Walkhighlands

Hello there,

just joined the site and only started walking a few weeks ago, enjoying it very much so. walks completed so far are ben lomond via the Ptarmigan Ridge and Beinn Dubh - Glen striddle horseshoe, had great fun on both and already eyeing up my next few walks. Also interested in taking up climbing but haven't got any climbing gear as of yet any advice or info very welcome thanks alot.

hello bornsurvivor, welcome to the site.. its good here..innit



.................................Sam

Welcome...

By climbing I take it you mean "rope and harness" type thing, and if so then I recommend finding the local climbing wall AND climbing club (strangely enough, information on both is often co-located...).

The climbing wall will enable you to hire gear and try out some moves but you will need a second to hold the rope. May be possible to team up with a solo at the wall, or get an auto descender on some pitches, but having a real person making helpful comments from the belay can be educational (or demoralising) - the centre might run classes... the Inverness one does, and they are wildly popular.

Your local climbing club will (I presume) hold meets on on local rock - certainly my local club did over 20 years ago, and I turned up and was introduced to climbing on club gear - all a bit used and rough, but adequate. I bought sticky shoes and a (PINK!) troll harness, sling, krabs and a belay device in short order, and climbed second to a friend for a few years until he moved away. Never did get around to buying a full rack of protection, but had a few bits and pieces.

Mind you, I've not climbed outdoors for about 20 years, and cut up my rope 12 years ago when the local Scout group needed some ropes for knotting practice!

thanks alot for the advice, will start enquiring about a club in the glasgow area, i know there is a great indoor wall in the centre of glasgow so al start there probarly, thanks alot.

Yes - there is a really good club just round the corner from Ibrox... in a converted church - they'll see you right for sure, but they are VERY busy - book in advance!

Unless, of course you like the other Glasgow team...