I'm a professional rock climber. I've made a career out of climbing rocks and I truly love that this is my life. But like most people there are days I hate climbing and I wonder why I left the house that morning and wish I’d just finished that university course in life sciences and become a geologist instead. A couple of years ago I created the video below, which is a compilation of all the worst things about climbing. Because as anyone who's been climbing knows, we love to complain and whinge about the sport we so dearly love. The walk in and approach Climbing is often done in remote location ..read more

Whether it is to get strong fingers, condition ourselves for a climbing trip, or prevent injury - hangboarding is a staple of climbing training. Over the years I've tweaked my training and tried lots of different training plans. Across all of them I've found some key ways to train smarter, not hard. In my video I discuss my top tips to get the most from training for climbing on a hangboard. Including: Train fresh Don't try to hangboard when you're tired or sore. Your muscles and tendons need to be fresh to perform their best. Choose the right grip type There are different types of hangboards ..read more

If you're a rock climber or outdoorsy person, you know that camping and waking up in a wet tent can be a bit of a drag. But what if there was a way to have a comfortable, dry place to sleep and store all of your gear while you're on your next adventure? That's where converted vans come in. These vans are perfect for off-grid living, and they can be customised to fit your specific needs. I recently upgraded my old van and worked closely with the company Roam Campervans to ensure I got the best van possible for my needs. In the video below, I'll share all the expert tips that they shared for you ..read more

Climbing is a physically demanding sport, and injuries are a common occurrence. Even the most experienced climbers can suffer from injuries, and they can happen to anyone. There are a number of reasons why climbers get injured. Some of the most common causes include: Overtraining: Overtraining can lead to overuse injuries, such as tendonitis and muscle strains. Genetics: Some people are simply more prone to injuries than others. Bad technique: Poor technique can put climbers at risk for injuries. Bad luck: Even the most careful climbers can suffer an injury from time to time. No matt ..read more

Albania is a beautiful country with a lot to offer visitors, including stunning scenery, friendly people, and delicious food. But for rock climbers, Albania is also a hidden gem. The country has a variety of climbing terrain, from rugged mountains to limestone cliffs, and the climbing is world-class. I had the opportunity to visit Albania in 2021 as part of the Vjosa river project. While I was there, I met with local climbing group Climb Tirana and was overwhelmed by the beauty of the countryside and the cliffs. I also learned that Albania has had very little climbing development and few climb ..read more

On my trad climbing trip to the Lake District National Park, there’s one mountain crag that makes an impact. Pavey Ark scrambles like Jacks Rake are famous across the UK, but so are its hard trad classics. Next door to the Neil Gresham test piece climb Lexicon, Impact Day is a trad climb with a reputation. With trad climbing repeats from Dave Macleod, Steve McClure, and Hazel Findlay it’s a climb for your tick list. After a winter of sport climbing and bouldering, this trip was part of becoming a trad climber again. Back to trad climbing basics…or not! Instead I chose a hard climbing project l ..read more

It’s March and I’m in a climbing centre in Dublin, Ireland. I’m hosting a Scarpa climbing shoe demo and have only had time for a bit of bouldering in the climbing wall. As usual, I’m desperate to get climbing outside. Despite visiting Ireland on many occasions, I’ve not had time to really go climbing in Ireland. That is until my friend Phil told me about bouldering in Wicklow. My video follows my journey of discovering the bouldering project that would become ‘Marie Clare’ 8A, Living in Scotland there is plenty of bouldering near me waiting for a first ascent. But I’m so proud to share such an ..read more

Ireland is famous for the Fairhead bouldering and traditional mountain climbing. So I was surprised to be invited to go sport climbing, and on a sea cliff at that. A stunning rock wall overhanging the choppy sea - I was in awe and couldn’t wait to go climbing. It was incredible to explore climbing in Ireland beyond bouldering and trad climbing. In my video I check out the Ricky Bell classic, ‘Where the wild things are’ 8a+. My thoughts; Wicklow Head should be next on your climbing tick list if you are in Ireland ..read more