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Ratho Adventure Centre |
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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.
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Best Setting (Ratho Adventure Centre, Scotland) |
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 The world’s largest climbing wall with an even bigger personality. Set in the grounds of a covered quarry, the surroundings at Ratho are as unique as the climbing it offers. Worth the travel fare for what local climbers affectionately dub “The Ratho experience”. |
On a Grand Scale... |
To describe Ratho as a "large" wall would be something of a major understatement. As the largest indoor climbing arena in the world, you’d be right in thinking it’s gigantic.
Set in an 2.2 hectare covered quarry near Edinburgh, the dramatic complex is home to a staggering 2,760sq metres of climbing.
It’s state-of-the-art walls include 4m-high freestanding plywood "boulders" with a good range of difficulty (grades from British 4a to 7a, for those who understand the complexities of the grading system).
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 There are more than 150 routes reaching over 90ft in height, that suit all levels of ability, while climbers also have the option of taking to the complex’s natural cliffs.
Work on the complex in Ratho, a village 10 miles outside Edinburgh, began in 1995 when developers began the monumental task of removing more than 250,000 tonnes of rubble from the site.
In its place, they built the climbing wall, lecture hall, residential accommodation, gym, scuba-diving pool, judo hall, restaurant and bar, an aerial assault course, and a Skyride 30m above the arena floor.
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 Following an extensive refurbishment carried-out by it new owners, Edinburgh Council, Ratho is set to re-open for business in early 2007.
When it does, crowds are expected to flock here in their droves thanks to the close proximity of Edinburgh Airport, just two miles away.
Prices start from £8 for adults, and £5 for juniors. It will open from 10am - 10pm Monday to Friday, and from 10am-7pm on weekends.
The hot tip? Simple. Book your flight now and join them.
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Pros -
World's largest indoor climbing arena
Unique surroundings
Various peripheral activities
Cons -
Likely to become very busy when it reopens in 2007 after refurbishment |
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