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Learn to lead trad climbs on Yorkshire grit over two intensive days with coaching on gear, route choice and UK ethics. The course prepares you for first independent trad adventures in Yorkshire or the Peak District and pairs with the sport lead course for wider options.
Take on the sharp end of traditional climbing with two full days of intensive coaching on gear selection, rack organisation, and leading strategies on natural rock. Your tutor coaches you through placing passive and active protection while climbing, managing rope drag, and constructing bombproof multi-directional belay anchors.
You will start with top-rope mock-leads to fine-tune your placement technique, gear inspection, and clipping efficiency before progressing to your first coached leads under direct instructor guidance. You will also learn how to retreat safely from routes, place gear while hanging, and handle common crag complications with confidence.
The course takes place on iconic Yorkshire gritstone crags like Almscliffe, Brimham, or Cow and Calf, which are famous for their grit cracks, corners, and classic lower-grade trad testpieces. Instructors choose crags that offer clean lines, solid rock, and excellent learning terrain.
We send final venue choices, car park meeting points, and arrival times in advance, selecting crag aspects that offer optimal shelter based on the weekend weather forecast. Bring your personal harness, helmet, rock shoes, and any trad gear you own to practice racking.
Competent seconding or regular indoor lead at Severe/F5 standard, with experience holding leader falls. Under-18s need a paying adult on the course.
Good physical fitness and psychological readiness for leading on natural protection are essential. Please let us know about any existing injuries or medical conditions when registering.
Trad coaching stays close-in on the sharp end with calm feedback, so your first leads feel coached rather than rushed. Local knowledge of Yorkshire grit means venues switch quickly when wind or rain shifts.
Led by highly experienced Mountain Training award holders with current outdoor first aid and deep local knowledge of Yorkshire outcrops. We maintain tight coach-to-climber ratios so every lead is closely supervised with calm, constructive feedback.
Meet at Almscliffe Crag, Almscliffe Crag, North Yorkshire LS21 2QJ. Allow extra time for moorland or crag approaches from the car park.
We send final directions, parking details and arrival time before your session.
Experienced seconders ready to place protection, build anchors and lead easy trad pitches on Yorkshire grit with close coach supervision. Participants are typically 14 or older with solid belay habits.
You should already be comfortable with rack familiarity from Rock Skills Intermediate or regular club climbing before joining this weekend.
Two full days of trad-focused coaching, shared teaching racks and ropes, and structured practice from placement workshops through to supervised leads.
Personal harness, helmet, shoes, any rack you own, food and transport remain your responsibility unless we agree kit hire separately.
Grit venues such as Almscliffe, Brimham or Ilkley are common depending on dry rock and group ability. Final meet instructions include grid reference, parking and start time.
Carry everything for back-to-back long days; there is limited opportunity to pop back to town between sessions.
Harness, helmet, shoes and a small rack if you have one help you learn on familiar kit. Add lunch, two litres of water, waterproofs and warm belay layers.
Trad racking skills improve when you practise sorting gear on your own harness between pitches, so label your carabiners if you borrow mixed kit.
Rock Skills Intermediate completion or evidence of regular outdoor seconding is required. Coaches refresh placements and belay calls on day one before anyone leads.
Purely indoor climbers should complete outdoor intro and intermediate weekends first unless a coach has assessed you privately.
Reserve your weekend place through Adventuro and we confirm payment, instructor ratios and any parental consent paperwork for under-18 participants before the course starts.
Trad teaching groups stay small, so popular spring and autumn weekends fill quickly. Booking early secures your slot and helps us plan rack and rope logistics for the group size.
Grit stays climbable in light showers on many routes; sustained rain or high wind pushes us to sheltered bays or theory refreshers at the base of the crag.
Full cancellation for unsafe conditions is rare but handled with reschedule or refund per the policy on this page.
Learners who demonstrate solid placements and communication usually lead a short pitch under direct supervision on day two. Grade choice stays conservative to build good habits.
If you need more placement reps, coaches extend workshop time rather than rushing you onto sharp end before you are ready.
Skills align with Mountain Training Rock Skills development and may be recorded in DLOG when outcomes are met.
This weekend alone does not award a formal qualification; it prepares you for further mentoring or assessment routes.
UK tier cancellation fees apply as stated on this booking page. Trad weekends are harder to refill at short notice, so seven days notice is appreciated.
Email us if illness stops you attending so we can discuss moving to another course date where possible.
About the centre
North Yorkshire
Operated by My Expedition Rocks, a partner of adventuro.
