Skills

Rock Climbing

Learning to climb outside is a major part of all keen climbers development within the sport. It opens the door to the wonders and subtleties of climbing on real rock and having adventures around the world. Of course the ability to do this safely and with good practice and ethics is important.
Our Rock Skills courses, backed by Mountain Training will start you on the road to becoming a confident, knowledgeable, independent rock climber.


You may bring your own personal climbing equipment if you have it. A helmet and harness is available to borrow.

Click below to book a public course, or get in touch here to make an enquiry for a private booking.

Climbing on outdoor rock face

This is the first step to becoming an outdoor climber. Aimed at those with little or no outdoor and/or roped climbing experience who want to learn the basics. As well as getting loads of climbing in at some of the Peak Districts best crags, the content of this course will teach you the necessary skills to be able to correctly fit a harness and helmet, tie in with a suitable knot, bottom rope belay and get to grips with the movement skills and techniques that climbing on real rock asks of us.


1 day

Ratio 1:4

£90

To attend this course you should either have completed a Rock Skills Introduction course or have a small amount of experience of roped climbing.

Course Contents include: improving personal outdoor climbing skills, what trad gear is and how its used, belaying and following a lead climber, building anchors and creating top ropes. This course will allow you to effectively and safely sample roped climbing on the many of the crags of the UK as well as add valuable skills to your repertoire that can advance you to become an independant lead climber.


2 Days

Ratio 1:4

£170

Stepping up from the Rock Skills Introduction and Intermediate courses, this course uses some of the skills already learned and builds on them to apply it to lead climbing, bringing the whole package together. The course content will include a heavy focus on confident climbing technique, reliable gear placement, lead belaying, and good decision making to develop you in to a solid lead climber on single pitch routes allowing you to progress on to mountaineering and multi pitch climbing skills.


2 day course

Ratio 1:2

£210

The knowledge of how to sport climb outdoors will allow you to climb at any of the thousands of brilliant sport climbing venues around the world such as Malham Cove, Kalymnos, Tonsai and Red River Gorge.

This course will cover all the progressions necessary to know about outdoor sport climbing such as: movement and lead climbing tactics, belaying, rope management, rethreading anchors, stick clipping and redpointing.


Must have completed Rock Skills Intermediate or have previous experience of indoor roped climbing.


2 days

Ratio 1:2

£210

A complete 5 day course covering a plethora of skills and packed with information to allow you to have a broad knowledge of how to trad and sport climb on single pitch routes.


Course content includes everything you need to know about: movement on rock, rock climbing equipment, climbing footwear, using a guidebook, belaying, rope management, placing gear, building anchors, seconding a leader, lead climbing tactics and approach, rethreading bolted anchors, stick clipping, redpointing and loads more!!


Some previous indoor or outdoor climbing experience desiable but not essential.


5 day course

Max ratio 1:2

£510

Book Now

Walking

Going off the beaten track can be one of the most special and personal experiences you can have in the hills of the UK. Learning how to manage yourself and use skills such as reading the weather signs, navigation and wild camping in wilder terrain gives peace of mind to enjoy the activity and get more out of your walking without getting out of your depth.

We can provide training in those skills to set you on the course to be confident and self reliant in the hills.


Click 'Book Now' to book a public course, or get in touch here to make an enquiry for a private booking.

Walking outdoors

A course designed at introducing the casual walker to more technical skills. These include familiarising yourself with a map and compass and using these tools to plan your own routes independently and reliably locate yourself when out in all weather conditions.

Click 'Book Now' for more information.


1 day

Max ratio 1:6

£90 per person

Aimed at the more adventurous walker looking to become more confident when getting off the beaten track. Course content includes but not limited to: reading the weather forecast, appropriate clothing and equipment choices for the location and terrain, familiarity with a map and compass, grid references and walking along a bearing.

Click 'Book Now' for more information.


2 days

Max ratio 1:5

£140 per person

Based in the Lake District or Eryri National Park, this course will cover the skills that allow for safe passage in the steeper more committing mountainous areas of the UK. Includes a wild camp in the mountains.

You will learn skills such as: reading a weather forecast and interpreting the atmospheric conditions in the moment, appropriate clothing and equipment choices, choosing an appropriate camping spot and associated campcraft, familiarity with a map and compass, taking and walking along a bearing, accurate pacing and timing, moving over technical terrain, navigating in poor visibility and basic emergency procedures to name a few.

Click 'Book Now' for more information.


2 days

Max ratio 1:4

£300 per person

Scrambling

Tackling exposed technical rocky terrain and taking the direct way up to a summit is a brilliant way to experience the mountains. Scrambling involves steep walking and moving over easy rock using hands in some sections to progress. It requires knowledge of the use of climbing gear and rope skills as well as an ability to move confidently on uneven terrain and reading the route ahead. Done right, scrambling provides a real thrill and makes for a great story to tell.


DDJ can offer experience days to get a feel for some amazing classic scrambling routes or can teach you the necessary skills to be able to undertake some scrambles yourself and make your own adventures. Get in touch if you’d like to know more.

Scrambling on outdoor rocks