In reply to NZClimber:
> I want to kick off in the UK, but am having a hard time figuring out where a good place to base would be,
Scotland has all the best climbing, but weather and midges are problems. For a really world class/experience of a lifetime head out to the uninhabited islands of the Hebrides for a week or two:
http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=6162
The Northwest coast of the mainland has fantastic climbing in really beautiful scenery, both single pitch stuff and mountain routes; the Scottish mountains in general (e.g. GlenCoe, Ben Nevis, Cairngorms) have big routes but it's relatively hard to get them in dry condition. Almost exclusively trad of course (although there are sport crags they're more the scraps than the main events).
> My climbing is a large mix of everything, however all I really seem to see/hear of your UK trad climbing is crazy run out and poor placements which seems just crazy! haha
That's just on videos.
The South West of England is another area to consider: lots of variety, some amazing rock on the Cornish Coast, also deep water soloing, but a little bit quiet if you're looking for partners. (Comparatively) good weather, nice beaches, high quality savoury pastry snacks.
North Wales is packed full of climbers, and has loads of variety: mountain, adventurous sea cliffs, the weird slate quarries, limestone sport, bouldering. A great place to spend some time. Include a trip to Pembroke too (south Wales, a surprisingly long drive from the north). Hundreds of high quality trad limestone sea cliff routes: adventurous and convenient at the same time.
http://www.ukclimbing.com/videos/play.php?i=1794
I'd try to get to all these places if you can. Where to base yourself? Depends on what you need for work really...probably one of the best places to get a lot of climbing done while having a job is Sheffield. The climbing's nowhere near as exciting as the stuff above (outcrops, boulders, crap polished limestone) but you can get there after work in the summer.
Edit: I'm not suggesting you base yourself for 4-5 years on Pabbay and Mingulay btw. That would be an odd trip.
Post edited at 11:33