Dunfermline wall was the best bouldering wall in Scotland until the recent opening of Alien Rock2. The bouldering room provides some excellent training walls on severely & less severe overhanging walls, vertical walls, a large roof, and some very good, pumpy traverses/problems on features. It is guaranteed to give even the best climbers a good workout, and yet the lower standard climbers will also have much fun. Not ideal as a beginner wall as vertical is the easiest angle..
My only gripe would include its size. As with many sports centre walls, it has not been allocated much space, and as is so often the case, has been shoved down the end of a corridor with no natural lighting, (I do believe they mix climbers up with cavers sometimes!) Minus points also include poor ventilation, and old, battered matting which is in dire need of renewal . Also the mats - all three of them (plus some six smaller mats), stand at 4 foot high, so take up a massive amount of space and lugging them around can lead to elbow strains!
Overall verdict:
Well if some of Alien Rock2 devotees still say they will train here on occasion, it must be good! Also fairly cheap entry cost.
How to get there:
By bus: By train: By car: From the M90, exit on the A823 to Dunfermline. Pilmuir Street lies just to the north of the city and is a section of the A823 road. (for a more detailed map of how to get there click on their website). (A small car park is located next to the centre although this is often full).
Address:
Carnegie Leisure Centre, Pilmuir Street, Fife, KY12 0QE
Bouldering
This 4.8 metre high wall was designed and built by DR Walls and includes vertical and overhanging walls, overlaps and a large roof. All sections are highly featured resin panels with bolt-on holds. Excellent features include undercuts, flakes, tufa pinches, crimps, pockets slopers, etc. For a good pump, a mean round the wall traverses can be done on features alone, or if that isn't enough, circuit training on the severely overhanging(?? degree) wall should ensure a massive pump!
Easiest problem: no set problems unfortunately Hardest problem: no set problems unfortunately Classic of the crag: traverse of the 'crag' using features alone
Health Suite, Fitness Suite, Swimming Pool, Sports Hall, Aerotone baths, Alternative Medicine clinics, Squash courts and a Creche. The Creche is open Mon: 9.15am-8.15pm and Tues to Friday: 9.15am-6.15pm.
Showers:
Yes
Food:
The Carnegie Café in the sports centre offers a full range of hot & cold drinks, snacks and more substantial meals.
Kids Club:
No
Courses/Instruction on offer:
Available by demand. Call reception for more details.
Shop:
A limited shop, which sells climbing chalk.
Famous names who train there:
All the ex Alien Rock devotees; Rab Anderson, April Marr, Rick Campbell, Gary Latter, Dave Cuthbertson, Malcolm Smith, George Ridge, Neil Shepherd, you name it, they've all been here.
