Outdoor Bouldering Within Reach of Southampton

If you climb indoors in Southampton, sooner or later you will want to try real rock. We are lucky to be close to the south coast, with its scenery, its history and some very good climbing. These are the places our team go, what to take, and how to look after them.

The Cuttings Boulder Field, Portland

A classic, with a great variety of boulders and grades. The boulders are small, and make up for it with sit starts on most problems. The boulder field can be hard to find your way around: keep to the paths where you can, because rocky ground and thick brambles make it hard to go off them.

Conditions: winter is the best time. Low humidity helps with grip, as the rock can be quite smooth. There is little shelter from the wind, though a cool, breezy summer day can be good too.

Sally in the Woods

A very different place: woodland, and mostly shaded, with a big range of boulders, slabs and high balls. The stone is softer, so brush it as little as you can, make sure your shoes are clean and use chalk sparingly. Do not climb here when the rock is wet.

Conditions: often best on a cool evening. After heavy rain, give the rock and the ground a few days to dry out.

The Lighthouse area, Portland

Right on the water's edge, which makes for exciting climbing and beautiful scenery. It has become a hub for deep water soloing. It is tidal, so check that the water will be deep enough when you plan to go. Sector Pom Pom is a small bay with some very interesting rock, where the climbs have been called "extended boulder problems" and are mostly steep.

Conditions: watch the weather and the tide times, and be aware that the sea is always working on the rock.

Fontainebleau

Further away, in France, and one of the great bouldering places of the world: forest dotted with sandstone boulders. Font is known for its texture and its top outs, and many problems finish with a rounded, sloping mantel. As on other sandstone, clean your shoes before you climb, brush gently and stay off the rock when it is wet.

Conditions: it can be climbed all year. Most people choose spring or autumn. Winter can be good too, though very cold.

What to take

The most important thing is bouldering pads. They reduce the risk of injury when you fall or jump off, though not to nothing. Some areas have a shop or café nearby that hires pads, so it is worth checking. We have hired out pads too: ring us or ask at the desk before you plan around it.

• Chalk and a brush
• Tape
• A cloth to clean your shoes
• A resistance band, or a portable fingerboard, for warming up
• A first aid kit
• Lunch and plenty of water

Warm up wherever you climb, and all the more in the cold.

Look after the place

The outdoors is there for everybody, and it is ours to look after. Take your litter home, wipe your shoes before you pull on, and leave the rock as you found it, so that people can climb there for a long time yet.

Train for it indoors

A new set goes up on our walls every Friday, which is a good way to keep moving on rock you have not seen before. Bouldering in Southampton for experienced climbers has what we offer, and coaching can get you ready for a trip.