Wales plays a pivotal role in the history of British climbing, particularly during the mid-20th century when many of the first traditional (trad) climbing routes were established. Trad climbing, in which climbers place their own protection as they ascend rather than relying on fixed anchors, became a defining style. In the 1950s and 1960s, climbing saw a surge in popularity across Britain, and pioneering figures like Joe Brown, John Redhead, and Chris Bonington made landmark ascents in Wales. Their achievements, including the iconic Cneifion Arete and Direct Route, helped solidify Wales as a key destination in the development of British climbing.

Swansea is home to awe-inspiring ascents along the Gower Peninsula with routes that encompass all skill levels, while Cwm Clydach, situated within the Beacon Beacons National Park, also offers a mixture of tricky sandstone bouldering challenges and short trad routes, making it an excellent place to develop your climbing experience. Rhossili Bay and Fall Bay’s Space Tourist and Inner Space routes are not for the fainthearted and epitomise the adventurous spirit of early climbs when they were first tackled in the 1940s.

Over 80 years on, climbing and bouldering are undergoing a similar popularity boom, with the European indoor climbing industry set to grow to a value of $2.2 billion by 2034, thanks to a growth rate of 9% per year. Within the UK alone, the annual revenue of each climbing gym has soared to around $975k, with 67% of bouldering centres having opened in the last four years, highlighting the substantial growth within the industry.

A key catalyst of climbing’s recent growth globally can be attributed to speed climbing’s inclusion and popularity during the 2024 Paris Olympics. Speed climbing will return for the third time in 2028, and Para Climbing will debut in Los Angeles, highlighting the sports’ international interest.  

For many, though, climbing also offers community, with clubs such as Climbing Wales hosting regular events and member meets across Wales. Locally, the South Wales Mountaineering Club was first established in 1960 and has over 110 members who convene at branches across Cardiff, Swansea and beyond. For younger participants seeking to engage with climbing safely, Dynamic Rock has a Young Climbers group to get children aged 7 to 18 involved in climbing and bouldering.

Alongside climbing clubs, festivals such as the Pembroke Climbing Festival celebrate the sport with rock climbing workshops and other activities. Furthermore, film festivals, including the Llanberis Mountain Film Festival and Brit Rock Film Tour, are internationally recognised events that share breathtaking climbing stories and attract climbing audiences from across the world.