How do you go from indoor climbing to climbing outdoors?

The first time you put your hands on real rock after months on plastic is a lovely moment. The holds are not colour-coded, the wall is warm in the sun, there is a view over your shoulder and a lizard on the ledge. It is also a genuinely different activity from climbing indoors, and the step deserves to be taken carefully.

What changes outdoors

The British Mountaineering Council's guide to climbing, reproduced by Cotswold Outdoor, sets out the main differences:

• The route is not marked. Outdoor climbs are not clearly signposted the way indoor routes are, so finding the line and the holds is part of the skill.
• Someone has to lead. Outdoors there is rarely a rope already in place at the top, so a competent leader is needed to place or clip protection on the way up and to set up the anchor.
• Rock falls. Loose stones and dropped gear are real hazards at the crag, so wear a helmet, both climbing and belaying.
• Ropework matters more. You need to know about rope length, quickdraws, lowering and abseiling before you set out, because problems are hard to fix halfway up.
• Communication is harder. On longer routes, climber and belayer may not see each other, which is one reason to start on single-pitch routes.

Sport, trad and bouldering

• Sport climbing uses bolts fixed permanently in the rock, which the leader clips with quickdraws. Most people's first outdoor routes are sport routes. The BMC still reminds climbers to check fixed gear and learn what a bad bolt looks like.
• Traditional (trad) climbing means the leader places removable protection, such as nuts and cams, in cracks. It takes more learning and judgement.
• Outdoor bouldering needs no rope, just pads and spotters, on short problems close to the ground. It is a friendly way onto rock, but falls still need careful pad placement. Our guide to getting into bouldering covers the basics.

Ways to make the move

• An indoor-to-outdoor course. The BMC guide describes these as teaching safe rope use outdoors along with access and conservation, and the BMC runs its own Ready to Rock courses in the UK. Many climbing walls and outdoor centres elsewhere run similar sessions.
• A qualified instructor or mountain guide for a day or two. In Italy, look for qualified guides (guide alpine) or courses run by CAI sections.
• A club. The BMC guide recommends clubs as a way to meet people, find new crags and learn from experienced members.
• Experienced friends, if they are genuinely competent and patient. Going with more experienced climbers is a classic way to learn, but be honest with yourself about their skills too.

Rock types and grades

Different rock feels different. Wikipedia notes that granite is known for grip and big cracks, limestone for detailed holds and pockets, and sandstone for sculpted shapes. Grades also vary between countries and between styles; Wikipedia lists the French numerical system among the most widely used for routes, and a gym's own grades rarely translate neatly to rock. Start well below your indoor grade, because route-finding and nerves add a lot.

Outdoor etiquette

• Check access first. Many crags have bird nesting restrictions, parking rules or local ethics. In the UK, the BMC's Regional Access Database gathers this information; elsewhere, check local guidebooks, clubs and signs.
• Don't hog routes, especially popular ones. Let others climb if you are working a hard move for ages.
• Keep the base tidy. Bags and ropes out of paths, no litter, and take everything home.
• Be quiet and considerate. Crags are often near farms, villages and wildlife.
• Respect the rock. Don't chip holds, avoid excessive chalk, and stick to established paths to reduce erosion.