The Ellis Brigham Climbing Guide
Find the best indoor and outdoor climbing spots plus some invaluable tips to enjoy your climbing even more.
From beginner to expert we have staff nationwide who are able and willing to help you get the most out of your time spent in the mountains. Here we ask our resident experts across all our stores for their tips on climbing.
(in no particular order)
Name: James Parkin
Shop: Castleford Climbing Wall
Favourite Climbing spot outdoor: Millstone. Millstone has, in my opinion some of the best lines on grit in such an imposing arena. It’s a great places to test your ability and a good day here is not quickly forgotten.
Favourite climbing spot indoor: Leeds Wall. The Leeds wall is where I learned to climb. Its got a bit of everything for everybody and is great for a quick boulder between/instead of lectures during the week and full days training on those rainy weekends.
Top tip: I’ve got a few of these: Everything is do-able, just hold on harder, Always listen to men with beards, Learn the French word for thunder storms before climbing in the alps, Put your hands on the hand holds and feet on the footholds and everything will be ok
Name: Matt Leigh
Shop: Castleford Climbing Wall
Favourite Outdoor: Stanage – First Outdoor Climb
Favourite Indoor: Leeds Wall, Great Mix of Lead, Top Rope and Bouldering.
Top Tip: Climb with people better than you. That way you’re always Pushing Yourself. It’s never as hard as you think it’s going to be.
Name: Sarah-Elizabeth Moran
Shop: Castleford Climbing Wall
Favourite Climbing Spot Outdoor: Stanage. I love climbing and bouldering here for the wide variety of routes and problems. I did my first lead here and it was the first place I climbed outdoors too. I could climb here for my entire life and never get board of the grit.
Favourite Indoor Climbing spot: The Climbing Works in Sheffield is a pretty rad venue, after vertical chill obviously. I love bouldering that tiny bit more than leading routes, and the walls there are all different and there are many gnarly problems to try. There also are different facilities such as the circuit board and competitions walls.
Top tip: Don’t get too stressed, best climbers are the ones who are having fun!
Name: Ben Ankers
Shop: Fort William
Favourite climbing spot (outdoor) & why: Carn Dearg Buttress, Ben Nevis. Fantastic position in an almost alpine setting; classic routes of all grades (although mainly VS and above) including the ultra-classics Centurian (arguably the best HVS in Britain), Torro (E1) and The Bat (E2); and it catches the morning sun. What more could you want.
Favorite Indoor Climbing spot: Ice Factor, Kinlochleven. Combines rock and ice walls with a good cafe and bar. Just needs to be closer to Fort William!
Top Tip: Double check your knots - particularly when abseiling - you know it makes sense.
Name: Mark O'sullivan
Shop: Castlefield, Manchester
Favourite Outdoor Spot: Dali’s Hole, Dinorwig Quarry, Llandberis, Wales. A beautiful hidden gem, with its dead tree pool, a stone hut half submerged in water that creates a surreal atmosphere hence the name ‘Dali’s Hole’. It is good for trad/sport climbing and is best to go on a clear sunny day to enjoy the views. Routes vary from 4c – 6a and are good slate that dries quickly, therefore if it has been wet and the sun comes out the conditions are normally pretty good.
Favourite Indoor Spot: Boulder UK, Blackburn, Blackburn has very good routes layouts from V0 – V8 so is great for gradually progressing. It has got awesome overhangs and routes that need to be thought about to be solved. There is a friendly atmosphere where people help each other, which I enjoy. A great wall setup by Ian Vickers and Jamie Cassidy.
Top Tip: Just do it, enjoy it, and be safe. Also don’t forget the mozzi repellant!!
Name: Stuart Kernighan
Shop: Castlefield, Manchester
Favourite Outdoor Spot: Fontainebleau (about 90km south of Paris), France. A massive area for bouldering and short technical climbs, Literally thousands of routes for every level so you are spoilt for choice, you can make it as easy or difficult as you like. The weather is generally superb all year round but take plenty of water and sun cream in the height of summer.
Favourite Indoor Spot: Salford University Climbing Wall, Salford, more for convenience really because I can go for a climb in between lectures.
Top Tip: If you are not enjoying stop, it’s suppose to be fun remember!
Name: Paul Sheppard
Shop: Castleford Climbing Wall
Favorite outdoor climbing spot: Wharncliffe Crag - Its classic gritstone with routes for every one, no matter how hard you climb. It’s a bit of a trek from the car park and the landings aren’t great if you come off but the quality of the routes make it all worthwhile.
Favorite indoor climbing spot: Vertical Chill (Castleford) Good quality feature routes and auto belays so I can safely climb alone.
Top Tip: Take your time and don’t try to rush through the grades; climbing is a marathon not a sprint!
Name: Eleanor Anstice
Shop: Bristol
Favourite climbing spot (outdoor): Wales – The Gower, Tremadog, Llanberis.. the list could go on. Although I’m slightly biased as I studied at Aberystwyth and learnt to climb in Snowdonia. There’s all types of climbing in Wales for all ability levels, with backdrops of breathtaking scenery.
Favorite Indoor Climbing spot: The Climbing Academy – a dedicated bouldering centre with great coffee to boot.
Top tip: Face your fears head on! If you’re scared of falling get booked onto a course where you can practice (and conquer) in safety!
Name: Robyn Winton
Shop: Milton Keynes
Favourite climbing spot (outdoor): Millstone Edge (Peak District) big, long routes with a range of difficulties, mainly VS and above. Made out of quarried bays that are excellent for improving stamina and gaining experience, (especially jamming.)
Favorite Indoor Climbing spot: The Castle (London), I love The Castle, it has great facilities, hundreds of top roping routes, so great leading routes available. Great café too.
Top tip: Practice climbing using ‘silent feet’ to improve foot placement. This really improves climbing when trying harder routes.
Name: Nathan Goddard
Shop: Milton Keynes
Favourite climbing spot (outdoor): Stanage Edge (Peak District) Stanage is one of the Peak Districts biggest areas with a massive range of climbs from VDiffs to E3’s! Perfect for improving techniques with a group of mates.
Favorite Indoor Climbing spot: The Castle (London) The Castle is my favourite place to climb indoors because the competition bouldering wall is perfect for increasing muscle strength, for beginners to experienced climbers. It also has a very sociable atmosphere.
Top tip: Always rearrange foot placement to increase reaching distance for your hands.
Name: Jimmy Bull
Shop: Milton Keynes
Favourite climbing spot (outdoor): Stone Farm (West Sussex) Sandstone is not really ideal for leading, it can be very demanding but does encourage the use of more advanced techniques. It pushes me and my climbing abilities, it’s great.
Favorite Indoor Climbing spot: Ellis Brigham/Vertical Chill (Milton Keynes)The walls are right on my doorstep and it provides everything I want with both hard and easy routes. They use auto-belays so I can climb on my own or with friends and don’t have to worry about bringing all my kit with me.
Top tip: Climbing shoes. Make sure your shoes are fitted correctly and you are happy with them. The right shoes can make a big difference in the way you climb long term.
