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Rock Based 

 

Our rock based activities take place both onsite and offsite.  The activities are rated between 1 (low) and 4 (high) to help you choose the best activities to meet your aims.

Abseiling

Guest abseiling from a bridge in winter
Smiling man leans back over the edge of the bridge, he's supported on a rope during an abseiling session
Two school boys abseil over the edge of a bridge supported by ropes from above

Minimum age: Year 5 (9 years old)
Led by: A qualified instructor

Descending a fixed rope.  We can abseil at an outdoor crag or at Miller’s Dale Viaduct (which offers an exciting 75 feet high, free hanging abseil).  Your fellow group members can help give encouragement as you lean back over the edge…

Ratings

Team working

 

Encourage your teammates to take on the challenge.

Skills

Learn how to control your speed of descent using a figure of 8 descender.

Knowledge

Learn how and why abseiling can be useful.

Personal challenge

Leaning back above a big drop tests your nerves.

Physical activity

Walking to the bridge from Millers Dale station and climbing back up to the top gives you some exercise.

Accessibility

With level access to Miller’s Dale Viaduct, and level path away from its base, abseiling is a good activity for those with restricted mobility.

Bouldering

A pupil bouldering (rock based activity) in the Peak District

Minimum age: Year 5 (9 years old)
Led by: A qualified instructor

Take advantage of our fantastic Peak District location and go bouldering on nearby gritstone boulders and edges.  Bouldering involves low level climbing and traversing and provides opportunities to develop climbing skills without the need for ropes etc.

Ratings

Team working

Support and coach your team mates to improve their performance.

Skills

A fantastic activity for developing your climbing skills under the advice of one of our experienced instructors.

Knowledge

Learn not only about bouldering & equipment used but also the fantastic environment around them.

Personal challenge

Push yourself to climb the best that you can – the bouldering areas provide challenge for boulderers of all abilities.

Physical activity

Taking on the many and varied challenges is certainly active!

Accessibility

Unfortunately the bouldering areas aren’t very easy to access.

Bouldering Wall & Boulder (onsite)

Bouldering Wall at Thornbridge Outdoors
Children climb the indoor bouldering wall
The instructor supports a small child who is climbing the outdoor boulder

Minimum age: Year 1 (5 years old)
Led by: A qualified instructor

Traverse the climbing wall on multi-coloured holds, try the problems and negotiate the different shapes / volumes!  Or go outside and try the climbing boulder.  A great activity for developing confidence, co-ordination, movement skills, fitness or to simply have fun!

Ratings

Team working

Help to coach and support each other as your climbing skills develop.

Skills

Great for developing movement skills, balance and spatial awareness.

Knowledge

Learn about different climbing methods and techniques.

Personal challenge

How far can you get round the wall or boulder without falling off?

Physical activity

Everybody can be engaged climbing at the same time & your muscles will definitely be put to work!

Accessibility

The climbing wall and boulder are onsite and we can accommodate a number of additional needs.

Rock Climbing

Pupils rock climbing in the Peak District
Pupil rock climbing in the Peak District

Minimum age: Year 4 (8 years old)
Led by: A qualified instructor

Experience the challenges and rewards of climbing the fabulous gritstone in the Peak District. We can select appropriate venues and routes to meet the ability of the group.

Ratings

Team working

Belay your team mates; help with backing up the rope.

Skills

Learn to put on a harness and helmet correctly, tie in to a figure of 8 knot and belay in a safe manner are all skills required for rock climbing.

Knowledge

Not only will you learn about climbing techniques but also about the area where you are climbing.

Personal challenge

This activity will challenge most people.

Physical activity

Walking to the crag and then try and climb the rock routes that are set up for you.

Accessibility

 

Some of the local crags are tricky to get to and don’t have well made paths and tracks for access.

Weaselling

School children in helmets stand on on an edge looking out over the vast Peak District scenery with their arms raised jubilantly
School child gives the camera and smile and a thumbs up as he clambers between boulders on a weaselling session in the Peak District

Minimum age: Year 1 (5 years old)
Led by: A qualified instructor

Have fun exploring the boulders of the Peak District.  Weaselling involves crawling in-between / under / over and sometimes through boulders!  A great team activity, where encouragement and support for your group are really important.

Ratings

Team working

This activity provides many opportunities to work as a team. Cooperation and support from one another plays a big part.

Skills

Movement over steep ground.

Knowledge

Find out more about the beautiful area you are in. How did all these rocks come to be here? How is gritstone made?

Personal challenge

Squeezing through as well as getting over the tangle of gritstone boulders is a big challenge.

Physical activity

This activity provides plenty of physical activity.

Accessibility

 

The area we use for weaselling is off paths and tracks and has tricky terrain to move around on.

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