Rock climbing: questions and Band 8 answers

Yes, a few times actually. A friend dragged me along to a local indoor bouldering centre last winter, and while I found it exhausting, it was really exhilarating once I managed to reach the top of the wall without falling off.

Definitely indoors, to be honest. Climbing centres have safety mats and controlled environments, which puts my mind at ease. Real cliff faces seem a bit too intimidating for someone at my skill level, as I don't really have a head for heights.

It's certainly gaining traction, especially amongst younger people. Over the past few years, quite a few modern climbing gyms have popped up in major cities, so more people are taking it up as a fun alternative to regular gym workouts.

It carries some risks, of course, but it isn't inherently reckless if you have proper gear like harnesses and ropes. Most serious accidents only happen when people become overconfident or tackle challenging routes without adequate training.

I'd love to give it another go, perhaps during my next summer holiday. It would be great to build up my upper body strength and tackle some slightly trickier routes, provided I can find a patient instructor to guide me.