Back to grit! Our first rock trip of the new year heads to the Roaches and the iconic Don Whillans memorial hut (actually found within the crag itself!) The Roaches is a classic venue and often put alongside Stanage edge for being one of the country’s greatest outcrops and hosts a long history of climbing with first ascents put up by the greats of Joe Brown and Don Whillans (check out the ‘Staffordshire Nose’ challenge https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2016/08/wideboyz_smash_staffs_nose_record_by_two_hours-70629). It provides a densely packed area of high-quality gritstone trad and bouldering over the complete grade range, and hence a great training grounds for all climbers, all within walking distance from our accommodation! 

The focus of teaching for this trip will be developing our trad skills, and over the two days we will look to head out in small groups of mixed abilities so that our skilled trad leaders can pass on their knowledge and skills to our new trad accomplices. For Britain, traditional climbing forms the majority of our crags and developing the skills and knowledge of gear, techniques and methods used to access these crags can open so many doors for you.

Be prepared for long days of climbing often extending into some headtorch action and late-night shenanigans, as well as lots of hype and motivation to climb. Get ready for your first second of a trad route or maybe your first lead or maybe go and watch on as LUUMC send some of the Roaches most iconic routes.

Being the UK the weather is almost as unreliable and our train service, so our plans are weather dependent with options to head to indoor climbing walls either in Sheffield or Manchester.

Leaving from Leeds 1800 Friday 27th February

Return to Leeds evening Sunday 1st March