|
Sod the gym. If you want a hot body and a raised heart beat get yourself to an indoor climbing wall. Jon Kirk, climber, news hound and former Chalk magazine editor, picks the best Click to view Top 5 British Climbing Walls.
|
Best for Kids (North West Face, Cheshire) |
|
 Think of the North West Face as a crèche with a difference: kids don’t want to leave.
According to comments posted online, youngsters of all ages are hooked.
“North West Face rocks!” says one. Another adds: “I love going here. I’m 14 and really look forward to the weekends to climb.” |
Heaven-Sent |
 And who can blame them? Set in a 19th-century converted church, this is a little heaven for kids - and a little haven for parents.
The North West Face offers a bicep-busting 14,000sq ft of climbing. It boasts 50ft lead walls sporting gaping roofs with more than 80 routes up to F8a, and 150 top-roped routes of all grades to 40ft.
A 3m-high dedicated bouldering wall, complete with fixed mats and a separate cellar board, completes the attraction.The North West Face Climbing Club teaches kids all aspects of climbing safety in £9.50 taster sessions, which according to its website, helps them “develop balance, co-ordination, concentration and self confidence”. |
| |
The wall also caters from children’s parties, leaving weary parents time to relax in the cafe. A one-hour supervised lesson for six kids, including equipment hire, is a very reasonable £60.
Finding birthday or Christmas presents for them should be a doddle too, as the wall hosts the largest climbing shop in the North of England. |
| |
| Need to Know |
 Opening times are between 10am and 10pm Monday to Friday, and from 10am to 6pm on weekends. Prices start from £6.50.
How to find it: From the south: from M6 junction 21, take the A57 towards Warrington. Pass Sainsbury’s supermarket on the left and take third exit at next roundabout (signed A49 north). Continue through set of lights, and St Ann’s Church is 100m on the left.
From the north, east or west: From M62 junction 9, take the A49 towards Warrington, continue past two roundabouts and St Ann’s is clearly visible on the right.
To book any of the children’s courses, visit www.northwestface.com, or email info@northwestface.com
|
| |
Pros -
Good routes for all ages and abilities
Lots of courses for children
Friendly staff
Cons -
Can get crowded
|
|
Other great reviews in Sport:
|
|
RELATED PAGES
USEFUL LINKS
|
Could this