Rock Climbing at DartRock 1
Rock Climbing at DartRock
Rock Climbing at Dart Rock - We Tried That
On a wet and windy Sunday afternoon the obvious choice of activity for us and many other families is the cinema – it’s warm, dark, and most importantly keeps the children entertained for a couple of hours. However, there are other dry options and with a new term and renewed vigour to keep fit and away from a screen we booked ourselves in for an afternoon climbing session at the DartRock Climbing Centre (just off the A38 near Dartington).
I am not your obvious candidate for climbing – I stumble around rockpools, have an unhealthy fear of heights and only cling tightly to anything resembling a wine glass. My children however were well up for it – and no doubt keen to show that they could outdo me on yet another activity.
DartRock was set up in 2007 by Robbie Warke who saw the gap in the market for a climbing centre in Devon. This is a man who lives and breathes climbing and he even met his wife down a cave whilst potholing!
He is as experienced as they come – he’s climbed all over the world, worked for National Geographic, conquered Everest and even beaten the Top Gear team in one of their well-known challenges - but most importantly he’s keen to show that climbing can be enjoyed by anyone at any age or level.
Climbing has strong links with exploration and covers a number of sports and activities – mountaineering, potholing, bouldering, abseiling etc – in fact anything where you move up or down! Since the 80s the sport/activity has grown significantly with iconic images like those of Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible clinging to a cliffside and the amazing real-life stories (Touching the Void and 127 hours) of climbers exceeding the odds to survive.
I certainly have no desire to be pioneering but I do feel anyone can take on a physical and/or mental challenge at any time. However, I was going to need more than a steely determination to get to the top of the 6 ½ metre wall!
On our arrival at DartRock we were introduced to our friendly instructor Jamie who took us through a brief safety talk whilst kitting us out in harnesses and helmets (for the children). I was without doubt nervous but this is an opportunity to face your fears in a danger-free environment where the main message is to have fun.
Climbing walls vary in height, size and gradient. The aim is to climb from bottom to top or from side to side using a series of multi-coloured plastic climbing holds. The more experienced follow colour coded routes which vary in difficulty – I just hung onto anything I could grab onto.
We started on the low-level wall (affectionately nicknamed The Traverse of the Gods). We then moved through to another room and the big climbing walls with the harnesses – thankfully my children were keen to show me how to do it first while I built up the confidence fiddling with the ropes!
My youngest (who incidentally has taken on the nickname Mountain Goat due to her love of rock climbing around beaches) unsurprisingly shinned up the wall like a proverbial rat up a drainpipe. She has the advantage of youth, flexibility and most importantly – very little fear! And she wasn’t alone – there were a number of children at DartRock – all looking at home on a wall. I was told the youngest climber they’d had there was 3!
To my surprise I did make it to the top of the wall and once you know you’re not going to fall from a great height, the determination to get there sets in. I hadn’t experienced that rush of adrenaline since a long way back and it’s a surprisingly cerebral sport – not only do you have to cling on but you also have to work out where to go next when the route is not always obvious. I really felt I’d faced a challenge and succeeded.
As we fumbled up the wall alongside a number of Dartmoor Rescue Volunteers I realised that this is a sport/activity for all ages and levels and the opportunities are endless. It requires problem solving, agility, daring and trust in your climbing buddy (quite a test for my warring daughters). And once again it’s a good fitness option – with the emphasis on core body strength rather than super strong arms.
And the climbing wall at DartRock is just the start. The centre also organises outdoor climbs all over Devon with Dartmoor and the Torbay coastline providing challenges for all levels. They have endless options including after school clubs, climbing challenges, school trips, birthday parties or even just have-a-go sessions. And don’t forget the Little Lizards Club for 5 – 12 year olds and Chameleons Club for 12 – 17 year olds.
Dart Rock Climbing Centre’s mission is “to provide the safe enjoyment of all rock climbing activities in an environment accessible to all ages and abilities, without prejudice or elitism. Above all safety and enjoyment are our business”.
And I’d say they do it well too - my girls are already hooked and ready for their next climbing adventure!
For more information - www.dartrock.co.uk tel 01364 644499
First published October 2013 By The Dart
