The new National Rock Climbing Centre for Scotland at Ratho near
Edinburgh is going to be a lot more than just a funky new climbing
wall when it opens in January2002.
The huge covered quarry is going to house the biggest indoor
climbing area in the world with 2400 square metres of climbing wall
and 400 square metres of bouldering rock including routes of up to 30
metres in length including some on natural rock.
Additionally there are still some 50 or so existing traditional
and bolted routes in the quarry basin access to which will be free of
charge.
But there's a lot more besides including a 25-metre section of
indoor Via Ferrata for instruction and corporate motivational terror
purposes and a high tec gym which will provide specific conditions
courses tailored to 'adventure sports' like climbing, mountaineering
and mountain biking.
On top of that there'll be walking, running and biking trails, a
branch of outdoor retailer Tiso, a top mountain biking shop,
restaurant, an 'air adventure course', physio facilites, etc, etc,
etc.
But don't take our word for it, check out the Ratho
web site for full details.
