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Develop Skills

Develop Skills

Designed to equip you with the skills you need to go out and enjoy your own adventures. Choose your discipline below from  Hill Walking,  Scrambling,  Rock Climbing,  Winter Climbing 

Courses

Hill Walking

Develop Skills

Walking in the hills is a great way to explore the outdoors, boost your confidence and get some exercise.  Hill Walking skills such as navigation are fundamental to enjoying your own adventures outdoors safely and open up a world of opportunity.

See Hill Walking Skills Courses

Courses

Scrambling

Develop Skills

Bridging the gap between Hill Walking & Rock Climbing; Scrambling requires a broad range of skills and judgement. We’ll progressively develop your skills and open up the wealth of quality mountaineering routes to be found across the UK.

See Scrambling Skills Courses

Courses

Rock Climbing

Develop Skills

We’re obsessed with Rock Climbing, from introducing people to their first time on rock, to being on the sharp end and taking the lead; right through to advanced skills & coaching to push your grade and operate in gnarly terrain. Let us show you the ropes.

See Rock Climbing Skills Courses

Courses

Winter Climbing

Develop Skills

We split our winter season between Norway and the Scottish West Coast each year. Whether you’re after high quality coaching, or just a great adventure, winter climbing is always a special experience.

See Winter Climbing Skills Courses

Courses

  • Develop Skills
    • Hill Walking
    • Scrambling
    • Rock Climbing
    • Winter Climbing
  • Have Adventures
  • Get Qualified
    • Climbing Wall Instructor
    • Rock Climbing Instructor
    • Mountain Leader
  • Private Bookings

Approved

Mountain Training are an approved Mountain Training and Mountain Training Skills Courses Provider

Professional

Assocstion of Mountaineering Instructors and Mountain Training Association Logos

Latest Blog Posts

  • Bristly Ridge East Face Topo
    8 January 2026
  • Arc’teryx Alpha SL 30
    Backpack: First Look

    18 May 2025
  • The First Welsh Rock Climbing Guide?
    13 March 2025
  • Climbing Qualifications Syllabus Updates
    31 October 2024
  • What is a Quality Mountain Day?
    2 March 2024

Instagram

Wild camp with Merlin, soaking up the sunset scene Wild camp with Merlin, soaking up the sunset scenes while I'm working on a Mountain Leader Assessment in Eryri.

Points for who can identify the blurry peaks in the background.

@garlandmountaineering
International Dance Day spent rigging for @hedydd_ International Dance Day spent rigging for @hedydd_dancecompany at @theatrclwyd in Mold.

Performance this Sunday for the theatre's birthday open day. Lots on, from building tours, cinema tasters and cardboard cities, to backstage experiences, instrument petting zoos and live music on stage.
Lovely weekend on our Learn to Lead Trad Rock Skil Lovely weekend on our Learn to Lead Trad Rock Skills course with 3 psyched climbers here in beautiful North Wales.

We do a lot of matchmaking here at Mountain Independence to make these skills courses happen for individuals. If you're keen to learn to lead sport or trad I have a couple of folk looking to find dates for a trad course in the near future. 

We're passionate about climbing and developing folk's confidence to have their own adventures. Check out Dan's review of the course here;

"Fantastic introduction into lead trad climbing. There's a lot to cover but the pace of the course was perfect and I came away feeling confident I could get stuck into more trad climbing.
Stu covered a broad range of skills, theory, and etiquette, was very patient with questions and prior skills, and gave us a really good balance of practical experiences.

I absolutely recommend anyone curious about trying out lead trad give the course a go!"
Sykehusfossen yesterday with Ben & Damo. Worth the Sykehusfossen yesterday with Ben & Damo. Worth the long (for Rjukan!) walk in. Thanks to @youroutdoor for the recommendation; it's in good condition and we enjoyed taking a steep groove a little left of the easiest line which was ace.

Rest day today, the guys have been enjoying the various flavours of warmth on offer in @rjukanbadet and the sights of the town. 

If the accessible, reliable and quality ice climbing on offer in Norway is something you'd like to experience, either as a guided trip or developing your personal skills, then get in touch. We can supply all the technical kit for folk just getting started.
Thanks Damo for this shot of me at Ozzimosis today Thanks Damo for this shot of me at Ozzimosis today. I've been out in Norway the last few weeks in Hemsedal and Rjukan with clients. Ben and Damo had a couple of skills days between Krokan and Ozzimosis and we're gearing up for a multipitch adventure tomorrow. 

I've had a gap open in the diary for ice climbing guiding/instruction in Norway (Rjukan/Lillehammer/Hemsedal) between the 9th and 12th February (changeover travel days into Oslo Gardemoen either side on the 8th and 13th February) for anyone who might be able to capitalise on a last-minute ice trip. Get in touch for more info.
A nice adventure with @butel.mountaineering making A nice adventure with @butel.mountaineering making the most of the last day of the winter conditions in Eryri last week. Loads of folk out enjoying the climbing on the East Face and Bristly Ridge itself. 

Defaid Gwyn ** 105m, 4 pitches ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘
East Face of Bristly Ridge | Y Grib Bigog

Takes the left rib that merges with Tower Buttress.

1. V, 6. 22m Start just right of the rib, up a shallow groove steepening at a shield of rock with cracks either side. Arrange gear for the crux, up the right crack, to a niche and pull up right to a ledge.

2. IV, 4. 35m Step back left, then right to surmount a short crack and drop down to a small col. Continue up the ridge line with interest to a large ledge.

3. III. 30m. Skirt left and back up right to join Tower Buttress on broken ground as far as a bay. Belay in a left facing corner with a steep, chockstone topped crack.

4. V, 6. 18m Mantle the chockstone to a ledge. Pull up left into the stepped groove with plentiful gear afforded by the right crack, pulling out left on turf. Finish easily up to the crest of Bristly.

Tom Butel and Stu Lade 10/Jan/2025.

๐Ÿ“ธ Thanks to @eddysmountaincompany for the crag shot.

Discount

stu@MountainIndependence.co.uk
07866 486 486
Mountain Independence
36 High Street
Llanberis
Snowdonia
LL55 4EU
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