01
02
03

Winter Climbing
A Visitors Guide to Scotland

INDOORS ICE CLIMBING:

photo: Competition at the Ice Factor, by K HowettIndoor rock climbing walls are now common throughout the country. However, one recent innovation has been the development of purpose-built indoor walls for winter climbing. These can be either of artificial materials or real ice. There are not many as yet. They can be found at:

  • Glenmore Lodge National Outdoor Training Centre, Aviemore.
    A wooden panelled structure with metal slots (not open to the public).
  • Ratho National Indoor Rock Climbing Centre, Ratho, Edinburgh (open June 2002)
    A Rubberised surface for ice-axe and crampon training.
  • The Ice Factory, Kinlochleven (open November 2002)
    A first ever real-ice wall with snow-ice and water-ice, turf and rock. Also incorporates a dry-tooling wall of artificial surfaces.
  • TISO Interactive Shop, Glasgow
    A small real-ice wall for testing out ice gear.

 

next page