What is it about mountains that fills us with a sense of adventure? The Lake District National Park in Cumbria is the most mountainous zone in England, and there are plenty of adventurers here with the desire to get to the highest and most impressive peaks. A network of trails and footpaths lead to many mountain tops in the park, but there are also places where the landscape is too rugged for traversing on foot, and we have to start using our hands too. This is where the rock climbers find their thrills. Cumbria is one of the best places in the British Isles for rock climbing excursion, with expert guides, wonderful routes of all levels and breathtaking views. And it doesn’t even matter when the sun doesn’t shine, because there are plenty of indoor climbing and bouldering walls as well. So let’s chalk up our hands and start the ascent!

Where are the best places to go climbing in Cumbria?

Before we list some of the most popular climbing spots in Cumbria, there are a couple of things to mention. First of all, almost all of them are within the National Park, though there are tour operators located in towns around the county, and indoor climbing opportunities too. Secondly, there’s the terminology. Our list features a number of dales and crags. If you’re a local, or a rock climbing fan, you might know that a dale is a valley and a crag is an exposed section of cliff.

• Borrowdale: This valley runs north from the centre of the Lake District to Derwentwater. The sides of the valley present all kinds of climbing opportunities, both natural and artificial - old mining and quarrying sites. Beginners will feel comfortable enough on the easier routes to gain confidence and later tackle some of the more intimidating sites, including Raven Crag, Shepherd’s Crag and Black Crag. While all of them offer rewarding ascents with fantastic views, the latter, with a 100 metre pinnacle, is the most dramatic. Best of all, the valley is just 15 minutes away from the town of Keswick, and not much further from Penrith.

• Langdale: An ancient volcanic and glacial landscape, Langdale is a breathtaking part of the national park, and one of the most popular among visitors. If you don’t want to compete for space at the viewpoints, we recommend that you rope up and start climbing the valley sides. Scout Crags is a good place to start for first timers, whereas Mindfell Buttress is a great introduction to multi pitch climbing. The exposed volcanic rock at Long Scar is known as the grippiest in the park, but you have to reach the higher stretches of the valley to enjoy it. Finally there’s White Ghyll, reserved for experienced climbers but well worth the challenge.

• Dunnerdale: An outlying part of the Lake District, this is a place for those who prefer the path less trod. There are a number of routes around Wallow Barrow, also spelt Wallabarrow, that include single pitch and multi pitches. The rewards of getting to the top are expansive, unspoilt views that take in the beauty of the southern part of the National Park.

• Eskdale: The valley of the River Esk leads from the heart of the National Park to the Irish Sea coast. Brantrake Crag, near the village of Eskdale is one of the best options in this part of the park, particularly because there’s everything from initiation level to advanced routes within a small area.

• St John’s in the Vale: In the shadow of the spectacular Hellvelyn mountains, this is a dramatic place to go climbing. The good quality conditions at Castle Rock are a popular place to learn the practice of trad climbing, but it’s possible to do lead climbing here as well.

• Pillar Rock: This is one of the only peaks in the Lake District, and Cumbria, and even England, that has to be reached by climbing. To get to the base of the rock is a 2 to 3 hour hike alone, but the ascent is suitable for intermediate level climbers, and the sense of achievement on reaching the peak is awesome.

• Napes Needle: Warning - this is a serious climb for experienced climbers. Napes Needle juts into the air from the side of Great Gable, one of the highest mountains in the national park. Its first ascent in 1886 is considered by many to be the origin story of rock climbing as a sport in the UK.

• Indoor: When it’s raining, you don’t have time to go deep into the national park, or you just fancy the unique experience of indoor bouldering, you can come to one of Cumbria’s fantastic indoor climbing centres. There are top quality facilities in Ambleside and Kendall, as well as locations further from the Lake District, including Carlisle, the only city in the county, and Maryport.

How long does a climbing excursion last?

Once again, it’s the indoor options that are the most flexible. There are introductory classes that last as little as 30 minutes in Cumbria’s climbing centres, but once you know what you’re doing, you can spend a whole day bouldering. When it comes to rock climbing in the open air, you’ll want to take at least half a day to enjoy the rock faces of the Lake District. There are a wealth of full day excursions too, that might include different types of climbing - traditional, sport, lead, second - and multiple locations.

What should I bring on the day of the experience?

In the controlled conditions of an indoor climbing centre, you don’t need anything that you wouldn’t take to the gym with you. Expect to hire climbing shoes on your first couple of visits, before investing in your own pair. If your calling is outdoor climbing - and by the way, there are many rock climbing experiences aimed at people with experience of indoor climbing - you need the kind of kit that anyone spending half a day or a day in the mountains would take with them. We’re talking about walking boots, layers of clothing, water, snacks, etc. Your guide will supply the climbing gear and safety equipment (helmet, harness, etc.) and can bring some climbing shoes for you if you don’t have your own. Let them know how big your feet are in advance!

Who can enjoy this activity?

People of all ages and experience levels can, and in our opinion, should come to experience its unique offering of rock climbing. For very young children and those who are nervous about scaling cliff faces, we recommend starting in an indoor climbing centre. Once children reach 6 years old, or maybe 7 or depending on their size and the guide’s discretion, they can join guided excursions to some of the gentler climbing destinations in the Lake District, those in Borrowdale for example. Of course, not all routes are so welcoming. There are excursions to challenging locations that are tailored towards climbers with some experience, and often there’s a minimum age of 16 years old on these.

This is a great group activity that anyone with a birthday to celebrate, a stag or hen party to organise, or a youth or corporate group to entertain should consider. Guides take groups of 12 people or more to outdoor locations, but smaller numbers are welcome too, including individual or couples’ sessions.

Do you have what it takes to reach the top? Book with us and find out.