introduce themselves, outline the plan, and answer any questions you may have.
Customer Reviews
We’re proud of our excellent reputation, accumulating lots of great customer reviews.
My day climbing with James was nothing short of joyful!! He is a strong climber, knowledgeable instructor, and great conversationalist. As a guide myself back in the USA, it was obvious that James really knows what he's doing and how to keep his clients safe and stoked. He chose a variety of lovely, classic routes in beautiful settings. If you're reading this, hire Lake District Mountain Guides immediately!
Jane
Just had an amazing weekend of ice climbing with Lake district mountain guides. We managed to climb great routes on both days and learnt loads, even doing some mock leading with the safety of a toprope. James was professional, fun and always made an effort to adapt the weekend to our goals.
Alex
Spent a few days multi-pitch climbing & mountaineering with James and his knowledge, experience & attention to safety is second to none. He made sure I was looked after the whole time and he was in complete control during our time together.
Would highly recommend James to anyone who is looking for a guide for anything mountain or climbing related!
Matt
