In the climbing community, debates about ethics, style and techniques of climbing are never-ending. Climbers divide themselves in sub-groups and sub-communities, each one of them with their ideas and opinions on the best way to challenge a wall. Sport, bouldering and trad being the three top categories. With the former two definitely being the most popular world wide, there is something about the latter that makes it somewhat mystical and secret, especially to anyone form outside the UK. Yes, trad climbing is a unique feature of British climbing. The only place where trad seems to seriously compete with the other two disciplines in terms of number of climbers. As most of the European crags are bolted (There are probably more bolts on the Matterhorn than on an a car), trad seems to survives successfully only in Great Britain. This being maybe for the rocks, the challenges that bolting a rock like sandstone or limestone presents for example, but also the pure mountaineering approach to climbing that has preserved itself in the UK. Research of aesthetics, crave for purity and undoubtedly a deep respect towards the few mountain features that these Isles present. 

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Too often in Europe I heard speaking of those 'mad English trad climbers'.