This Sea Cliff Climbing Course is designed for climbers ready to take their skills to the coast and tackle some of the UK’s best sea cliffs. Through climbing instruction, you’ll learn the key techniques and decision-making needed to safely access and climb on these unique and exposed venues.

We’ll cover how to build secure abseils, assess tides and sea conditions, and understand how weather and swell can affect climbing by the sea. By the end of the course, you’ll have the knowledge, confidence, and practical skills to plan and enjoy your own sea cliff adventures safely.

Run by experienced instructors, this course combines hands-on learning with lots of climbing to help you make the most of some of the UK’s most spectacular crags.

Day One - We’ll meet at the St Non’s Chapel in Northern Pembroke, we’ll then go over the plan for the day and make sure everyone’s set with the right equipment. We’ll then talk through the tide times and weather forecasts, learning how these affect access and route choice.

We’ll head to a great crag to introduce sea cliff climbing, Initiation Slabs. We will cover safe abseil setups and how to appropriately use a static line and rope protectors to reach the base of a sea cliff. We will look at basic self-rescue techniques, like prusikking up the rope before moving on to climbing a selection of routes that suit your experience and goals. Along the way, we’ll discuss sea cliff hazards and how to make good decisions in a changing environment.

Day Two
We’ll meet at the St Govan’s car park, the crags on this section of coastline are a bit steeper and more adventurous, climbing here will broaden your experience and gives us a good opportunity to look at more complex setups, such as multiple abseils or traversing descents. This second day is about putting everything into practice. You’ll take a more active role in planning and setup, with guidance and feedback throughout.

The day includes plenty of climbing and problem-solving on real routes, consolidating the skills you’ve gained. By the end of the course, you’ll feel capable and confident managing your own sea cliff days safely and efficiently.

This itinerary is subject to change due to weather, conditions and your experience. However we will always give you an educational day out packed with valuable skills for the future.

• How to set up safe, efficient abseils using static ropes

• Techniques for abseiling in windy conditions and keeping ropes dry

• Prusiking back up ropes using several different methods

• Anchor selection and assessment specific to sea cliff environments

• Understanding fixed gear and how to evaluate it safely

• Identifying good locations to practise and build confidence

• Managing tides and weather when planning sea cliff climbs

• Using different types of rope protectors effectively

• What to take with you for a safe and successful day sea cliff climbing

The course will be based around Pembroke. It costs £400 for two full days of instruction, per person.

This course is aimed at climbers with a background in trad climbing who are already confident leading routes, placing gear, and building belays. Any climbing grade is welcome, and we’ll pair you with someone of a similar level, but a solid base of experience is essential.

If you’re unsure whether this is the right course for you, get in touch. We can help guide you toward the most suitable option or arrange a bespoke course tailored to your goals.

• Exceptional instruction and coaching

• Local transport to and from your accommodation in Pembroke

• Ropes and technical equipment

• Helmet and harness

What’s not included?

• Climbing shoes

• Personal clothing

• Food and drink

Arriving fit and ready to climb will help you get the most out of the course. A bit of recent outdoor climbing and some practice with the fundamental skills will make a real difference, allowing us to spend more time focusing on sea cliff techniques rather than revisiting the basics.

For those who like to prepare, Rock Climbing by Libby Peter is a fantastic resource, covering all the key skills needed to climb safely and efficiently. The Glenmore Lodge and Plas y Brenin YouTube channels are also great for clear, practical demonstrations of essential trad climbing techniques.