This holiday was based at Ingleton Youth Hostel, and most of the group had arrived by 6pm, so we had time for a brief talk before dinner about what we'd be doing over the next few days.

Most of the women had not climbed before, and while a handful of women had previous climbing experience, many had not even climbed a tree in their past. They were looking forward to what they could learn over the next few days....

Each woman had her own reasons for coming on the holiday - ranging from dealing with vertigo to meeting other women to climb with. We ended the evening with a visit to the nearest pub!

The morning dawned bright and sunny and they spent most of the morning outside in the YHA's garden, getting familiar with equipment, with knots, harnesses, helmets - and building trust and confidence with each other.

This was achieved by activities like the 'name game', 'loop the group', knotted rope, tying in sighted and blindfolded, tying others in sighted and blindfolded.

Everyone practised the belay system - lots of hands on learning to lay the foundations of the basic elements of climbing safely.

Before lunch, we hired climbing boots from Inglesport climbing shop. After lunch we had a first session at the wall - with warming up exercises before we began.

Women began climbing their first route - working in 3's as they had already been practising - always on a safety rope.

Each threesome included a more experienced member.

Each individual had a go at all the different climbs.

It was rewarding to see so much learning happening in such a short space of time and all the women were pushing themselves and achieving individual successes.

We moved into the bigger climbing room, where the climbs were higher and a little more interesting.

We climbed till nearly 6pm!!!

After a shower and dinner, we decided to walk for 20 min to the Masons Arms, which had been recommended.

We all sat outside with a well earned drink and embarked on the first round of Karol's quizzes, which seemed to go down well. After about 50 questions, there was only 3 points different between the two teams!

Today we woke to a grey morning, however as we were inside it did not matter.

Some woman were a little tired from the day before and some seemed not to have much sleep, due to noises in the rooms and the banging of one of the outside doors!

The day was spent on the wall getting more confident in climbing ability and trusting others.

We also discussed climbing techniques, grades and rope management.

Then some women asked about if they could lead an easy climb.

To begin to lead a rope was trailed and was used to clip the runners in a leading fashion, whist being on a bottom rope.

When the individual was happy, they led the same easy climb.

Most women were tired with arms as big as tree trunks, by 3pm, all had achieved an amazing amount and some looked like they had been climbing for years!!

Many went back to hostel to chill out and shower, while some went to walk the 4.5-mile waterfalls walk, which was just down the road.

After an interesting meal at the hostel, it was decided to walk down to the Mason's Arms again.

Another nail biting quiz and a few drinks, and we all were glad of our beds!

Today we were going to climb on real crags. Things did not look promising as we looked out the bedroom window to see that it had rained during the night and was still drizzling.

However, after breakfast it seemed to stop and we decided to give it a go outside. A 15-minute drive brought as to the bottom of Twistleton Scar, a limestone escarpment around 12 metres high at its highest!

The idea was to look at a large picture of the crag, which I had taken a few weeks before to try and identify some of the climbs.

However this was not possible as the crag was nowhere to be seen - covered as it was in mist!!

Most of the group went with Sara to the bottom of the crag to gear up and warm up on the lower rocks, whist a few interested women stayed to watch the ropes being set up at the top.

4 climbs were set up all a little different in style and grade.

It was a good test to use skills learnt at the climbing wall and put them to use into a different environment.

There was also information available on how to identify different routes from the guidebook and talking about the grades.

All the women climbed the first 3 climbs, many having 2 or 3 goes getting a little farther and more confidant each time.

The 4th climb had a harder under cut start and prove a challenge to a few.

We broke and rested for lunch and enjoyed the views, which had opened up as the day progressed.

Some women were interested in placing gear into the rock when you lead a climb.

Nuts and 'friends' were available to play with, practicing placing them in the rock for protection from the ground.

We set an abseil up and after lunch all the woman completed it in style.

Some were more nervous then others, but with a little help and support were able to over come their fears.

Others continued to climb and when all had completed the abseil, it became another climb.

We were all done by 5.30pm and made our way back to the YHA. All women said that the enjoyed the outside experience, and some said they felt safer on the crag.

However, they all felt that you had to be more inventive climbing outside while at the wall where all the holds where there in front of you.

Everyone agreed to go out to the Mason Arms that evening for a meal, a welcome change from sweet corn and peas!!!

The meal was a great success, as were the quiz and various mixes of drinks, plus the locals!!

All the group looked amazingly fresh in the morning!! Some had to leave early due to other commitments, others went on the waterfall walk, while the rest headed to the shop to look at and buy climbing gear.

After about 1 hour in the shop talking about what best to buy and trying things on, everyone had bought something to get them started back at home.

We then went to the wall for another session and of course to try out the new gear.

People managed to climb till lunch, arms and fingers not to mention heads had just about had enough and needed to be recharge with a huge lunch up in the climbing café!

Women exchanged email addresses and we all said goodbye to each other.

Everyone seemed to have achieved a great deal during these three days and met their personal goals.

I also felt confident that they would turn up at their local wall and use the skills they'd learnt, operating safely and with confidence.