Self-Rescue for Climbers
What Would You Do If Something Went Wrong When Climbing?
When you're climbing a remote crag or a long multi-pitch route, it's worth thinking about what happens if the day doesn't go according to plan.
Your partner gets injured. Someone becomes stuck on a pitch. You need to retreat but can't simply walk back to the bottom.
Self-rescue training gives you the practical skills to deal with situations like these using climbing equipment and techniques you can realistically carry with you.
The aim isn't to turn you into a mountain-rescue team. It's to help you become more capable of solving problems when you're out climbing with a partner.
Learn to Deal With Problems on the Crag
We'll practise practical techniques that can help you and your partner deal with common climbing emergencies.
Depending on your experience and the length of the course, this can include:
Escaping a belay system when you need to become independent of the rope
Abseiling safely and managing the system correctly
Passing a knot while abseiling
Ascending a fixed rope
Descending a rope when required
Building simple hauling systems
Moving or assisting an injured climber
Lowering and recovering a climber in appropriate scenarios
Working out how to retreat from a difficult situation
Using the equipment you already carry in different ways
Planning for emergencies before you leave the ground
Making decisions when something goes wrong
We'll demonstrate the techniques, give you time to practise them and then introduce realistic problems where appropriate.
The emphasis is on understanding the systems rather than simply memorising a sequence of moves.
Why Learn Self-Rescue?
Most climbers spend plenty of time learning how to climb, belay and place protection.
Far fewer spend much time thinking about what happens when something goes wrong.
That doesn't mean you should expect an emergency every time you climb. Good preparation is partly about preventing small problems from becoming big ones.
Self-rescue training can help you become better at:
Recognising problems early
Making a sensible plan
Using the equipment you have available
Helping your climbing partner
Retreating when continuing isn't sensible
Staying calm when the situation changes
These skills become particularly useful when you're climbing on multi-pitch routes, sea cliffs, mountain crags or more remote terrain.
Who Is the Course For?
This isn't an introduction to climbing.
You should already be a competent outdoor climber and comfortable with the basic ropework involved in your normal climbing.
One-Day Self-Rescue
The one-day course is aimed at climbers who are already confident leading trad routes or multi-pitch sport climbs and want to develop practical rescue skills.
It's a good option if you want to learn the fundamentals and then continue practising them independently.
Two-Day Self-Rescue
The two-day option gives us considerably more time to practise and introduce more involved scenarios.
It's particularly useful if you're working towards MCI, are an RCI trainee or instructor, or simply want more time to develop your rescue systems and decision-making.
If you're unsure which course is appropriate, tell us about your current climbing experience and we'll help you choose.
One-Day Self-Rescue Course
9:00am – 4:00pm
£85 per person
A practical day covering the core skills needed to deal with common problems on multi-pitch and remote climbing routes.
Dates can be arranged when booking.
Two-Day Self-Rescue Course
£150 per person
Two days gives you more time to practise the systems and work through a wider range of situations.
Rather than rushing through a long list of techniques, we'll spend time making sure you understand what you're doing and can apply the skills to realistic climbing scenarios.
A Practical Approach to Rescue Skills
Self-rescue is one of those subjects where doing it yourself makes a huge difference.
We'll use climbing equipment and rope systems in practical situations so you can see how the different techniques work together.
We'll also talk about the decisions that come before the rescue itself — route planning, communication, equipment and recognising when a situation is starting to become a problem.
The goal is to leave you with skills you can practise again on your own climbing trips, rather than a list of techniques you forget after the course.
Where Do We Run the Course?
Courses can be arranged at suitable climbing venues in Yorkshire and the Peak District, with other locations available by arrangement.
The venue will depend on the skills being covered, your experience and the type of terrain needed for the session.
For a two-day course, we can also discuss other UK climbing areas where appropriate.
Course Details
One Day
Duration: 9:00am–4:00pm
Price: £85 per person
Level: Experienced outdoor climbers
Focus: Core self-rescue and emergency skills
Two Days
Price: £150 per person
Level: Experienced outdoor climbers
Focus: More extensive practice and complex rescue situations
Is Self-Rescue Training Worth Doing?
Hopefully you'll never need these skills.
That's rather the point.
Knowing what to do if your partner becomes injured or stuck can make a huge difference when you're a long way from the bottom of a route.
The more familiar you are with your equipment and rescue options before something goes wrong, the easier it is to make a clear decision when you actually need to.
Ready to Improve Your Rescue Skills?
If you're regularly climbing longer routes or heading into more committing terrain, self-rescue is a useful addition to your climbing toolkit.
Tell us about your current climbing experience, the type of routes you climb and what you'd like to learn. We'll help you choose the right course
FAQs
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We provide safety equipment: harness, helmet, ropes, hardware and technical kit. Climbing shoes can be provided if needed. You’re welcome to bring any of your old gear to the session.
Please bring a rucksack, tracksuit or warm top, waterproofs, trainers or walking boots, govers, hat and food and drink for the day. In summer bring sunglasses, sunscreen, and shorts. Weather can change quickly, so pack layers and extra kit to keep you warm and dry.
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We don’t cancel a session because of bad weather — there’s always something to try, learn, or experience. However, if the forecast is dangerous or unsafe, we will rearrange the session.
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As climbing is an adventurous activity, we believe it is best experienced without bringing dogs along with you.
Dogs can be unpredictable in busy crags, on narrow paths and near exposed edges. They may startle other climbers, distract handlers who need full concentration, or put themselves at risk on loose rock and steep terrain. Many climbing routes require careful footwork, the ability to move freely and the use of both hands — situations in which managing a dog safely is impractical.
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Bookings are taken up to 48 hours before your session. Your place is confirmed once payment has been received.
Please note:
Bookings made within 48 hours of the session cannot be guaranteed.
Payment must be completed at the time of booking (reseaving the invoie) to secure your slot.
Cancellations and refunds are subject to our standard terms.
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No matter your fitness level, we’ve got you covered. At Climb yorkshire, we plan and deliver personalized climbing training tailored to your goals and abilities. Our expert-led sessions ensure that every workout is safe, effective, and—most importantly—fun!
Whether you’re a beginner looking to build strength or an experienced climber aiming to push your limits, we provide quality training that elevates your fitness and your confidence.
Why Choose Us?
Customized programs for every fitness level
Professional guidance from experienced trainers
Fun, engaging, and motivating sessions
Improve strength, endurance, and agility
Make every day a quality climbing day. Start your journey to peak fitness today!
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The British Mountaineering Council (BMC) Participation Statement states that climbing, hill walking, and mountaineering involve a risk of personal injury or death. Participants must recognize, accept these risks, and be responsible for their own actions and safety. It is a core tenet for managing risks in these activities.
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Climb Yorkshire holds business insurance covering our activities and operations. We do not provide personal insurance for injuries or personal belongings. We recommend that all participants arrange their own cover, such as through the BMC (British Mountaineering Council) insurance, for this service.
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Where We Climb
Yorkshire, the Peak District, the Lake District and North Wales give us an incredible choice of outdoor climbing.
From Yorkshire gritstone and Peak District edges to limestone crags and the bigger mountain venues further north and into Wales, there's a huge variety of rock, routes and climbing styles to choose from.
We don't use the same venue for every session. The crag we choose will depend on what you want to climb, your experience, the type of session we're running and, of course, the weather.
Some of the venues we regularly visit include:
Almscliff Crag
Brimham Rocks
Stanage Edge
Horseshoe Quarry
Wainstones
Scugdale
Burbage
Strange Edge
Shepherd's Crag
and other crags across the region
Whether you're trying outdoor climbing for the first time, developing your skills or have a particular route in mind, we'll choose a venue where you can get the most out of your day.
If there's a particular crag you'd like to visit, let us know when you enquire. We'll look at your experience, the climbing you're hoping to do and the current conditions before deciding whether it's the right choice.