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If you are looking to climb outside for the first time, or give bouldering in the Peak District a try, this article is for you. With over 5,700 individual boulders (Rockfax) it can be pretty overwhelming to know where to even start.
Weather & Conditions
The Peak District weather can be temperamental, and constantly changes — which can be frustrating, but makes the good days all the more worth it. Sometimes a sunny forecast can turn into a washout; other times a bit of light rain can quickly dry off with a bit of sun and a light wind, especially on the edges (e.g. Stanage Plantation, Burbage).
That's why we built our Climbing Forecast tool to take the guesswork out of scouring the weather apps. Sometimes even crags relatively close together can have different conditions, so be sure to check the forecast before you commit to one area. Remember that grit is a sandstone and climbing it when wet can damage it, so always check conditions first and have a backup plan in case it is wet.
Do Your Research
Each rock type and area has its quirks and gritstone can take some getting used to. You may have bouldered or climbed in other places, but doing some research first is essential. A good start is reading the Peak Bouldering guidebook, or trawling through UKC Rocktalk forums to see what other climbers are saying.
Buy Guide Book: Peak Bouldering
Don't Get Put Off in One Session
Climbing in the Peak District takes time to get used to, and feels really different to the gym or places like southern sandstone and Portland limestone. You may find yourself struggling on the 'easy' slab climbs with the lower grades, or you may find some of them to be quite tall with scary top-outs.
Just because you don't enjoy these doesn't mean you won't enjoy some of the climbs a grade up. Try lots of different looking climbs and just focus on finding what feels fun but still challenging to you. Once you're used to the rock you can then go back and challenge yourself to climb outside your preferred style — you might surprise yourself!
Leave No Trace & Don't Annoy the Neighbours
The Peak District National Park is a beautiful place full of nature and wildlife — that's a big reason why we all love climbing there so much. Protecting this means sticking to paths on the approach, carefully placing pads rather than dragging them around, and cleaning dirt off your shoes before climbing. Lastly, no one wants loud neighbours, so leave your speaker at home and save the music for the gym.
Good luck, and enjoy the climbing!