What is RealRock?
At ClimbScotland believe in offering holistic opportunities to our young climbers. Climbing has so many disciplines to try and paths to follow, whether that’s indoors or out.
Our RealRock program
offer accessible opportunities for young people to experience the world class climbing we have on our doorstep, learn new skills that will help them on their own climbing journey, and inspire a lifelong passion and respect for climbing and the outdoors.RealRock is heavily subsidised, as outdoor sessions for young climbers can often be prohibitive due to cost.We run a variety of RealRock sessions that cover
bouldering,
sport climbing and
trad climbing. In each discipline we cater for beginners through to more experienced young climbers and everything in-between.
We're a small team of psyched climbers who are passionate about inspiring and teaching the next generation of climbers, check the bottom of the page for a wee bio of Kirsty, Calum and Robert. Also check out the videos which will help decide what RealRock session is for you.
RealRock types
- Please select a tab for more information on what our program offers
First Steps
Boulder
Boulder sessions are aimed at introducing outdoor bouldering to young climbers. We run these with an experienced climbing coach with a maximum ratio of 1:6. We're big believers in the social element of bouldering and as a result we run one bouldering session for all ability levels. Calum and Robert have both bouldered to a high standard (Font 7C) as well as regularly introducing newcomers to the sport. With this in mind we can offer a great session for beginner or experienced boulderers as we often use venues that have problems with a mixture of difficulties.
Who is it for? - Boulder sessions are perfect for anyone who wants to try or improve at outdoor bouldering
Costs
- Mountaineering Scotland / ClimbScotland Gold Members: £27 per person.
- Non-members: £46.25 (this includes a year's membership!).
Roped Taster
Roped Taster courses are designed to take competent young indoor climbers and help them make the transition to climbing outside, we do this by climbing with the safety of a top-rope at sport or trad climbing venues. Content of the session will vary dependant on participants and venue, however broadly we aim to look at several of the following topics; Movement technique on real rock, technical skills, footwear and equipment, lead climbing is NOT covered (see sessions below for this).
Who is it for? - Roped Taster sessions are perfect for anyone who wants to give outdoor climbing a try
Costs
- Mountaineering Scotland / ClimbScotland Gold Members: £27 per person.
- Non-members: £46.25 (this includes a year's membership!).
Book and pay quickly and easily online via the Mountaineering Scotland web portal.
Sport Climbing
Sport Intro
These courses are run at a 1:4 ratio and are designed to help those who can climb indoors transfer their climbing skills to outdoor sport climbing venues. Content of the session will vary dependant on participants, however the aim is to develop participants sport lead climbing skills. This may include looking at some of the following topics; Movement technique on real rock, footwear and equipment, lead belaying, lead climbing, background planning.
Participants must be consistently climbing 6a indoors and be a competent top-rope belayer. Some experience of indoor lead climbing would be beneficial.
Who is it for? - Sport Intro sessions are perfect for anyone who wants to lead sport routes outdoors
Costs
- Mountaineering Scotland / ClimbScotland Gold Members: £40 per person.
- Non-members: £59.25 (this includes a year's membership!).
Sport Improvers
These courses are run at a 1:2 ratio and are designed to help improve your sport climbing grade outside and cover more advanced techniques than the intro such as movement coaching, projecting routes and retreating from sport climbs safely.
Participants must have some experience of leading outdoor sport routes and be able to belay another lead climber.
Who is it for? - Sport Improvers sessions are perfect for those who can lead outdoors already but want to improve
Costs
- Mountaineering Scotland / ClimbScotland Gold Members: £60 per person.
- Non-members: £79.25 (this includes a year's membership!).
Book and pay quickly and easily online via the Mountaineering Scotland web portal.
Trad Climbing
Trad Taster
Just want a day out experiencing trad climbing with an experienced coach? This is the session for you. We run these days at a 1:2 ratio and the focus is as simple as heading to a trad crag and getting loads of climbing in. The focus here isn't on becoming a lead climber, rather becoming a competent 'second'. With a smaller ratio, we generally don't setup top-ropes on these days and instead your coach will lead up routes with you following behind on the safety of a top-rope. This is what would usually happen when climbers go to a crag for the day.
Participants must be able to put on a harness, tie a figure of eight knot and competently bottom-rope belay another climber. Some experience of lead climbing is useful but not essential.
Who is it for? - Trad Taster sessions are perfect for anyone who wants to know more about trad climbing
Costs
- Mountaineering Scotland / ClimbScotland Gold Members: £60 per person.
- Non-members: £79.25 (this includes a year's membership!).
Trad Intro
These days also run at a 1:2 ratio, however the focus is on building up skills towards you leading on traditionally protected routes. We break down trad climbing into its individual elements and practice each in turn under the supervision of an experienced coach with a top-rope back-up until you feel ready to lead.
Content of the session will vary dependant on participants, however the aim is to develop participants trad lead climbing skills. This may include looking at some of the following topics; Movement technique on real rock, footwear and equipment, belaying a trad lead, lead climbing, placing and removing traditional gear, setting up belays, setting up retrievable abseils, background planning.
Participants must be consistently lead climbing indoors and have some experience of climbing outdoors (either personal or through prior RealRock courses).
Who is it for? - Trad Intro sessions are perfect for anyone who wants to lead trad routes or start building up to their first trad lead
Costs
- Mountaineering Scotland / ClimbScotland Gold Members: £60 per person.
- Non-members: £79.25 (this includes a year's membership!).
Book and pay quickly and easily online via the Mountaineering Scotland web portal.
How it works
Here is some key information that will help you plan for your RealRock session:
- If in doubt about a climbers suitability for any of the above courses please get in touch with us (info@climbscotland.net)
- We aim to be at the crag for a full day dependant on weather and energy levels
- Parents/guardians must provide their own transport to the climbing venue
- Under 14s must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the whole session
- Participants need their own belay device and rock climbing shoes
- We may cancel or reschedule if the weather means we cannot run the session
- Exact venues may vary if the weather necessitates a change
- Photography and video are taken at these events to promote through our website and social media. Please advise a member of the team if you do not wish to have your or your child's photograph taken.
- You can find our full booking conditions on the Mountaineering Scotland website here.
2024 RealRock Calendar
*Area/Location: Will be confirmed two days before the sessions take place. This allows us to be flexible with the weather and the hunt for dry rock.How to book
Book and pay quickly and easily online via the
Mountaineering Scotland web portal. Here's how:
- Existing members who are first-time users of the portal will need to set up their login via the 'forgotten password' link and follow on-screen instructions. When you are in, go to the 'book an event' tab and select the RealRock session you want.
- Non-members will need to login to the portal via the "Join us" option; enter your details and follow on-screen instructions. Go into the "Your details" tab and complete the required fields before heading for the "Book an event" tab. Select the non-member price for the RealRock session you would like to attend. This includes a year’s ClimbScotland Gold membership.
- After booking you will receive a payment receipt and an event booking confirmation email with the booking conditions attached.
- A further information email will be sent out two days prior to the session taking place.
- New members will get their membership pack through the post in a week – find out more about what you get as a Mountaineering Scotland member.
- For parents / guardians on Income Support please contact us directly regarding a further concession.
Rock Skills
In collaboration with
Mountain Training we offer Rock Skills courses through our RealRock program (14+). Rock Skills courses are designed to provide structured training opportunities for people who want to learn more and become independent climbers.
We will be integrating Rock Skill Learn to Lead Sport and Trad into our program. This will give you access to a nationally recognised training scheme, and get you started on the Mountain Training pathway.
Any questions?
Don't hesitate to get in touch with us at:
info@climbscotland.netMeet the Coaches
Robert MacKenzie
Why do you like climbing?
That is a hard question... EVERYTHING! There are so many reason to like climbing. How it keeps your body and mind fit, how it challenges you, how it's the ultimate form of movement expression, how it lets you escape any and all things going on in the world around you.
Full Q&A with RobertCalum McBain
How did you get involved in climbing?
I first got into climbing when I went to my friend's birthday party at the Glasgow Climbing Centre when I was 9. I went in and out of climbing for the next few years until I went to university, where I got really into climbing, especially outside and I was really involved with my unviersity mountaineering club. After university I continued working at climbing walls and as a freelance coach as I really enjoyed the work and the flexibility it gave to go climbing myself.
Full Q&A with CalumKirsty Pallas
A bit about Kirsty
Kirsty is one of Mountaineering Scotland’s safety advisors part time, and works freelance in the mountains the rest of the time. She loves the adventure of climbing, particularly big trad days on big crags, but also enjoys the laid back sport and bouldering days, where sun bathing is an option too! Kirsty works in winter too, teaching winter skills, and on her days off can be found winter climbing. Her favourite is ice, especially as sh’es immune to hotaches, well so far!
Last but by no means least...
Massive thank you to DMM Climbing who support our RealRock programme by providing awesome kit that makes our sessions possible.
