The book features really useful information, pictures and diagrams for rock climbers and climbing instructors alike.

It’s divided into 19 sections:

1. The climbing environment
2. A brief history of UK and Irish climbing
3. Warming up
4. Movement skills
5. Training and improving technique
6. The basics
7. Bouldering
8. Single pitch climbing
9. Indoor climbing walls
10. Leading climbs
11. Sport climbing
12. Problem avoidance and solving
13. Multi-pitch climbing: rope work
14. Descending from multi-pitch crags
15. Multi-pitch problem solving
16. Scrambling
17. Sea level traversing and gorge scrambling
18. Accidents
19. The law and risk management

I would never recommend that reading a book should take the place of receiving proper ‘hands on’ training. However, this book is a fantastic piece of reference material you’ll find yourself referring back to time and again. I keep my copy (actually my brother David’s copy – shhhh!!!) in my bedside table for easy access – yep I’m sad!

Whether you’re a beginner, a seasoned climber or a budding instructor you will find this book useful.

Rather than buy this from Amazon, I would recommend supporting the UK climbing Industry, and buy from a specialist climbing book shop. Rock Climbing Essential Skills and Techniques is available to buy from The Climbing Book Shop for just £16.99.

You have probably noticed that I’ve mentioned this book in other pages of my blog recently. No apologies there, this really is a must have!

If you have a copy, I would love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to drop me a comment below.

Climbing books reviews: Rock Climbing Essential Skills and Techniques (Mountain Leader Training UK) is a post from: Rock Climbing UK, an online UK climbing magazine, written BY UK climbers FOR UK climbers.

If you liked this post, you might also like:

1. Climbing instructor training – The Single Pitch Award
2. Climbing book review: North Wales Rock (Ground Up)
3. Climbing book review: Eastern Grit (ROCKFAX)