If you’re an adrenaline junkie and you think clambering down huge gritstone edges are the thing to do, then Peak District abseiling could be something you should consider. To leap over the edge with a rope attached is safety first, but with dangers still existing. If you’re not content to simply abseil down a rock face, then there are other alternatives to hang from, such as old railway bridges spanning narrow gorges, or if you’re feeling really daring how about abseiling over a swift moving river?
Peak District abseiling is about the controlled descent of any kind, using a rope. Even Peak District climbing can involve abseiling if a cliff or slope is too steep or dangerous to clamber down without protection. It’s all about ‘rapping,’ rap jumping’ or ‘abbing’ if you want to get down – literally -with the kids!
A rope often used by climbers is anchored to a tree or a boulder and other rock climbing equipment is used, such as nuts, or hexes and spring-loaded camming devices. A climbing harness is needed around the waist to secure you and this needs to be comfortable as pinching is certainly not required at such great heights!
Jumping off a man-made structure can sometimes be the best. At Miller’s Dale bridge for example, you could abseil down the brickwork with your feet always in contact on the way down or if you like a real challenge, you could abseil over the arch with your legs swinging free at 65 feet. However you like your Peak District abseiling, then danger is abound, but if you follow all the safety procedures and gain your knowledge from your guide, then this could be one of the Peak District extreme sports that could change your life forever.
