Learn to Trad Climb Course
£600
4 Days
Apr - Aug
Our Learn to Trad Climb Course in the Lake District gives you the skills and confidence to safely and independently lead trad routes.
BEGINNER FRIENDLY COURSE
No prior trad climbing experience is needed, just enthusiasm to learn, a good level of fitness, and some basic climbing skills (indoor or outdoor).
The Lake District has great beginner venues ideal for learning. You will practice on friendly crags, with good rock in a beautiful setting.
INSTRUCTIONAL COURSE
CLIMB IN THE LAKES
This course combines trad climbing instruction with expert coaching, helping you gain the skills to climb on single and multi pitch climbs.
Itinerary
Day One – We’ll start by looking at the fundamentals of trad climbing: what to take on a day out, how to rack up in an organised way, how to place cams, nuts and hexes, and how to recognise good and bad gear placements. You’ll get plenty of practice placing gear and building solid anchors. We’ll also cover seconding routes and removing gear safely and effectively.
Day Two – Building on the basics, you’ll begin mock leading with an instructor belaying you on a top rope so you can practice with no commitment. You’ll practice lead belaying, belaying your partner from the top, and we’ll chat through tactics for leading routes. If you’re ready, you’ll lead a friendly beginner route with your instructor beside you, offering feedback and tips to build confidence and keep you safe.
Day Three – The focus shifts to multi-pitch climbing. You’ll learn stance-management skills for quick transitions, how to organise your ropes to avoid dreaded twists and tangles, and develop clear communication to keep you and your partner safe. We’ll also take an in-depth look at abseiling — both single abseils and multiple abseils — and explore different techniques along with their pros and cons.
Day Four – Everything comes together. You’ll get mileage leading and managing multi-pitch climbs while reinforcing key skills so they become quick and instinctive. We’ll finish the day by reviewing your progress, chatting through next steps, and making sure you leave as an independent trad climber.
Course content may vary depending on weather, experience, and personal goals.
Overview
This course is designed to give you the skills, confidence, and experience to lead traditional climbs. You’ll learn how to place gear, build anchors and manage multi-pitch routes efficiently and safely. Each day builds on your progress, helping you develop good habits and sound judgment. We’ll cover everything you need to know to lead trad routes, and we’ll tailor the course to you so you get the most out of your time with us. By the end of the course, you’ll have a strong foundation in trad climbing and the ability to plan and lead your own routes.
Who’s it for?
This course is perfect for beginners or indoor climbers ready to take their first steps into outdoor trad climbing. No prior trad experience is needed, just a sense of adventure and basic climbing ability.
If you’ve climbed indoors or seconded routes before, this course will build on those foundations with expert instruction to help you become a confident trad leader.
If you’re unsure if this course is for you, get in touch and we can answer any questions you have and point you towards the correct course!
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?
Your own climbing shoes
Personal clothing
Food and drink
Are you looking for alternative course dates?
Get in touch to express an interest if the course dates shown don't work for you!
Course Prep
Arriving fit and ready to climb will help you get the most from your Learn to Trad Climb Course. Some recent indoor climbing and a bit of movement practice will go a long way.
For background reading, Rock Climbing by Libby Peter is an excellent resource. You can also check out the Glenmore Lodge and Plas y Brenin YouTube channels for clear, practical explanations of trad climbing techniques.
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This course is designed to give you the skills, confidence, and experience to lead traditional climbs. You’ll learn how to place gear, build anchors and manage multi-pitch routes efficiently and safely. Each day builds on your progress, helping you develop good habits and sound judgment. We’ll cover everything you need to know to lead trad routes, and we’ll tailor the course to you so you get the most out of your time with us. By the end of the course, you’ll have a strong foundation in trad climbing and the ability to plan and lead your own routes.
-
Day One – We’ll start by looking at the fundamentals of trad climbing: what to take on a day out, how to rack up in an organised way, how to place cams, nuts and hexes, and how to recognise good and bad gear placements. You’ll get plenty of practice placing gear and building solid anchors. We’ll also cover seconding routes and removing gear safely and effectively.
Day Two – Building on the basics, you’ll begin mock leading with an instructor belaying you on a top rope so you can practice with no commitment. You’ll practice lead belaying, belaying your partner from the top, and we’ll chat through tactics for leading routes. If you’re ready, you’ll lead a friendly beginner route with your instructor beside you, offering feedback and tips to build confidence and keep you safe.
Day Three – The focus shifts to multi-pitch climbing. You’ll learn stance-management skills for quick transitions, how to organise your ropes to avoid dreaded twists and tangles, and develop clear communication to keep you and your partner safe. We’ll also take an in-depth look at abseiling, both single abseils and multiple abseils, and explore different techniques along with their pros and cons.
Day Four – Everything comes together. You’ll get mileage leading and managing multi-pitch climbs while reinforcing key skills so they become quick and instinctive. We’ll finish the day by reviewing your progress, chatting through next steps, and making sure you leave as an independent trad climber.
Course content may vary depending on weather, experience, and personal goals.
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How to place and assess traditional protection including cams, nuts, and hexes
Identifying good gear placements and understanding rock quality
Building safe anchors for single and multi-pitch climbs
Lead belaying and top belaying techniques
How to lead trad routes confidently
How to second and remove gear safely and efficiently
Route tactics, mental strategies and good decision-making
Harness racking systems, to keep equipment organised and easy to find
What to carry in your backpack for a safe and successful day out
Basic emergency rescue techniques
Abseil techniques
Multi pitch climbing skills
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This course is perfect for beginners or indoor climbers ready to take their first steps into outdoor trad climbing. No prior trad experience is needed, just a sense of adventure and basic climbing ability.
If you’ve climbed indoors or seconded routes before, this course will build on those foundations with expert instruction to help you become a confident trad leader.
If you’re unsure if this course is for you, get in touch and we can answer any questions you have and point you towards the correct course!
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This course costs £600 for 4 days of instruction. The course is based in the Borrowdale Valley near to Keswick. Get in touch if you need any advice on accommodation or where to base yourself.
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Expert coaching and guiding with a qualified and insured Instructor
All technical equipment: ropes, helmets, harnesses, and trad gear
4 full days of trad climbing instruction and guided coaching. (8 hour days)
Course photos on request
Advice and support before and after the course, we will set up a whatsapp group where you can ask any technical questions
Transport to and from your local accomodation
What’s not included?
Climbing shoes
Personal clothing
Food and drink
-
Arriving fit and ready to climb will help you get the most from your Lake District Learn to Trad Climb Course. Some recent indoor climbing and a bit of movement practice will go a long way.
For background reading, Rock Climbing by Libby Peter is an excellent resource. You can also check out the Glenmore Lodge and Plas y Brenin YouTube channels for clear, practical explanations of trad climbing techniques.
Get in touch to express an interest if the course dates shown don't work for you!
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We provide all the essential climbing equipment, including harnesses, helmets, ropes, and technical gear. The only thing you’ll need to bring are your own climbing shoes, along with suitable clothing, food, and drink.
We usually spend 8 hours practising outside on this learn to lead course, 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 or check out our kit lists.
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We can usually run this course 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.
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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.
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We usually meet at a local car park or cafe in the morning. This gives us a chance to introduce ourselves, discuss the plan for the day, and get to know you so we can tailor the course 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.
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Lake District Mountain Guides is led by James Boothroyd, who delivers the majority of our courses. You can learn more about James and the rest of the team here.
We also work with a trusted group of professional freelance instructors — all fully qualified, experienced, and insured. Your guide will get in touch before the course to introduce themselves, outline the plan, and answer any questions you may have.
Check out some previous course photos below!
