If you’ve ever taken a walk along the cliffs between Brighton and Newhaven and felt the sudden urge to scale them, you may want to get some rock-climbing experience in beforehand! Luckily Brighton has a handful of helpful, friendly, informative, and – most importantly – safe places where you can be shown the ropes, and how to use them! Below are the best spots in Brighton for anyone wanting to start rock climbing or bouldering!
Rock Climbing Spots in Brighton catering to all levels
| High Sports | Traditional indoor rock-climbing facility with high walls, a national climbing syllabus, and an equipment rental store located in the Withdean Sports Complex. |
| Boulder Brighton | Bouldering specific, no harnesses, low height, indoor bouldering facility with training room, showers, rental shop, and a cafe. |
| Hatt Adventures | Outdoor, instructor-led rock-climbing days all over the country for an authentic outdoor rock-climbing experience. |
High Sports
One of the first indoor climbing companies in the UK and born out of a passion for climbing, High Sports puts on climbing clubs for kids and adults alike and even organises climbing parties.
Located in the Withdean Sports Complex – a 10-minute drive from the city centre – High Sports’ climbing wall features over 50 roped and lead lines which are reset regularly, and a 13m high lead wall boasting a 5m overhang, the facility has hosted national climbing competitions.
High Sports also operates a National Indoor Climbing Award Scheme (NICAS) consisting of weekly lessons for anybody aged 7 and up. It is aimed at developing climbers’ skills and teaching techniques in a safe, sociable, and fun environment.
As a NICAS Primary Centre, High Sports can offer the entire climbing course syllabus from beginner all the way up to competitive, high-level climbing. However, competing is not a necessary goal for those wishing to join NICAS, the scheme is focused on helping climbers gain the skills they need to enjoy their climbing and join a friendly community of fellow climbers.
If you are in a friendship group of enthusiastic climbers or would like to experience it for the first time with some friends, High Sports offers a party service for all ages. A great way to kick off a birthday, or just a good excuse to try something different. A climbing party offers engaging and entertaining challenges & experiences.
The team at High Sports will organise your day and your group will have the chance to learn some climbing techniques while scaling the ‘main wall’, attempt to tackle the ‘real rock wall’, and race your friends to the top!
Address: High Sports Brighton, Withdean Sports Complex, Tongdean Lane, Brighton, BN1 5JD
Website: https://www.high-sports.co.uk/
Boulder Brighton
Boulder Brighton is Brighton’s only independent dedicated bouldering centre. The main difference between bouldering and rock climbing is the scale of the climbs, and the lack of harnesses.
While typical rock climbing features tall walls and ropes & safety harnesses, bouldering focuses on climbing short routes close to the ground, it emphasizes dynamic movements on smaller rock faces which is aided by the climber not being attached to ropes.
You don’t need specialist knowledge or previous climbing experience to get started, and the only bit of kit you need is some climbing shoes (which can also be rented at Boulder Brighton). It’s a fun, more free-flowing version of rock climbing, easy to get into, and difficult to give up!
Boulder Brighton’s site is comprised of over 1,000 square metres, all of which are covered with exciting and challenging bouldering structures which allow the team to set up to 200 different climbing problems to solve at any time! The centre strives to create courses which take into account the best elements of outdoor bouldering and make them accessible all year round.
The colour-coded routes will range anywhere from very easy for beginners, to extremely difficult for more seasoned members. The centre has vertical walls, overhangs, slabs, a cave section, and a top-out boulder to suit anyone’s style of climbing.
Boulder Brighton’s facilities also include changing rooms & showers, and a training and conditioning room to warm up before – or warm down after your climb. They also have an onsite cafe serving locally roasted coffees and baked goods and snacks, perfect to wind down with a friend after a rewarding day of pushing yourself. Boulder Brighton’s focus is to create a friendly, and relaxed space for people to hang out, meet new friends, and – of course – get into some bouldering!
Address: Victoria Road Trading Estate, Portslade, Brighton, BN41 1XQ
Website: https://www.boulderbrighton.com/
Hatt Adventures
If you want to brave the outdoors with your climbing, but still fancy the help of an instructor, the Hatt Adventures has just the thing for you. Their regular rock climbing spot for introductory or intermediate courses is Harrison’s Rocks, a conveniently located sandstone formation near Brighton set in the picturesque countryside between Sussex and Kent.
For more advanced climbing trips, Hatt Adventures organises excursions to the UK’s top climbing spots including Devon, Dorset, Cornwall, Herefordshire, Wales, and the Peak District.
Running climbing courses since 2005, Hatt Adventures has taught thousands of people to rock climb from beginners to instructors, and even stunt performers. All of their instructors are fully accredited members of the Moutain Training Association so you can be sure you’re in good hands.
Most notably, Hatt Adventures offers a half-day rock-climbing adventure in Sussex. The instructor will pick a suitable climbing route for your abilities, and you’ll be taught all the essentials of rock climbing, how to tie onto the rope, belays, and basic techniques to get you climbing your first outdoor wall.
The team prides itself in introducing newcomers to the sport in an inclusive and welcoming way. This half-day course typically takes place at Harrison’s Rocks (a 45-minute drive from Brighton) as the landscape and rock formation offers great views and almost 600 different routes to take up the rockface.
There are plenty of sights to see on top of the crag, and even while you’re taking a breather halfway up, you may even spot the Bluebell Railway steam engine chuffing along the countryside! This course is a great introduction to rock climbing while taking in some natural scenery at the same time!
Address: Hatt Adventures, Unit 5, Marine Trade Centre, Brighton Marina, BN2 5UG
Website: https://www.thehatt.co.uk/
