Durham Climbing Centre

Background

This indoor climbing center in County Durham offers the opportunity to join clubs and take on different sorts of climbing activities of varying challenge levels.

Image courtesy of Pavil Danilyuk

This climbing centre is located in the industrial estate of Meadowfield, less than 3 miles from Durham City Center. It is also one of the largest indoor bouldering centers in the UK.

Climbing Activities

The Durham Climbing Center’s different climbing related activities include;

• Bouldering
• Beginner climbing
• Advanced climbing
• The training area
• Garden Wall

Bouldering is essentially like freestyle climbing; there are no safety ropes or harnesses required. People can tackle various climbing challenges at a low level near to the ground, on which is a soft mat for landing on. Bouldering is basically a branch of rock climbing that requires problem solving and learning basic climbing moves.

The Beginner climbing area is located opposite the cafe. This is small section with easy climbing walls designed for anyone new to climbing. There is also a Warm Up area nearby, where there are various pieces of exercise equipment provided including;

• Kettlebells
• Balance boards
• Free weights
• Exercise mats

The Advanced Climbing area is the main activity hub of the centre. The activities here are suitable for all ages, particularly those who are more experienced. The activities and challenges range from easy to hard, and they have a traffic light grading system to help climbers determine the hardness levels of each climbing route/challenge.

Other activities include the Training area. These various challenges and exercises include the Beastmaker training board, a large campus board and a peg board.

The Garden Wall is used for private hires of up to 12 people. This activity area is located outside the back of the building, with a series of climbing walls facing towards an outdoor terrace. People can spend 2 hours of climbing and rest on some deckchairs in the garden area. As well as all that, you can also add a food & drinks package where they can provide toasties/paninis and a selection of drinks in the garden area.

Courses

As well as drop-in sessions, people can also join clubs and take on various courses in climbing. Available coaching sessions include;

• Beginner taster session
• Family taster session
• Personal coaching
• Children’s sessions

The beginner taster is for people new to climbing, acting as an induction. The centre will provide 30 minutes of coaching for you to learn about warming up and basic climbing techniques. People will also be able to access climbing shoe hire along with also getting climbing chalk.

Family taster sessions are suitable for up to 2 adults and 2 children. This session includes 30 minutes of coaching and is basically the same as the beginner taster but targeted at the whole.

People can receive personal coaching, which involves an hour of 1:1 tuition. These private sessions are tailored to the individual based on their level of experience.

Children’s sessions include a wide option of different sessions targeted at children in different age groups. They take place after school and on weekends and holidays. All sessions are inclusive to kids aged from 3-16 years old.

To find out more about how to join sessions, click here for coaching and here for children’s.

Events

This activity centre in Durham also runs regular events including;

• Spring Send Fest
• Free supper nights
• Winter boulder series

The Spring Send Fest happens in March each year, as a one-day competition for climbers to join. Spectators can come to watch climbers take on set routes while a live DJ performs. Spectators also don’t have to pay to come watch the final. You will need to book tickets to enter – click here to find out more!

They also host free supper nights for adults, where people will be treated to a free pizza during their climbing session. Click here to see when the next event will take place.

During the winter months, Durham Climbing Center holds their Winter Boulder Series. Contestants will be faced with new climbing problems from easy to hard, and they will collect points to add to their own score after each round. This event is free to enter and suitable for climbers of all experience levels. Click here to find out more!

Coffee Lounge & Cafe

Their coffee lounge – The Rock Hard Cafe – is open during opening hours and is located alongside the Beginner Area just past the reception and main entrance. They serve all kinds of snacks and refreshments; hot drinks (including coffee with flavored syrups, specialty teas and hot chocolates), soft drinks (including fizzy pop and juice), snacks (including bags of crisps, protein bars and cakes) and hot food (including toasties and paninis as well as breakfast meals). There is also an ice cream freezer in the reception room serving cold treats.

The cafe is furnished with leather armchairs and sofas and low height coffee tables, and hot food is bought to the tables. The coffee lounge is on a raised floor that faces the beginners’ area, along with some extra tables and chairs just outside the changing rooms. Food and drink is bought at the reception desk.

Equipment Shop

In the reception room, they have a small shop area where they sell various climbing equipment; including shoes, chalk bags, and branded merchandise such as T-shirts.

Accessibility

Wheelchair Access

While climbing activities may be inaccessible for wheelchair users, this activity centre in Durham has made their venue easy to access. There is a sloped entrance at the front, with wide double doors to get inside the reception area. More double doors lead to the coffee lounge and beginner climbing area. There is enough space for wheelchair users to sit by the lounge in the space outside the changing rooms.

The rest of the climbing area is inaccessible to wheelchairs, however. The viewing area in the main advanced climbing area is up some stares looking over the large L-shaped room.

Toilet Facilities

The men’s and women’s toilets are just to the right as you walk from the beginner area to the advanced climbing area. There is no accessible toilet unfortunately. There are three individual changing cubicles with locks on the doors for full privacy, so climbers can get changed comfortably.

Cafe Menu

The menu at their cafe includes light bites (that are suitable portion sizes), and also includes healthy options like salads. There is a wide selection of both hot and cold drinks. They have vegan and gluten-free options too; please ask staff for allergy information.

Activity Difficulty

This climbing activity centre in Durham has put in place a grading system for the various climbing routes on all activities. This includes:

• Different color-coded climbing holds based on difficulty level.
• Grade sheets that are displayed on a notice board in the climbing areas.
• Support for a climbing app that can be used to track your own progress to help determine your capability. The app can be downloaded by clicking here.

Trainers and coaching staff are always on hand in the climbing areas. All climbers will receive thorough inductions and health and safety training prior to activities.

Parking

They have their own onsite parking right outside the building. There are accessible spaces right by the entrance.

Public Transport

The nearest public transport available is the bus stop on the A690 main road which is nearby the activity centre. There is no train station nearby.

Conclusion

We hope you found this listing helpful in your search for things to do and activities in County Durham. Check out our listings for;

• Planet Leisure
• The Axe House
• ROF59 Activity Centre
• Lane 7
• Infinite Air