Bouldering is rock climbing, just without any ropes and, therefore, usually practiced at lower levels. It is common for a foam crash mat to be positioned beneath the climber to soften the landing in the event of a fall.
At Aber Rocks this means a maximum climbable height of around 4.5m and the entire floor beneath the climbing surfaces are covered with safety matting which is a full 300mm thick.
As with other forms of climbing, the general idea is to climb a route from the bottom to the top! A bouldering route is known as a ‘boulder problem’. The clue is in the name – it’s not just a physical challenge but a mental one too!
Various numerical grading systems exist which measure the difficulty of a problem. At Aber Rocks we use the Fontainebleau grading system.
The beauty of bouldering is that no specialist equipment is required. You can simply turn up in your usual gym kit and have a go. Of course, specially designed climbing shoes with sticky rubber soles do make a difference and we have these available to hire. Climbing chalk can also help with grip and can be purchased at reception.