UKC

Hello. I'm relatively new here, and looking for some advise.

We are an active family of 4 (kids 13 & 15) and have done several Via Ferrata and scrambles (e.g. Jakes Rake). We've just bought a house in the Peak District and I'm wondering about taking things to the next level. However, I'm not exactly sure what that should be.

It would seem (and I'd hate to get stuck in a flame-war here) that the options would be Bouldering or Top-roping. What is the best way to get started with either of these? e.g. If bouldering can we just turn up and have a go, or would we be best to arrange some guiding? (Clearly anything with ropes will involve some outside assistance).

Currently our only equipment are VF kits (harness, carabiners, helmets) and some rope (that we've never needed to use, but carry around just any case). On the subject of the latter, whilst at it, I would like to have a go at setting up a belay. We've taken the rope on VFs (in case we have to extricate ourselves) but never actually got anywhere where we can have a practice in relative safety without blocking the route).

Sorry, if that's all a bit vague, but hopefully someone can point us in the right direction.

LR

In reply to LittleRob:

Hi Rob,

Great that you're an active family and wanting to get into climbing. There's SO MUCH info these days for the beginner climber, so you could start by having a look at this: https://www.thebmc.co.uk/get-into-climbing-indoor-climbing-bmc-magazine-for...
Then check out lots of the BMC starting out videos. Go to one of the many walls in Sheffield and take some instruction on how to belay safely. You'll also hopefully meet people who could be helpful. Join a local club. Hire a guide for a day to get a taste of gritstone climbing with some basic instruction to make sure you can pursue it safely on your own. You're obviously well placed to enjoy some of the best climbing in the country, with sport and trad a'plenty on the doorstep. Bouldering is easy - get a pad or two, and head out to one of the many Peak bouldering venues and have a go. Familiarise yourself with the local ethics and best practice. You'll find this in a guide book. If you head to, for example, Outside in Hathersage, you'll find many guide books to choose from, but the staff there will help you pick the best one for you. You can get one which covers the whole Peak, bouldering, trad and sport, or more specialised guides, depending on what you think you're most likely to do.
If your teenage kids are willing to talk to you, let alone hang out and do fun active stuff together, it sounds like you've won the game

Good luck, be safe, have fun.

In reply to LittleRob:

Go have a play at the start of Burbage South Boulders. The information on the first few boulders here isn't in a guide and ideal for kids so you won't be in anyones way:

http://offwidth.uptosummit.com/burbages_boulders.html

In reply to LittleRob:

That sounds so wonderful! I wish my family did outings on the boulders when I was growing up in Sheffield...

We've made a couple of videos on this that could help you out:

How to tie a figure 8 knot: youtube.com/watch?v=Qh-EdA2hggo&

An intro to belaying: youtube.com/watch?v=ADVud3gxmZc&

And one on setting a trad anchor: youtube.com/watch?v=2qb8R01AGr8&

If you want to give bouldering a go, this place will let you hire a bouldering mat for the day for £10 or for £15 for two days: http://www.climbingworks.com/the-works/pad-hire/

Hope this helps at all, and have an amazing time!!

In reply to LittleRob:

Thanks for all the replies. I think we'll go to a few sites and observe initially, then perhaps look at renting/buying a mat.

As for the (kind) comments about us as a family, we've found that over the last few years that adrenaline pursuits (skiing, VF, canyoning etc.) are a good way to spend time with the kids, so its them not us

Its also one of the reasons I am to be found trying to keep up with my 15 year-old on a road-bike!

LR

In reply to LittleRob:

Keep it up, they will thank you for this when they're older!

In reply to LittleRob:

+1 for Burbage South - it's just lovely. And probably one of the most suitable venues to start bouldering in Britain: plenty of do-able problems that are not too high with safe landings.

Your number one priority in terms of gear should be proper rock-climbing shoes. These are essential for enjoying the sport. I wouldn't bother trying to boulder without.

The climbing side is more difficult. You definitely need some instruction, and probably more gear to set up safe anchors in a range of situations.

In reply to Vertical Souls:


Not necessarily. I have a very good friend, the daughter of my best friend and climbing partner of 40 years. She's now a forty something wife and mother with a career and very happy, but reckons her childhood was blighted by her parents insistence she and her younger brother accompanied them into the hills and mountains at every opportunity as soon as they could walk.

Like father - like daughter? Not an assumption that can be made on behalf of another. Such assumptions can be born of our (climbers, walkers, outdoorsy people in general) thinly veiled smugness that our pursuits are somehow superior to those of others.

In reply to Martin Bennett:

I do agree.

I constantly dragged my kids camping and climbing at every opportunity until they were old enough to be left at home for the weekend alone (about 14) and they announced "we don't want to come - its boring/we want to be with our mates...etc"

Strangely they now like the indoor stuff but are totally disinterested in trad.

People are different - and parents sports are rarely cool