Montserrat is the cradle of Catalan climbing and one of the world's great climbing areas. There are literally thousands of climbs to be found in this labyrinthine and dramatically beautiful massif, ranging from state of the art sports routes to classic big wall adventures. Even the most well-travelled climber cannot fail to be dazzled by what Montserrat has to offer.

As we drive towards the massif from Barcelona the unmistakable saw-tooth profile of Montserrat rises out of the heat and haze of the plain. Looking up at the towering rock formations it is easy to see the inspiration for the outrageous spires of Gaudi's still unfinished Sagrada Familia Cathedral. Thousands of needles, massed together in the most improbable manner, break the skyline in two. The sight is so impressive and at the same time so unlike anything that you have seen before that it is hard not to feel impelled to climb.

As we get closer, the individual shapes that so characterise Montserrat become more apparent, the final approach providing perhaps the most unforgettable view of all: a continuous wall of big-faces and needles stretches across the horizon. The only question is where to begin: the sunny bowl of impeccable sports climbs which goes to make up The Red, the friendly slabs of the Gorros domes, the 8-pitch towering spire which is the Cavall Bernat, the orange overhangs of the Devil's Wall, the intimidating blankness of the great Paret de l'Aeri, or the jagged vertical expanse of the Moor's Face?

Most people choose to start at one of the scores of excellent and endlessly entertaining sports sectors on the sunny south side, giving themselves an opportunity to get used to the rock and the style of climbing before moving on to more serious challenges. Happily, modern sports routes come at all grades, from F5 to F8c+, and are extremely well bolted allowing you to push yourself (safely) as much as you want. Multi-pitch slab routes tend to be semi or fully equipped (although sportingly bolted and tremendously atmospheric) while classic lines up cracks, corners and flakes are fiercely protected giving us some of the best and most committing trad routes to be found in the whole of Spain.

Wherever you do decide to climb during your trip, you will find the finest conglomerate rock in the world and superb technical climbing, on fantastic edges, intricate pockets, slabs, cracks and flakes. Whatever type of climbing you love, Montserrat is a unique and awe-inspiring experience.  Our long weekends are not instruction courses and you need to be an independent climber able to top rope and belay safely and have your own climbing insurance to participate.  

More information about our long weekend breaks. 

Prices and Booking