What is it?

• Activities under this heading include caving and potholing, climbing and mountaineering, orienteering and abseiling.  

• More details of each of them can be obtained from the specialist organisations listed below.  

• They mostly involve the use of special geographical features in the countryside (caves, hills, mountains) though some climbing is now done in sports centres. 

• Other country-based activities covered elsewhere include cycling, rambling, hunting and horse riding, shooting, nature hobbies

Find out more

Organisations

Caves and Caving in the UK  www.sat.dundee.ac.uk/~arb/speleo.html 
National Caving Association  www.nca.org.uk/ 
Unofficial UK Climbing Home Page  www.lbell.demon.co.uk/ 
British Mountaineering Council  www.thebmc.org/ 
British Orienteering Federation  www.cix.co.uk/~bof/ 

Magazines

Getting started

• Find a caving, climbing or other local group or club (see organisations above).

• See if your local group has introductory sessions or special events.  Take a climbing class at your local sports centre.

• Consult books or magazines on these types of countryside activities.

• Check in your local library/paper or sports centre for more information.

What you need

Skills and people

• All these activities require a degree of physical fitness but they are not limited to particular age groups or sex. 

• You can go caving or climbing on your own, but it is generally safer to do so with other people in case some problem arises.  

• Many people belong to groups or clubs for these activities, thus gaining information about possible locations and training opportunities as well general social contact.  

Equipment or clothing

• The basic requirement is suitable clothing and footwear for the activity in question, especially taking into account its outdoor nature.  

• In addition ropes, harnesses and other equipment may be needed, especially for those taking a serious interest in these areas.

A place or facilities

• Many of the suitable locations for caving, climbing or mountaineering in the UK are located in the west and/or north of the country.  There are also many opportunities for these activities overseas.  

• Many people take part during their weekends and holiday periods, allowing them to travel to further away locations.  

• There are now artificial climbing walls at quite a number of sports centres which allow beginners and others to practice their basic skills.