Abseiling, descend in style with TasterLab

At a glance

● Exhilarating
● Good fun
● Challenging

The Lowdown

Abseiling is about the most fun you can have going backwards. With the helps of ropes and harnesses you can descend a cliff face in a fast and exhilarating way. A rope attached to the top of the obstacle you want to descend is threaded through a harness around your waist and a descender allows you to easily control the rate at which the rope is paid out. Pushing off from the cliff face with your legs, you descend in a series of jumps. If you’re into UK climbing it’s something to look forward to after a tough ascent. Let the rope do the work as you glide back down to the ground. 

The Crowd

Abseiling is not only one of the most fun things to do in London, but a vital skill for anyone interested in UK climbing. There’s no use learning how to climb up if you can’t get down again. It’s also a great discipline in its own right, with a host of different variations. For thrill-seekers there’s nothing like making a huge descent in double quick time. But it’s not as easy as it looks and learning to abseil will give you a good workout as well as improving your balance and coordination.

The Cost

Our TasterLab tasters will give you a great price on abseiling. If you want to take things further you’ll need some climbing shoes which will set you back around £60 plus ropes, harnesses and descenders if things get really serious. The best thing to do is ask your local climbing centre before you invest.

And Finally...

Watch a beginner abseiling down South Africa’s spectacular Table Mountain to get a taste of the thrill you are in for.