Rock climbing really can help people feel as if they are on top of the world.

You’ll need a certain amount of endurance, strength and skill, but the degree depends on the difficulty of the climb – so it’s an activity that can be adapted to suit people of most ages and abilities.

The British Mountaineering Council’s guide to starting out includes the advice to “do it your own way”.

But the best, and safest way to learn – particularly for children or newcomers to adventure sports – is to join a climbing club or take a course teaching techniques and safety.

Many rock climbers also start by experimenting on indoor climbing walls. Once you have mastered some of the basic skills the world is your rock face and you can discover a completely different view of the countryside.

Depending on where you go and the likely weather conditions, you will need a range of equipment. Easy climbs require little more than robust footwear, but you’ll need helmets, safety harnesses, ropes and survival kits for more challenging environments.

Failing to use safety equipment puts yourself, other climbers and potentially your rescuers, at risk.

Once you’ve reached a certain skill level, rock climbing is an activity you can do all over the world. In the UK the best spots for climbing include the Cairngorms, Snowdonia, the Lake District and Peak District.

Most European countries also have excellent cliffs and mountains to explore, and you can even catch some winter sun if you go far enough south – for example to Malta.

For more information about climbing in the UK see www.ukclimbing.com or the website of the British Mountaineering Council (www.thebmc.co.uk). Find a club and research foreign climbing hotspots at www.climbingclub.co.uk.

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