Neil Gresham

Acting

Neil Gresham

Known for

Acting

Credits

12 titles

Neil has been at the cutting edge of the British climbing scene for over three decades, performing at a high standard in disciplines ranging from sport climbing to deep water soloing, winter and traditional climbing. Neil’s long list of hard first ascents around the globe are documented here in his new routes log. His 2012 Pembroke route Olympiad, remains the hardest Deep Water Solo in Britain. In his late 40s and early 50s as a father of two, Neil climbed the hardest trad route of his career, Lexicon E11 7a in the Lake District and also his two hardest sport routes with first ascents of Sabotage 8c+ at Malham and Freakshow 8c at Kilnsey. He puts it all down to motivation and making every s…

Known for

E11 - Lexicon poster
NR

Accomplished all-round climber Neil Gresham seems to be the fine wine of UK climbing; at 50 he realises his hardest traditional project, Lexicon. The steep and blank headwall of Pavey Ark’s East Gully in the Lake District has a smattering of tiny holds and notably no protection. A successful ascent would rank it as one of the most significant. Such a stunning line has not gone unnoticed by the UK’s other trad masters as entertaining cameos from Dave MacLeod and Steve McClure bring additional depth and credibility. We also witness one of the biggest lead falls ever captured, scary stuff!

E11 - Lexicon

2021

Climbing Blind poster
7.0

By the time he was 30, Jesse Dufton's vision was reduced to just light perception with around 1 or 2% field of view. As a life long climber, Jesse flies in the face of adversity training for world cup events and leading traditional rock climbs with his sight guide and fiancee Molly Thompson. As his sight degenerates, his climbing continues to make remarkable progress. Despite his devastating condition, Jesse attempts to be the first blind person to make a ‘non-sight’ lead of the iconic Old Man of Hoy sea stack in Scotland.

Climbing Blind

2019

No artwork available
NR

Neil Gresham teams up with Belgian sport/competition climber Anak Verhoeven to take on a unique, multi-discipline '24/8s' challenge in the Lake District. Inspired by Dave MacLeod and Dan Turner, who both completed multi-disciplinary rounds in the UK, Neil set out to create a similar challenge. His ambitious goal was to complete a V8 boulder problem, an E8 trad route, an 8a sport climb, a D8 dry-tooling route, and hike eight Wainwright summits, all within 24 hours. Straight 8s is a tale of partnership, perseverance, and the unyielding human spirit, set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Lake District. As Neil and Anak push their limits, they discover that the greatest challenges are best faced together.

Straight 8s

2024

On Sight poster
4.0

A gripping adventure into the world of cutting edge rock and ice climbing documenting what is possible with a ground up, no pre-practice approach resulting in raw, compelling and often frightening footage. The climbers in this film aren’t necessarily the strongest but they have the biggest kahooners(!); willing to take a 30 foot fall for the ultimate on sight ascent.

On Sight

2008

No artwork available
NR

Follows Neil Gresham’s white-knuckle journey as he attempts to repeat the six hardest Deep Water Solos in Pembroke. Fifteen years ago he pushed the standards of British Deep Water Soloing on these cliffs: his routes earned a fierce reputation and some went unrepeated for a decade, but now they’re a target for the next generation and Neil has re-joined the action. The film traces back to the evolution of Deep Water Soloing, from its origins in the UK to the development of top destinations worldwide.

Return to the Deep

2026

The World’s Best Belayer poster
NR

This long-term project (one year of production) features the world’s best climbers. It also stars Jean Siuen and the legendary Gilles Estramboulli ! The movie was primarily shot in Leonidio, Greece, and Santa Linya, Spain. For Ray Verseau, climbing is only a consequence of his true love, belaying. Verseau has taken his love for the belay and turned it into a profession, even an art for. He is the World’s Best Belayer.

The World’s Best Belayer

2017

Film credits

2020s · 3 titles

E11 - Lexicon poster
NR

Accomplished all-round climber Neil Gresham seems to be the fine wine of UK climbing; at 50 he realises his hardest traditional project, Lexicon. The steep and blank headwall of Pavey Ark’s East Gully in the Lake District has a smattering of tiny holds and notably no protection. A successful ascent would rank it as one of the most significant. Such a stunning line has not gone unnoticed by the UK’s other trad masters as entertaining cameos from Dave MacLeod and Steve McClure bring additional depth and credibility. We also witness one of the biggest lead falls ever captured, scary stuff!

E11 - Lexicon

2021

No artwork available
NR

Neil Gresham teams up with Belgian sport/competition climber Anak Verhoeven to take on a unique, multi-discipline '24/8s' challenge in the Lake District. Inspired by Dave MacLeod and Dan Turner, who both completed multi-disciplinary rounds in the UK, Neil set out to create a similar challenge. His ambitious goal was to complete a V8 boulder problem, an E8 trad route, an 8a sport climb, a D8 dry-tooling route, and hike eight Wainwright summits, all within 24 hours. Straight 8s is a tale of partnership, perseverance, and the unyielding human spirit, set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Lake District. As Neil and Anak push their limits, they discover that the greatest challenges are best faced together.

Straight 8s

2024

No artwork available
NR

Follows Neil Gresham’s white-knuckle journey as he attempts to repeat the six hardest Deep Water Solos in Pembroke. Fifteen years ago he pushed the standards of British Deep Water Soloing on these cliffs: his routes earned a fierce reputation and some went unrepeated for a decade, but now they’re a target for the next generation and Neil has re-joined the action. The film traces back to the evolution of Deep Water Soloing, from its origins in the UK to the development of top destinations worldwide.

Return to the Deep

2026

2010s · 3 titles

2000s · 3 titles

On Sight poster
4.0

A gripping adventure into the world of cutting edge rock and ice climbing documenting what is possible with a ground up, no pre-practice approach resulting in raw, compelling and often frightening footage. The climbers in this film aren’t necessarily the strongest but they have the biggest kahooners(!); willing to take a 30 foot fall for the ultimate on sight ascent.

On Sight

2008

Masterclass Part 2: Skills and Tactics for Sport and Trad poster
10.0

Are you tired of burning out on steep routes and unsure whether it’s due to lack of strength or poor technique? Do you still feel nervous about pushing above bolts or trusting your feet on slabs? If you’re fed-up with making the same old mistakes then why not settle the score using this two-part instructional video series, hosted by Britain’s leading climbing coach Neil Gresham. Whether you climb F5 or F7c, these films are packed with tips to help you improve every aspect of your climbing performance. Part 1 shows you how to develop your technique and how to train more productively and Part 2 shows you how to put it all together and get the most from yourself on the cliffs. There are right and wrong examples to help you identify your weaknesses and case studies from some of Britain’s best climbers. Those dream routes may be closer than you think and watching these films might be all you need to turn them into a reality.

Masterclass Part 2: Skills and Tactics for Sport and Trad

2005

Masterclass Part 1: Technique & Training poster
4.5

IMPROVE YOUR CLIMBING WITH NEIL GRESHAM Are you tired of burning out on steep routes and unsure whether it’s due to lack of strength or poor technique? Do you still feel nervous about pushing above bolts or trusting your feet on slabs? If you’re fed-up with making the same old mistakes then why not settle the score using this two-part instructional video series, hosted by Britain’s leading climbing coach Neil Gresham. Whether you climb F5 or F7c, these films are packed with tips to help you improve every aspect of your climbing performance. Part 1 shows you how to develop your technique and how to train more productively and Part 2 shows you how to put it all together and get the most from yourself on the cliffs. There are right and wrong examples to help you identify your weaknesses and case studies from some of Britain’s best climbers. Those dream routes may be closer than you think and watching these films might be all you need to turn them into a reality.

Masterclass Part 1: Technique & Training

2005

Behind the camera

Masterclass Part 2: Skills and Tactics for Sport and Trad poster
10.0

Are you tired of burning out on steep routes and unsure whether it’s due to lack of strength or poor technique? Do you still feel nervous about pushing above bolts or trusting your feet on slabs? If you’re fed-up with making the same old mistakes then why not settle the score using this two-part instructional video series, hosted by Britain’s leading climbing coach Neil Gresham. Whether you climb F5 or F7c, these films are packed with tips to help you improve every aspect of your climbing performance. Part 1 shows you how to develop your technique and how to train more productively and Part 2 shows you how to put it all together and get the most from yourself on the cliffs. There are right and wrong examples to help you identify your weaknesses and case studies from some of Britain’s best climbers. Those dream routes may be closer than you think and watching these films might be all you need to turn them into a reality.

Masterclass Part 2: Skills and Tactics for Sport and Trad

2005

Masterclass Part 2: Skills and Tactics for Sport and Trad poster
10.0

Are you tired of burning out on steep routes and unsure whether it’s due to lack of strength or poor technique? Do you still feel nervous about pushing above bolts or trusting your feet on slabs? If you’re fed-up with making the same old mistakes then why not settle the score using this two-part instructional video series, hosted by Britain’s leading climbing coach Neil Gresham. Whether you climb F5 or F7c, these films are packed with tips to help you improve every aspect of your climbing performance. Part 1 shows you how to develop your technique and how to train more productively and Part 2 shows you how to put it all together and get the most from yourself on the cliffs. There are right and wrong examples to help you identify your weaknesses and case studies from some of Britain’s best climbers. Those dream routes may be closer than you think and watching these films might be all you need to turn them into a reality.

Masterclass Part 2: Skills and Tactics for Sport and Trad

2005

Masterclass Part 1: Technique & Training poster
4.5

IMPROVE YOUR CLIMBING WITH NEIL GRESHAM Are you tired of burning out on steep routes and unsure whether it’s due to lack of strength or poor technique? Do you still feel nervous about pushing above bolts or trusting your feet on slabs? If you’re fed-up with making the same old mistakes then why not settle the score using this two-part instructional video series, hosted by Britain’s leading climbing coach Neil Gresham. Whether you climb F5 or F7c, these films are packed with tips to help you improve every aspect of your climbing performance. Part 1 shows you how to develop your technique and how to train more productively and Part 2 shows you how to put it all together and get the most from yourself on the cliffs. There are right and wrong examples to help you identify your weaknesses and case studies from some of Britain’s best climbers. Those dream routes may be closer than you think and watching these films might be all you need to turn them into a reality.

Masterclass Part 1: Technique & Training

2005