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Scotland
Scottish Climbing Walls
For information on climbing walls we have referred to the Climbing Walls Directory at 'Scotland Online'. The information shown there will tell you all you need to know regarding the location of walls, opening hours etc., and it would be superfluous to replicate it here. However, we have still to discuss with individual walls how their instructors are qualified (and hence whether you are able to employ them); and whether they will accept the Guides Level 1 Award if you want to use your own instructors. This information should be on this site soon; if you have local knowledge of this please email us.
Some of the listings below have no information, but we are aware of that!
Lochgoilhead Centre, Lochgoilhead, Argyll
The Scout Association, Lochgoilhead Centre, Shelter Park, Lochgoilhead, Argyll, PA24 8AA. Tel:01301 703217 Fax:703562
This is a large Scout Association Centre with residential facilities which is also an AALA licensed centre.
There is a small climbing/bouldering wall in the centre, and a crag 10 minutes' walk up the hillside at the back. The crag has an access track enabling disabled access.
The centre have an in-house qualification for their leaders at their crag. This qualification is equivalent to the Guide Association Level 2 qualification and is perfectly acceptable to the GA. Consequently Guide groups are able to have Lochgoilhead staff instruct their sessions.
Overall: A superb centre amidst beautiful scenery. The staff and management were extremely friendly, efficient and helpful. Highly recommended.
Level 1
OS Map 63 ref 338673
Contact Irene Dalrymple 0141 641 1543 or Tracy Thomson at: tj.thomson@dsl.pipex.com
This centre has a new climbing wall indoors and new equipment. All instructors will hold the GGUK Level 1 Award.
Climbing Tree; a simple tree climb with holds bolted on. This tree is not currently (2007) to be used.
Tollie Scout Camp nr Inverness
Tollie Brahan, Maryburgh, near Dingwall, IV7 8HQ. Tel: 01349 866827
Level 2
email: calum.manson@btinternet.com
Warden: Mr. C. Manson Tel 01349 862357
This scout site has a small crag to the south in the woods; it is ideal for an abseil although climbing is not feasible at the section nearest the site as the rock is covered with vegetation at ths point. There are however apparently up to 4 miles of discontinuous crag and some of these may be suitable for climbing - these sections are not generally used and they are not covered here; the information concerns the abseil section only.
The crag has a whole forest at the top, so it is an ideal Level 2 site.
Top of the crag
The crag
Stockiemuir Road, Blanefield, Glasgow, G63 9AU.
Level 1
This centre has a 45 foot abseil and climbing tower which is a good facility with climbing sides including the facility to lead on one side (please remember that only an MIA/MIC qualified instructor should teach this).
Please check that SPA qualified instructors are offered as the Scout Form M is unacceptable.
The site used to use Craigmore crag, but doesn't now that there is a tower.
Fordell Firs National Scout Centre
Level 1 (wall) and 2 (crag)
Fife, near to Forth Road Bridge
Bob Brodrick 01383 414892
Simple crag for abseiling, and climbing wall. This centre has an outdoor climbing wall (to be extended in 2003) and a small crag which is ideal for abseiling with plenty of tree belays at the top (see photos).
The centre's staff are assessed by an MIC, and consequently are acceptable to the Association as one of the schemes which are of the same standard to the Association's own. You may therefore book their staff with confidence. They also have an AALA licence.
The Wall
Top of the crag - plentiful tree belays
Lapwing Lodge, Caplaw, south of Paisley
This Scout centre as visited as it offers abseiling; however this is offsite at Neilston Quarry, Barrhead and is run by an SPA qualified instructor. There is also a crate climb here; it is not clear whether the instructors for this hold the SPA or not - please insist that they do as the Scout Form M or onsite training is not acceptable to the Association.
Bonaly Scout Camp, Colinton, Edinburgh
Bonaly Camping
and Training Centre, 71 Bonaly Road, Edinburgh' Lothian, EH13 0PB.
Tel: 0131 4411878
Fax: 0131 4416169
Email: bonaly.campsite@btinternet.com
website: http://www.bonaly.org.uk
Level 1
This Scout camp has a scaffold and wood climbing wall/tower. The holds are wooden, and participants climb to the top and are lowered off (no actual abseiling). There is ladder access to the top of the tower, and this should be used only by the instructor to set up the ropes - no young person should ascend the ladders as access is open at the sides.
The Warden is familiar with the Guide Association rules for climbing, and measures are in place to ensure that the centre's instructors will be qualified by 2003 season.
Front 
Back
Pier Place, Newhaven, Edinburgh Tel: 0131 552 7211
| Alien Rock 1, Edinburgh |
| Alien Rock 2, Edinburgh |
| Atlantis Leisure, Oban |
| Beach Leisure, Aberdeen |
| Dingwall Leisure Centre |
| Carnegie Leisure Centre, Dunfermline |
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Climb Caledonia in The Inverness Aquadrome See: http://www.scotlandonline.com/outdoors/walldirectory/caledonia/index.cfm Tel: 01463 667505 It is situated within the Inverness Sports Centre and Aquadrome complex at Bught Park on the A82 to the west side of the town. A climbing wall with bottom ropes in place and a good bouldering area. noon - 10pm weekdays; 9-5 at weekends. All equipment available for hire; instruction available (costs depend on group size). |
| Glenmore Lodge, Aviemore |
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Hadrians Wall, Grangemouth Road, Falkirk, FK2 9AB Tel 01324 637733 An excellent online description of this wall can be found at: http://www.scotlandonline.com/outdoors/walldirectory/hadrians/index.cfm This is a large wall with plenty of room for groups as well as cafe areas etc. There is a kids club as well as instruction being available. Group areas are bookable if you want to do your own instruction without interruption. |
| Herriot Watt, Edinburgh |
| Glasgow Climbing Centre |
| Kelvin Hall, Glasgow |
| Lochaber Leisure Centre, Fort William |
| Lochbroom Leisure Centre |
| Meadowbank, Edinburgh |
McLaren Leisure Centre, Callander Level 1 Website: http://www.mclarenleisurecentre.co.uk/ This leisure centre has a quite new wall facility with a very active management who are keen on climbing and promoting activity in the area, especially among young people. Ropes are in situ and there are several routes in the relatively small room, of varying difficulty. An MIA (Andy Cloquet)supervises the instruction at the centre and it is thus approved by GGUK.
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| Olympia, Dundee |
| Peterhead Community Centre |
| Crags |
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SPA OS map 59 ref 404183 This is a nice crag with some good climbs, but there are no belays at the top and you would need to fix stakes. Access is via the road to Fingusk Farm - you will see a field on the right with the crag at the top. Park just inside this field, which belongs to the farm. MAKE SURE you leave enough room for the farmers to access the field, or access will be stopped - at the moment they are happy for you to park there. The crag itself is owned by another local landowner. Please call in advance - you need to call Jane Mason at Guide HQ to give them notice as we can't publish their telephone number. Again, they are happy for Guide groups to use the crag as long as you do this!
The climbs are not as hard as they look here!
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Craigmore, near Auchengillan Scout Site SPA GR 527797 This crag is just off the B821. Turn onto the B821 from the A809 Milngavie - Drymen road, go a few hundred metres and you will see a metaled gate on your left with no sign, and some boulders just inside the gate. This is the entrance to an area of holiday cottages, all gren, hidden in the woods, of which there seem to be several areas locally. Drive up through these until the top of the gravel road, where there is a small layby just before the road goes down again (to another entrance to the B821). Cross the fence going N, turn immediately R along the fence, and you come into a field, The left edge of the field is the top of the crag (care!). Go further until the descent path is reached on the L. This is a nice crag, but belays are limited to trees at the top of, and set back from the top of, the crag. There are no other belays whatever unless you took your own stakes.
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SPA OS Sheet 64 ref 525 769 Must contact Alison Ashford, 32 Ochiltree Crescent, Midd Calder, West Lothian, EH53 0RT, as she has a local access agreement. Mrs. Ashford tells us that since Foot & Mouth, when access was prohibited, the quarry has not been used. It seems as if this may not be a location available in the future. Please don't confuse this with a Graigton Quarry at Craigton just south of Auchengillan Scout site, which has no climbing or abseiling possibilities. |
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SPA OS map 59 ref 460132 For access please call Mr Hamish Lohoar at Drumcarrow Craig Livery on 01334 850115. He is happy to allow access to the crag, but please let him know in advance. One slab that can be used for an abseil; site fairly limited. Could be a simple crag, but needs stakes in place. There are a lot of gorse bushes at the top and base; overall this is not a great crag but can be used for an abseil. The local coastguard sometimes use it to practise.
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SPA OS map 65 ref 125834 A very popular and easily accessible crag, right next to the roundabout just north of the Forth Road Bridge. Ideal for access, but belays at the top are sparse and mainly stakes of uncertain origin.
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info@adventurescotland.com Tel: +44 (0)131 229 3919 Admin
Address: This enormous new development promises to be probably the UK's best climbing facility. The size and scope of the facilities is too much to describe here, so please go to www.adventurescotland.com for a complete picture. There will certainly be plenty of scope for taking groups here with indoor natural rock (a covered quarry), a huge indoor wall, adventure training gym, abseiling, mountain biking and more. We have contacted Ratho for details on group usage and will publish their information as soon as it is recieved.
Construction in progress on the Ratho wall
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AVERTICAL
WORLD PHONE 01382 201901 Level 1 This wall has not been visited, but we have spoken to the manager, Simon Jenkins. Simon is an MIC holder and British Mountain Guide and assesses all of the centre's own staff, so it is perfectly aceptable to use the wall's staff for instruction. Please contact Simon should you wish to instruct your group yourself if you are a Level 1 holder. |
Top
of the crag
Top of the crag - no belays!
Top
of the crag - no belays!
The
crag (part)
No belays at the top 
Carsluith, Newtown Stewart, Wigtownshire, Borders, DG7 2HS
Tel: Warden John McCulloch 01557 814006
Level 1
This is a very straightforward wooden built tower with two active sides; one for climbing with bolt-on holds, and one for abseiling. Access is by ladder. Belays at the top utilise a pulley held on a chain on the climbing side, and there is a wooden bar for abseiling. Take care with abseiling instruction; not unusually the belay point could be a lot higher. There are ground belays of chains in rock; however back these up by also clipping the belayer in to the belay.
The Thirlstane, Galloway Coast
SPA
The Thirlstane is a nice crag in Kirkcudbrightshire, on the Solway Coast near Southerness and about 20km south of Dumfries.
A local MIA, John Biggar, has compiled a good web page with all you need to know about this popular crag for groups. You can find it at: http://www.johnbiggar.com/thirlstane-galloway-rock-climbing.htm
Benny Beg, Crieff
This superb crag is accessed by parking in the car park of 'The Ceramic Experience' on the main road about 1m mile south of Crieff. The management are happy for crag users to park and there is ample space. A path leads to the obvious crag and access to the bottom and top are simple.
Some routes have pairs of bolts at the top, although care should be used when accessing these. In general the sound sections of rock have been bolted, although there may be scope for one or two other routes or abseils using the plentiful trees at the top. The crag is a smooth volcanic rock about 10m high at its highest point. Some areas are lichen covered. The highest section has no bolts at the top, but there are large trees about 5m back (and more further back) - so bring long setup ropes. The centre section has at least 5 bolted routes with chains at the top, and trees if needed. 
GR: NN 497013 (This is approximate, taken from a different scale map)
Level 2
This very small crag offers a few routes, but on close inspection the rock is rather better than the first impression suggests. There are plentiful tree belays (to say the least) and access to the top is straightforward. The routes are slabby and good for beginners.
Netherurd House
Level 1
This GGUK centre offers a range of outdoor activities, provided by an outdoor company contracted to Netherurd. This company is 'Inside Out' who can be viewed on the AALA website (www.aala.org.uk) and whose AALA registration number is R0823.
Visiting GGUK instructors may use the facilities on completion of a familiarisation course prior to their visit and subject to meeting the standard required. You must provide original proof of your qualification in advance.
For information please see the centre's website at: www.netherurdhouse.co.uk
Trefoil Guild Campsite, Edinburgh
Level 1
Girlguiding Edinburgh Trefoil Campsite
Grid Reference 169 706
Gogarbank
Edinburgh
EH12 9DA
Contact - Agnes Haggart - 01968 67 2576
This centre has a climbing/abseiling tree with a large platform. Currently (June 2007) the platform is being refurbished and the site are reviewing practices - however at some stage the activity will re-open, and as a GGUK site they will recognise Guide qualifications and have appropriately qualified staff.
SPA
On the A702 Edinburgh to Biggar road is a small village with a car park in the centre at the back of which is a large rock. The top is bolted and for groups this venue would be most suited to abseiling, for which it is apparently used. The climbing is not only somewhat fragile but is steep and most routes would not be suitable for groups.
Take great care with group management and keep participants away from the bottom of the crag at all times, ensure helmets are worn, and walk each particpant to the top of the crag. This is a potentially hazardous area.
