Latest Articles

In the first part of our mountain navigation series, we start by reviewing the different map sources available to UK users including online, handheld, paper and computer based. 

We then go onto discuss the different scales used on the more popular maps used by UK hill walkers before reviewing the symbols used.

We’re starting a series of articles about the art of mountain navigation written by Giles Thurston, a qualified International Mountain Leader. 

Through this series we will provide an introduction to navigating in a mountain environment including the use of the map, estimating distance travelled, using a compass and GPS devices

Following the release of his latest book Thin White Line, we caught up with Andy Cave for a quick chat.

Thin White Line is the sequel to Learning to Breath, Andy Cave’s bestselling debut book which was joint winner of the Boardman Tasker Prize in 2005 and winner of the Adventure Travel Award at the Banff International Festival. 

Climbing is confusing enough without having to learn a whole new language, hopefully this dictionary will prove useful in translating some of the words and terms that you will hear or read. 

Taking you on a journey from A right through to Z, we try to cover off many of the terms you will hear while at the crag and maybe even a few that are new to you.  This isn’t by anyway an exhaustive list, so if you have a definition that you feel should be included, get in touch and we’ll add it to the list.

When you go to the crag you’ll hear a variety of phrases being shouted between partners. While some of them might be mild chit chat or abuse, others are actually used to let the partner know what the other has done or is about to do. These are climbing calls and are an important method of communication…

For those that are new to the sport of climbing, the grading system can be confusing. As you travel abroad or branch out into other variations of the sport, the different grading systems used just add to the confusion. In this article I will try to shed some light on the different snow, ice and alpine grading systems used around the world, including a brief overview on how it works and comparisons of the different grades across the systems.

For those that are new to the sport of climbing, the grading system can be confusing. As you travel abroad or branch out into other variations of the sport, the different grading systems used just add to the confusion. In this article I will try to shed some light on the different bouldering grading systems used around the world, including a brief overview on how it works and comparisons of the different grades across the systems.

For those that are new to the sport of climbing, the grading system can be confusing. As you travel abroad or branch out into other variations of the sport, the different grading systems used just add to the confusion. In this article I will try to shed some light on the different rock climbing grading systems used around the world, including a brief overview on how it works and comparisons of the different grades across the systems.