INSURANCE SAFETY & SKILLS & SAFETY CLIMBING MEMBER DISCOUNTS MEMBER WALL DIRECTORY »2010 GUIDE BOOKS GUIDE EQUIPMENT ADVICE EQUIPMENT ACCESS & CONSERVATION & ACCESS in association with… CLUBS & HUTS & CLUBS Join us… LEADING » BOULDERING » EQUIPMENT HIRE » FOOD » INSTRUCTION » RETAIL THERAPY » CLIMBING WALLS CLIMBING COMPETITIONS Lead Walls Outdoor Boulders Mobile & fi xed towers Bouldering Walls Bolt on holds Consultancy p02_cwd10.indd 1 21/9/09 09:39:38 INTRODUCTION Welcome to the ninth edition of the BMC Climbing Wall Directory, which is based on the information held on the BMC climbing wall database. With the inclusion of 280 climbing walls in the directory this year as well as some fun and games with the UrbanClimber UK indoor training section, this will be the most comprehensive directory yet. Since the last edition in 2009 the climbing wall industry has expanded at a pace and there are many new walls to be added to the already excellent range of British indoor climbing. The BMC continues to work to improve access to facilities for climbers, hill walkers & mountaineers, not just to climbing walls but also to the natural facilities that bring us so much pleasure. Despite much success we still need your support so join the BMC today. PHOTO: ALEX MESSENGER Dave Turnbull BMC Chief Executive Offi cer The BMC and Climbing Walls The BMC is committed to the increased provision of climbing walls on a sustainable basis. The BMC is also able to off er specialist advice on a wide range of climbing wall issues. The BMC works in conjunction with the Climbing Wall Manufacturers Association (CWMA) and the Association of British Climbing Walls (ABC) to improve industry standards. bmc BMC Participation Statement Whenever you are climbing you should always THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING remember the following statement. THE BMC – THE NATIONAL ORGANISATION FOR CLIMBERS “The BMC recognises that climbing, hill walking and & MOUNTAINEERS SINCE 1944 mountaineering are activities with a danger of personal injury or death. Participants in these activities should be » The public voice for climbers & mountaineers in England and Wales aware of and accept these risks and be responsible for their » 66,000 members, and rising own actions and involvement.” BMC » Securing access to our crags & mountains 117-179 Burton Road, Manchester. M20 2BB » Crag conservation & restoration work www.thebmc.co.uk [email protected] » Bought in the last 5 years – Wilton, Horseshoe Tel: 0161 445 6111 Fax: 0161 445 4500 & Craig y Longridge » Annual calendar of regional activities & events Contents » £10m of 3rd party liability insurance cover London & South East 14 South West 24 » Member discounts at 600 retailers nationwide Midlands 26 Peak District 30 North West 32 Yorkshire 36 www.thebmc.co.uk Lake District 38 BRITISH MOUNTAINEERING COUNCIL North East 38 177–179 Burton Road, Manchester M20 2BB Wales 40 T: 0161 445 6111 Scotland 43 F: 0161 445 4500 Northern Ireland 45 E: [email protected] Republic of Ireland 45 Cover picture Lukasz Warzecha - LWimages.co.uk Lukasz is an Edinburgh based professional photographer specializing in adventure, travel and editorial photography. 3 Climbing Wall pages 1-13.indd 3 25/9/09 08:47:31 Introduction Directory Using the Directory Detailed below is a list of climbing walls that off er A few hints and tips to help you get the most out of the discount on entry for BMC members: directory and maximise your use of the walls. Mile End Climbing Centre, Westway Sports Centre, The Castle Climbing Centre, The Redpoint Climbing Centre, The climbing walls are split by country, and listed alphabetically by town. In addition the walls in England are The Tower Climbing Centre. split into the eight BMC areas. Detailed below is a list of climbing walls that off er The following abbreviations are used within the discounted or free entry for British Climbing Team facility descriptions: members: Alien Rock, Alien Rock 2, Awesome Walls, Beacon Abbreviations Climbing Centre, Bear Rock Climbing Centre, Blackpool Towers, BoulderUK, Bristol Climbing Centre, Calshot LC = Leisure Centre, SC = Sports Centre ComColl = Community College, OEC = Outdoor Education Activities Centre, Castle Climbing Centre, Climb Centre, CC = Climbing Centre, CW = Climbing Wall, Caledonia, Climb Rochdale, Creation Indoor Climbing Uni = University, sqm = square meterage Centre, Dynamic Rock, Edinburgh International Climbing TR = top rope Arena, Glasgow Climbing Centre, Leeds Wall, Manchester Climbing Centre, Mile End Climbing Centre, Nottingham The following icons are used to indicate the facilities a Climbing Centre, Rock Antics, Rock City, Salford Uni climbing wall may have: Leisure Centre, Sunderland Wall, The ClimbingWorks, The Edge, The Foundry, The Ice Factor, The Lakeland Climbing The wall is a member of the Association of British Climbing Walls. Centre, The Redpoint Climbing Centre, The Tower Climbing Centre, Welsh International Climbing Centre, Walls that give some form of discount to BMC West View Leisure Centre, Westway Sports Centre. members. Changing facilities. THE ROLE OF THE BMC The BMC is the representative body for climbers, There are some catering facilities at the wall. hill walkers and mountaineers in England and Please note that this could be anything from Wales. For Scotland the representative body is the vending machines to three course meals, and/or Mountaineering Council of Scotland and in Ireland it is bar facilities. the Mountaineering Ireland. The wall has a stock of, for example, boots, Join the BMC and support the vital work we do. Amongst harnesses, helmets or belay devices available other things the BMC: for hire. Please note that it is very unusual for a ❱ climbing wall to off er ‘leading ropes’ for hire. Promotes the interests, and protects the freedom of climbers, hill walkers and mountaineers to enjoy their The climbing wall off ers instructional courses. activities; These may vary from skills courses to national ❱ L obbies and advises government on a range of important qualifi cations administered by Mountain Leader issues, such as access and changes in legislation; Training, or even roped access courses. ❱ R elies on a network of dedicated volunteers and employs Scottish regional centre of excellence. 26 full and part-time staff to implement the BMC’s work programmes including: Access and Conservation, The climbing wall sells a range of climbing Youth and Equity, Safety and Skills, Climbing Walls and products, this may vary from basics such as Climbing Competitions, Guidebooks and Clubs; chalk to a fully stocked outdoor shop. ❱ P rovides information through seminars and good Other sports centre facilities available. practice lectures, as well as producing a range of posters, leafl ets, booklets, DVDs and other publications aimed at Th e wall allows free or subsidised access increasing people’s awareness of all climbing, hill walking for the British Climbing & Bouldering Team and mountaineering related activities and issues; members. ❱ Advises on all aspects of climbing wall activities; ❱ Runs regional and national climbing competitions; Primary NICAS – Primary National Indoor ❱ Examines equipment failures and reports on these; Climbing Achievement Scheme centre – ❱ Maintains a Register of Expert Witnesses; please see www.nicas.co.uk. ❱ Has an important role within the international mountaineering and climbing federation, the UIAA, NICAS – National Indoor Climbing in setting international standards for climbing Achievement Scheme awarding centre – and mountaineering equipment and having BMC please see www.nicas.co.uk for more details. representation on all UIAA Commissions. 5 Climbing Wall pages 1-13.indd 5 23/9/09 10:49:52 Directory Introduction The BMC is a democratic organisation that encourages and mountaineering. It is recommended that all members to contribute to its ongoing work. Many participants join the BMC, or a BMC Affi liated Club, to contribute easily and simply by joining the BMC. This be covered by this important insurance. can be done quickly on the BMC website. Some people ❱ Individual Members also receive 4 copies of Summit contribute by attending meetings or volunteering to help magazine per year. at various events. All BMC members are encouraged to ❱ Discounts in over 600 retail outlets. attend Area Meetings. These are local forums and the ❱ Additionally , the BMC off ers market leading BMC Travel democratic grassroots of the BMC. Full details can be and Activity Insurance. This specialist insurance is only found on the BMC website. In addition, there are also available to BMC (and other Mountaineering Council) substantial personal benefi ts to joining. For instance: members and is specifi cally designed for climbers, hill walkers and mountaineers. Any surplus is reinvested to ❱ A ll Individual, Club, and Family Members receive support the BMC’s vital work. £10m Civil Liability Insurance. The policy provides A full list of membership benefi ts appears on the BMC worldwide cover for any civil liability claim website. You can join online at www.thebmc.co.uk or by arising in connection with hill walking, climbing calling on 0161 445 6111. BMC insurance is the best you can get... it gives you complete peace of mind. It got me home no fuss when I broke my leg on cerro torre Leo Houlding, former British Junior Climbing Champion 6 Climbing Wall pages 1-13.indd 6 25/9/09 08:47:51 10 GAMES TO SPICE UP YOUR WALL SESSIONS Rob Mitchell, director of Craggy Island climbing wall in Guildford and Craggy 2 in Carshalton, shows you how to get more out of your wall sessions, improve your technique and have some fun Traverse limbo 7 Climbing Wall pages 1-13.indd 7 17/9/09 11:54:48 Traverse limbo Climbing walls used to be dull, dusty, drab places, usually in some dingy corner of a leisure centre or ELIMINATES university campus. That was my main motivation to build Craggy Island - a wall I’d want to climb at, that Choose a route you and your buddy enjoy but find had regular route changes and holds that I could tell relatively easy then take turns eliminating a hold which colour they were.