Aidan Roberts


Quick Info

From: United Kingdom πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§
Resident: USA πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ
Date of birth: 29th September 1998
Age: 27 years old
Gender: Male
Height: 175 cm
Hardest Boulder (Worked): 9A
Hardest Boulder (Flash): 8B+
Hardest Sport (Worked): 8c
Notable Partnerships
Sam Lawson
Jim Pope
Sam Prior
Will Bosi
Dan Varian
Katie Lamb

Aidan Roberts is a climber from the UK. He grew up in the Lake District and was mentored by the prolific developer Dan Varian.

He started out doing competitions but has more recently moved on to establishing and repeating some of the hardest boulder problems both in the UK and overseas. His problem Superpowers in the Lake District is widely considered the UK's first 8C+. As well as being the first Brit to climb 8C+, he was also the first to climb 9A with his repeat of Shawn Raboutou's Alphane in Chironico.

2024 was a particularly good year for Aidan, with him establishing first ascents of his two hardest projects to date - Spots of Time and Arrival of the Birds, both at 9A/V17. Aidan described Arrival as extremely close to his limit while still being in his style. This has led many to speculate that it could sit at the very top end of the grade.

In September 2024, Aidan made the spontaneous decision to set sail across the Atlantic Ocean. He spent multiple months travelling by sea to South America before continuing north by public transport all the way to California. As the winter of 2024/25 arrived, Aidan made his way to Yosemite, and barely left the valley for the entire winter.

In Yosemite, he sent a handful of hard problems such as The Dark Side and Rhythm and Reason. However, Aidan was most motivated by some potentially next-level projects, notably the Six Degrees Project.

Although he had only planned to visit the US for a year, he has since decided to settle in California and pursue his Yosemite projects. Outside of climbing, Aidan co-hosts the Careless Talk Climbing Podcast with Sam Prior.

References

[1] Interview with BMC, 2015 (archive) https://web.archive.org/web/20240915201832/https://services.thebmc.co.uk/aidan-roberts-interview

[2] Interview with Simon Lee for UKBouldering.com, October 2016 https://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,27531.msg535750.html#msg535750

[3] https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2025/06/aidan_roberts_on_a_winter_in_yosemite-73991

Contributors
653 contributions since 6th February 2021.
38 contributions since 14th December 2024.
25 contributions since 19th November 2025.
23 contributions since 29th July 2025.
Uz
9 contributions since 3rd April 2025.
8 contributions since 11th August 2024.
8 contributions since 29th October 2025.
ben
6 contributions since 28th January 2025.
4 contributions since 7th July 2025.
3 contributions since 3rd February 2025.
TdG
2 contributions since 3rd September 2025.

Quick Info

From: United Kingdom πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§
Resident: USA πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ
Date of birth: 29th September 1998
Age: 27 years old
Gender: Male
Height: 175 cm
Hardest Boulder (Worked): 9A
Hardest Boulder (Flash): 8B+
Hardest Sport (Worked): 8c
Notable Partnerships
Sam Lawson
Jim Pope
Sam Prior
Will Bosi
Dan Varian
Katie Lamb

Aidan Roberts is a climber from the UK. He grew up in the Lake District and was mentored by the prolific developer Dan Varian.

He started out doing competitions but has more recently moved on to establishing and repeating some of the hardest boulder problems both in the UK and overseas. His problem Superpowers in the Lake District is widely considered the UK's first 8C+. As well as being the first Brit to climb 8C+, he was also the first to climb 9A with his repeat of Shawn Raboutou's Alphane in Chironico.

2024 was a particularly good year for Aidan, with him establishing first ascents of his two hardest projects to date - Spots of Time and Arrival of the Birds, both at 9A/V17. Aidan described Arrival as extremely close to his limit while still being in his style. This has led many to speculate that it could sit at the very top end of the grade.

In September 2024, Aidan made the spontaneous decision to set sail across the Atlantic Ocean. He spent multiple months travelling by sea to South America before continuing north by public transport all the way to California. As the winter of 2024/25 arrived, Aidan made his way to Yosemite, and barely left the valley for the entire winter.

In Yosemite, he sent a handful of hard problems such as The Dark Side and Rhythm and Reason. However, Aidan was most motivated by some potentially next-level projects, notably the Six Degrees Project.

Although he had only planned to visit the US for a year, he has since decided to settle in California and pursue his Yosemite projects. Outside of climbing, Aidan co-hosts the Careless Talk Climbing Podcast with Sam Prior.

References

[1] Interview with BMC, 2015 (archive) https://web.archive.org/web/20240915201832/https://services.thebmc.co.uk/aidan-roberts-interview

[2] Interview with Simon Lee for UKBouldering.com, October 2016 https://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,27531.msg535750.html#msg535750

[3] https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2025/06/aidan_roberts_on_a_winter_in_yosemite-73991

Contributors
653 contributions since 6th February 2021.
38 contributions since 14th December 2024.
25 contributions since 19th November 2025.
23 contributions since 29th July 2025.
Uz
9 contributions since 3rd April 2025.
8 contributions since 11th August 2024.
8 contributions since 29th October 2025.
ben
6 contributions since 28th January 2025.
4 contributions since 7th July 2025.
3 contributions since 3rd February 2025.
TdG
2 contributions since 3rd September 2025.

Lists


Podcasts


Library


Pics + Vids

No pics or vids yet.


Ascents

126 recorded ascents.

This timeline is missing some ascents where the date of the ascent is unknown.
Sort
Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade

10 sessions just to do the individual moves.

In terms of things I've done in climbing...I think it's the experience I'm most proud of, and I feel like it's really special to have found that so close to my home. [2]

References

[1] Helvellyn Project - Close Attempt

[2] https://www.patreon.com/posts/aidans-lakes-for-100865896

[3] https://open.spotify.com/episode/0cHKL3jWvp8A4QcZ1LS0YM?

[4] https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/features/aidan_roberts_on_climbing_arrival_of_the_birds_and_spots_of_time-15792

[5] https://www.instagram.com/p/C7T3Lh5Ng2x/

[6] https://www.instagram.com/p/C7jIhiLN_C0/

[7] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnw_kyk0G5Q

Aidan got tantalisingly close in 2023, dropping one of the last droppable moves. Coming back in 2024 he was able to open the problem from a more obvious starting position a few moves lower than where he was trying it in 2023 which adds a few hard moves.

One of the most magical sessions I've ever had. [1]

Aidan said it felt harder than Alphane for him.

References

[1] https://open.spotify.com/episode/0cHKL3jWvp8A4QcZ1LS0YM

[2] Footage from the close attempt in 2023, from the higher start https://youtu.be/fdChDa78tU4?t=621

[3] https://www.patreon.com/posts/aidans-close-go-83500270

[4] https://open.spotify.com/episode/5W9M6ROWRu6DX2Sq8egI07?

[5] https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/features/aidan_roberts_on_climbing_arrival_of_the_birds_and_spots_of_time-15792

[6] https://www.instagram.com/p/C8wzW85Ngz6/?img_index=1

[7] https://www.instagram.com/p/C9NjP0LNIum/

On the grade:

I think I was quite vague with it initially but compared to the likes of 8Cs and 8C+s I’ve since tried abroad I suspect it likely sits with the latter. But very hard to tell as haven’t been on it since I did it. [2]

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATE-tZo12mg&t=1585

[2] https://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,30855.msg667821.html#msg667821

This feels about a grade harder than The Kingdom which is pretty well established in the grey area between 8B+ and 8C, so this is probably in the grey area between 8C and 8C+.

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/CbkNG6BNOlT/

[2] https://youtu.be/H0HMSamy-AI?t=248

Aidan was very close on the flash. He cut loose mid way and had a minor dab, then dry fired off one of the last hard moves. He then basically did it second go but slipped off the easy, wet top out.

Aidan was close to the flash of this boulder, however his foot slipped on the 7C+ high start moves on the boulder due to a wet foot.

References

[1] https://youtu.be/DyDeuGxr36w?t=542

[2] https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBEgU8Zu1j-/

Trance Second ascent. 8C Boulder | worked 5th Jul 2024

Aidan describes the holds as some of the worst he has ever climbed on.

Also ticked Dandelion Mind and Badger Badger Badger in the same session.

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATE-tZo12mg&t=538

Superman SDS 8B+ Boulder | worked 31st Aug 2020

While working the problem a hold came off making the problem harder.

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/reel/CK07-JVDdTZ/

Sit Propera First ascent. 8B+ Boulder | worked 11th Jan 2022

Aidan was close on the flash go, falling on the final move to the lip.

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/reel/CiSvKVgDsE6/

As is often the case with my more considered flash attempts, it’s usually the encouragement of others which inspires a good first go. This time it was [Keenan Takahashi] and [Daniel Woods] whom recommended it and kindly gave me some good advice. It certainly makes sense. The climb prides itself in simplicity. Isolate on a small right hand and drive into the left foot to gain a lovely pinch. And only a few large moves create a tall and proud face of climbing.

Between intermittent rain showers and wavering motivation at the idea of a soggy top-out slab, a weather window opened and I was able to top out on my flash attempt, a great feeling! [2]

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InFpmGeaxJc

[2] https://www.instagram.com/p/CsO0JTwtVg_/

The same day as flashing Momentum 8B+!

Bilateral First ascent. 8B+ Boulder | worked 15th Aug 2023
The Rookery 8B+ Boulder | worked 2024

References

[1] Mentioned in Careless Talk E172

[2] https://www.patreon.com/posts/144233521

Retaliation First ascent. 8B Boulder | worked 2016
Dead and Bloated 8B Boulder | worked Jul 2021
Wedgie Wall 8B Boulder | worked Jul 2021
Paper Birds Low 8B Boulder | worked Jul 2021
Flipnic in to the Crack First ascent. 8B Boulder | worked 5th Jan 2022 8B
XXXS First ascent. 8B Boulder | worked 8th Feb 2022
Perky Pinky
Indoor
8B Boulder | worked 11th Dec 2022
Pinky Perky
Indoor
8B Boulder | worked 11th Dec 2022

Aidan's first problem on Yorkshire gritstone.

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/CozScF7tu17/

[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RgNdhT61QE

Travellin' Man First ascent. 8B Boulder | worked Before 24th Mar 2023
Low Standards First ascent. 8B Boulder | worked 18th Aug 2023
Panic on Funkotron Second ascent. 8B Boulder | worked
Big Chief Second ascent? 8B Boulder | worked
Cold Snap 8B Boulder | worked

Billy Ridal:

Aidan Roberts flashed Tsunami today, and practically everything else at Rubicon. He won't shout about it so I thought I would. [1]

References

[1] https://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php?topic=27531.0

Sundial First ascent. 8A Boulder | worked 2022
XXXR First ascent. 8A Boulder | worked Before 1st Sep 2023
Zoo York 8A Boulder | flash
Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Perky Pinky 8B Boulder | worked 11th Dec 2022
Pinky Perky 8B Boulder | worked 11th Dec 2022