Picture your usual catch-up with the girls. Plenty of chatting, a good laugh and a warm drink in hand. Now picture all of that with a climbing wall in the mix. That is Ladies Night at Rock and Rapid Adventures, and it might just become the best part of your week.
Our women’s climbing night runs every Monday from 7 pm at our centre in South Molton. Women across North Devon swap the sofa for the wall, some arriving with a group of friends, plenty turning up on their own. By the end of the evening, nobody is climbing alone.
Whether you have never touched a climbing wall or you have been tying in for years, Ladies Night is a relaxed, friendly evening built around two simple things: good climbing and good company. And yes, there is free coffee from our on-site cafe.
What is Ladies Night?
Ladies Night is our weekly women’s climbing night, run every Monday evening from 7 pm. Each session lasts two hours and gives you the run of our climbing wall, with one-to-one time from our qualified instructors whenever you want it. If you turn up without a climbing partner, our auto belays mean you can get straight on the wall and climb at your own pace.
There is no weekly commitment and no special membership to sign up for. You simply pay the standard entry rate, with a discount for members, and come along as often or as little as suits you. You can check the latest times and prices on our pricing page before you visit.
It is the kind of evening that slots neatly into your routine. Mondays stop feeling like the worst part of the week, because Monday means climbing, catching up and a proper sense of achievement.
Who is Ladies Night for?
The short answer is every woman who fancies it.
If you are brand new to climbing, Ladies Night is one of the gentlest ways to begin. There is no pressure to perform and no assumption that you already know what you are doing. Our instructors are friendly, fully qualified and there to show you the ropes, quite literally. Many of our regulars walked in for the very first time, not knowing a single person in the room.
If you already climb, this is your reliable belay partner and your social fixture rolled into one. Come to keep your skills sharp, work on a project, or simply enjoy a couple of hours on the wall with like-minded women.
And if your usual friends are not keen on climbing, do not let that stop you. A lot of women come to Ladies Night on their own precisely to find climbing partners, and they leave with new friends and a standing Monday plan.
Ladies Night was created as a supportive space for women to climb together. The centre stays welcoming to climbers of all genders during the session, and we simply ask everyone to bring the same encouraging spirit you will find at any session.
What to expect on the night
When you arrive, get your harness and shoes on, order your free hot drink and settle in. From there, the evening is yours.
Across the two hours, you will have complimentary one-to-one time with an instructor whenever you need it, whether that is your very first lesson on the wall or a few pointers to push past a grade you have been stuck on. There is coaching on skills and technique, the odd game to keep things light, and always someone ready to hold your rope or cheer you to the top.
Some women spend the whole session climbing. Others climb a little, chat a lot and top up their coffee. Both are exactly right. Ladies Night is as sociable or as focused as you want it to be.
Why a women’s climbing night beats the usual catch-up
A catch-up over coffee is lovely. A catch-up that also leaves you stronger, calmer and quietly proud of yourself is even better.
Climbing has a way of clearing your head. When you are working out how to reach the next hold, there is very little room left for the worries of the week. A national survey of climbers by the British Mountaineering Council found that women are slightly more likely than men to climb for the feeling of getting stronger and the chance to switch off from everyday worries, and most of our regulars would say the same.
It is also a genuinely good workout that never feels like one. Climbing builds strength, flexibility and stamina across your whole body, and because no two routes are the same, it rarely gets boring. With a group of friends to share it with, you will have so much fun that you barely notice the effort.
Then there is the confidence. Every route you finish is a small win, and those wins add up. Plenty of women find that the self-belief they build on the wall follows them off it too. If you are curious about the mental side of the sport, our guide to bouldering for mental health looks at what the research actually shows.
The coffee and the community
Making climbing your regular girls’ time does not mean giving up the coffee and the catch-up. We have an on-site cafe, every woman who climbs at Ladies Night gets a free hot drink, and there is always a good excuse to pause between routes for a natter. The coffee, for the record, is rather good.
The real draw, though, is the people. Ladies Night has grown into one of the friendliest women’s climbing communities in Devon. It is a place to lift each other up, swap advice, celebrate the small victories and feel part of something. You arrive as a visitor and very quickly become a regular.
New to climbing and want to ease in first?
If you would like to find your feet before your first Ladies Night, that is easy to arrange. A taster session with one of our instructors is a relaxed introduction to the wall, and our first-time climbers page walks you through everything you need to know before you visit. Once you have the basics, Ladies Night is the perfect place to keep it going.
You might also fancy our bouldering, the biggest in North Devon, where there are no ropes and no harnesses, just you and the wall.
Common questions about Ladies Night
Do I need to book in advance?
Booking ahead is not essential, but it helps us know to expect you. You can book online or simply come along on the night.
Do I need any climbing experience?
None at all. Plenty of women arrive for their very first ever climb, and our instructors guide you from the ground up.
Can I come on my own?
Absolutely, and many do. We will introduce you to the group and make sure you always have someone to climb with.
What does it cost?
Entry is the standard climbing rate, from £12.50, with a discount for members. Your hot drink is on us.
What should I wear and bring?
Comfortable clothes you can move in, and that is about it. We can sort you out with climbing shoes and all the safety equipment when you arrive.
Join us this Monday
Ladies Night runs every Monday from 7 pm at Rock and Rapid Adventures, Hacche Mill, South Molton, EX36 3NA. Rally your friends or come on your own. Either way, you will be in good company.
Ready to climb? Book your Monday climb online in a couple of taps, or explore Ladies Night for more details.
Any questions, get in touch or call the team on 01769 309002.
We will see you on the wall.
