Love to Climb, Sheffield (2026)

13/02/2026

We have 60 to 80 thousand thoughts a day and 60 to 70% are negative. This is how our brain is wired. We are wired to protect, wired to scan our environment and respond to threat.

💭 It's no wonder we feel fear related to falling. Perhaps you’ll have tough words with yourself to say ‘this fear is irrational’. But this is exactly not the time to be having an internal fight with ourselves.

It’s a case of accepting the messages your mind and body are giving you and working WITH the situation. We can certainly learn to tolerate discomfort, form new habits and learn a lot more about how we are uniquely wired as well as how to fall safely.

➡️ My ‘Climb Free’ 6 week fear of falling (small) group online/in person hybrid course starts on 24th February. In person 22nd March, Awesome Walls Sheffield

➡️➡️There is 1 more place left and the early bird discount ends TODAY Friday 13th Feb.
🔗 in comments.

05/02/2026

For the last 2 months I’ve returned to a daily breathwork practice with . I love their morning breathing sessions! I started in the good old lockdown days, but a need to really care for my full mental and emotional state at the end of (a now thankfully in the past) 2025, led me back.

I can’t emphasise enough the power of it. In climbing there is no doubt about how effective it is to regulate the nervous system for stress and anxiety. I know it works. But this time for me personally, with these regular morning sessions, something has gone to a whole new depth. I’m start each day with a much better frame of mind, more clarity and focus.

Sticking to these 6.30am starts is making me feel damn proud of myself too. I'm wondering, whatever the statistic is about how long it takes to build a habit, that I'm in, new habit formed? Regardless, I'm sold. Meditation has never quite worked for me. And I need something for this very busy mind of mine (for which climbing is the ultimate meditation).

Breathwork – it’s a big subject and one certainly we’ll be exploring on Climb Free – my hybrid online and in person fear of falling course. It’s a small group – just 6 spaces available.

➡️ We start February 24th – there’s an early bird price available till 13th Feb. Link in comments.

📸 Me on Balance It Is E7 6c Burbage South

31/01/2026

Climb Free is back! With a difference.

This will be the fourth time I've run this course. This time, the 6 week online course includes an in person day in Sheffield. Previously this additional day has been vital to people's learning so this time it's an integral part of the course.

Meeting your fear is not just about fall practice (although for some it's definitely helpful), it's about building tools and habits that enable you maximise what makes you feel GOOD in your climbing.

It's a small group - just 6 people. We start February 24th. In person day 22nd March Awesome Walls Sheffield

☆ Join me and let's make a BIG difference in you and your climbing.

♡ Early bird offer £320 until 13th Feb.

》Link in comments

08/01/2026

📢 Calling route climbers. If you have your sights on the good weather and routes you'll be doing this coming spring, now is the time to get some structure at the wall.

My plan is holistic: it offers structure for your physical training AND also guides you to think about your technique and tactics.

NEW - I just added a technique progress chart so you can score your technique progress against your goals over the 12 weeks and helps you focus on which techniques to focus on.

☆ self paced based on 2 sessions a week (or a relaxed 3)
☆ for route climbers 5 to 7b
☆ training exercises with options for training alone & with a partner
☆ tips for how to combine training with technique, tactics and mindset
☆ goal setting tool and how to adapt the plan accordingly
☆ access to online community where I will answer all your questions

🦾 Use the discount code strong2026 until 16th January and the plan is yours for just over £50

✴️ Link to the training plan is in the comments.

05/01/2026

Be 'open' - that's what I'm going with this year.

Trying new things. Doing things differently.

So yesterday I made the decision to go climbing in a place I'd not been to before. Duke's Seat near Chatsworth. Have you been? It's quite jumbled with bad landings, a fair bit of lichen but some good lines here and there (not necessarily the right choice for my second time outside since the end of July).

But it's good to try...

How is it that everyone else has these pictures on social media of themselves on golden, glowing boulder problems, when we got stuck in a rather significant snow shower that clung to the rock and meant everything got wet... 😂

We had fun though...

On Saturday I was writing an article for a book that Sophie (pictured) is putting together about British onsight trad climbing. I'm writing partly about a solo trad climbing trip around the world I did over 6 months when I was 22. Wow I was open and fearless then. I'd like to find a bit more of that part of me again. Duke's Seat seemed the place to start!

04/01/2026

What I'm taking into 2026 part 2...

🤸‍♀️ My climbing friendships mean as much to me as my climbing. They supported me even when I said ‘I may just walk to the crag today and not climb’. I never did just walk to the crag – I always climbed when I got there. But my friends’ reassuring presence was so vital to me when it felt like I doubted everything, and I didn’t feel like I was bringing my best self to the crag.

🧡 I feel enormous gratitude to my clients, people who read my my newsletter and here on social media - to those people who I saw and sent so many messages of love and support. You made a big difference and remind me, in this modern digital age, there is a big positivity in our connectedness. I strongly felt your kind and thoughtful presence. Thank you.

🎨 This summer in my recuperation I returned to creativity. I painted and I crafted. It’s a big part of me yet it lapsed for a long time – there are many excuses. I want to make sure I prioritise this coming year.

I wish you all the very best - health, happiness and strength - for 2026 (yeah let's get strong!)

📸 Me in leafy Cheedale with all its vibrant green and lusciousness (is that a word) on a 7b+ I did around May time just as my brain was caving in somewhat...

02/01/2026

Happy 2026! Here we are and here's me from a blustery Stanage pole yesterday.

Part of me just wants to say ‘the less said about 2025 the better’, but really when I think about it, there are some things about it, that I do want to take forward into this coming year.

🎲 I’m embracing the randomness. After the goings on with the lump on my kidney, the “not having the c-word” fiasco and everything that came with that, slow-motion confusion was replaced with a sort of comfort of just how random life is. Releasing the grip of control, knowing we’re all to some extent in the hands of randomness, relieves some pressure somewhat.

Given the odds in my favour during 2025 I did think I would buy myself a lottery ticket. 🤔 I haven’t yet – I’ll do it 2026.

⛰️ Climbing is a fundamental part of my life. I knew this already but 2025 reminded me more than ever. It’s the main thing that kept me sane in the 3 months leading up to my operation, even if I did just mostly go to the same crags (thank you lush and leafy Cheedale). My brain could not cope with much change. I’m ending the year feeling good in my body and quite motivated for climbing.

More to come in another post...

🎯 》Meanwhile I'm offering 40% off my 12 week training plan for route climbers for next 2 weeks. At just over £50 you can't beat the value. Link is in the comments.

06/12/2025

Here’s an early Christmas pressie for you! In my world anything to do with Christmas doesn’t start till December and here we are.

I’m really excited to offer you £20 off my 12 week training plan for routes climbers. Get your plan now and use it when you like. You can also buy the plan as a Christmas gift.

🌲 Use the discount code earlyxmas20 any time between now and 13th December 2025 and the plan is yours for £70.

☆ self paced based on 2 to 3 sessions a week
☆ for route climbers 5 to 7b
☆ goal setting tool and how to adapt the plan accordingly
☆ training exercises with options for training alone & with a partner
☆ ideas for how to combine training with technique, tactics and mindset
☆ access to online community where I will answer all your questions

✴️ Link to the training plan is in the comments below.

23/11/2025

Do you need a transition phase?

If you are feeling tired, lacking in motivation or your joints feel a bit tweaky after a long climbing season this may be you (not just because it’s now winter, really bloody cold and sunset is at 4pm!). I’ve had a couple of clients this month where this has been coming up for them.

What do I mean by this? A periodised climbing year can be split into 3 phases: preparatory, performance and transition.

Perhaps the preparation phase and performance phase (let’s call this the climbing season) make sense to you? But have you consciously taken a transition phase? Many climbers don’t – we just want to climb constantly all year round.

》Missing a transition phase out is a recipe for injury and burnout.

This transition phase is a break at the end of your climbing season and the start of the next training phase. Professional footballers will take a month off at the end of the football season. This period gives them a chance to recover mentally and physically so they are recharged and ready for the preparatory training period.

》For a successful training season we need to be ready: mentally and physically.

Transition periods last around 2-4 weeks and offer a chance to relax, deload (reduce volume and intensity) and go for some active recovery. This may involve general climbing at a lower level and doing some other sports & activities such as swimming, biking and walking or any other fun activity you can think of.

🤔 Does this ring true for you? Does this actually take the pressure off right now?

📸 I'm not in a transition phase - I'm still building up post op/infection. I like to use swimming to build up my capacity to handle training...

24/10/2025

The iconic book of British trad climbing is back!

The guiding light of my and so many other people's climbing for so many years! ✨️

I'm so excited and honoured to have contributed and especially for Northumberland - a beautiful place in this world.

There are so many brilliant stories and stunning photos from an amazing showcase of trad climbs from all over the country. Correction to my vid - the routes are E1 to E7 but the majority in the book are E2 to E5.

You can't fail to be inspired. Good job Grant Farquar and Vertebrate Publishing

14/10/2025

My first steps back onto rock...

I was a bit nervous - I just didn't know how I would be - mentally or physically (especially considering I've done so little exercise at all in weeks).

But that 'me', the me that climbing enables me to access, came fully back to life on Saturday. It was glorious. After seconding Adam up First Slip (a tricky E1) I was quickly absorbed in the complexities of Tremadog friction.

I couldn't resist leading the first pitch of Grim Wall Direct (E1). It was a real moment when my friends below started humming the Rocky theme tune. Look at how happy I was!

But... 4m from the belay and tree it became quite apparent how frazzled my brain was with the many decisions you have to make when climbing. I had possibly pushed it a bit far mentally, but I gathered myself and got through.

I was certainly lifted by my friends. A gathering of THE original Leeds University crew - back where it started for me. Old friendships that will always stand the test of time. People who represent the true spirit of adventure. I'll always be grateful for this start to my climbing.

By Sunday morning every muscle I had was aching - especially my toes! After a few sport leads I sat and painted a picture of the sea.

❤️

07/10/2025

I'm back! Normal activities resumed!

To be honest it's all been rather epic! After the operation (a whole 9 weeks ago), which went well 🙂, a week later I then got an infection on the kidney and liver, which put me back in hospital for 7 days. 😭

The infection has been a bigger deal to recover from than the original operation. But steadily I've made progress in my recovery and here I am! Big up the NHS and all who work in it and especially to those wonderful nurses - I wonder if there are any on here - you make me emotional just thinking about the work you do.

But then the final twist happened last week; I met with the surgeon, who gave me some surprising news.

After being told, all those months ago, that I 98% had the word beginning with C, it turns out that my lump was a particular rare, benign kind, that mimics a type of cancer.

And it's SO rare that it's only the second one my surgeon has ever come across in 25 years of doing these operations 🤯 and he had to google it! 😅

A friend said I should start entering the lottery with these kinds of statistics in my favour!

It's both incredible news, but at the same time it brings up lots of confusing feelings, which will take some time to get my head around. These may or may not appear in some posts over time as they sift through my mind.

For now I am back in the world. On Saturday I did my first climbing session (too much in it to remember to take a photo) and yesterday (in the photo) my first outdoor swim. 🌈

Love to Climb

13/02/2026

05/02/2026

31/01/2026

08/01/2026

05/01/2026

04/01/2026

02/01/2026

06/12/2025

23/11/2025

24/10/2025

14/10/2025

07/10/2025

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