Ice Factor Promises Mother Of All Hogmanays...

The new mega indoors ice and rock climbing 'The Ice Factor' - it used to be 'Factory', but somewhere along the line they mislaid the 'Y' - is provisionally due to open on 27 December this year and they're planning the mother of all Hogmanays to celebrate.

The facility, if you've somehow managed to miss it, is being constructed in the village of Kinlochleven, just ten minutes from Glencoe - it's the next glen along - and half an hour from Fort Bill in a disused aluminium plant. It's also on the course of the West Highland Way, so frisky backpackers will be able to while away a long evening front-pointing...

It looks like a fantastic place, with 'the world's biggest, full-scale commercial ice climbing project', plus the UK's largest articulated artificial climbing wall, bouldering room, lecture theatres, drying cabinets, caff and restaurant and a sauna, steam room and plunge pool. Mmmmm....

The ice wall sounds particularly impressive, ranging in height from six to 12 metres with the 400 square meters of ice being capable of accommodating up to 30 climbers at any one time. They're also promising mixed climbing and frozen turf - surely an indoor first - with granite blocks set into the ice.

It should be a tad more reliable than Scotland's normal fickle climbing conditions anyway, just a shame it wasn't open in time for the current heat wave eh?

Grand Hogmanay Bash

The opening is going to marked by a Hogmany event with a 1,000-person tent provided by sponsors Red Bull and 'a spectacular event including: Competitions, Lectures, Bands, DJ's and also free drink!!!!!' Full details will be on the Ice Factor web site as soon as they're released. And that's just the start of a week of events.

Employment Opportunities

There are vacancies for a Facility Manager, Retail Manager and Instructors. See this page for more details.