Types of Climbing

By terrain:

• Rock climbing is climbing on steep rocky terrain.
• Mountaineering is climbing on mountains.
• Ice climbing is climbing on frozen water features.
• Mixed climbing is climbing on both frozen water features, as in ice climbing, as well as rocky terrain.
• Bouldering is solo climbing on boulders.
• Stack climbing is climbing sea stacks: near vertical columns of rock in the sea, near coasts.
• Buildering (pun on bouldering) is climbing on the outside of buildings.
• Indoor climbing is climbing on artificial climbing walls.
• Recreational tree climbing is climbing on trees.
• Professional tree climbing is climbing on trees for the purpose of hardware installation, pruning, or removal.

By method of ascent:

• In aid climbing, all means of ascent are used, from pulling on gear to climbing rope ladders attached to drilled bolts.
• In free climbing, climbers use only their hands, feet and other body parts to make progress. Ropes and other gear are only used for protection.

By type of protection:

• In traditional climbing (commonly referred to as "trad climbing"), the leader places all protection. The climbing system is used to protect the climber against the consequences of a fall.
• Sport climbing is climbing on routes that are protected mostly or entirely by bolts drilled into the rock.
• Top-rope climbing uses a rope attached to an anchor at the top. It is often used to introduce beginners to climbing but is frowned on by some in the climbing community who consider it an unpure form of ascent. It is also used to let climbers Red point difficult trad routes.
• Solo climbing is climbing without a partner. It can be done with a rope for protection ("roped solo") or without any form of protection at all ("free solo"). Deep-water soloing relies on water at the base of the climb to protect against injury. Top venues in the UK include the Dorset coast and South Wales. Famous routes such as the Congor or Freeborn Man are recognised as some of the best in the country.