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Glasgow Climbing Centre
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Opened: 1994
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The Glasgow Climbing Centre (also known as the Ibrox wall) is one of the three major climbing walls in Scotland. The centre is housed in an old church just off the M8, a mere stones throw away from the famous Rangers football stadium at Ibrox.
Inside, elaborately carved wooden beams and stained glass windows add character, while church pews provide practical seating and storage space beneath the walls. The main climbing hall is spacious, though at times chilly, (however, I'm told a new heating system is to be installed shortly).
On offer are lead and top rope routes at all angles - slabs, vertical, overhanging and roofs. An impressive new and very overhanging lead wall now caters for those climbing at the top level. There are also enough features, including a short chimney, flakes and fist cracks to keep those techniques practised. If climbing solo, the boulder walls downstairs offer some good problems and features, whilst upstairs lies a dedicated bouldering/training area that will definitely leave you feeling blasted!
Not to worry though, a viewing gallery, from which you can sip hot coffee and watch the climbers will help to relax those tired muscles. With the recent addition of the new Rock Works wall, the Glasgow Climbing Centre now boasts one of the best indoor climbing facilities in Scotland.
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Overall verdict:
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Unless however, you have the ape index of a gorilla it is sometimes let down by reachy route setting, but to be fair this has improved in recent times. Good training facilities for the bouldering guru.
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By bus: The wall is on the major bus route so any bus to Paisley from Glasgow will pass the centre, and same goes on way back to Glasgow.
By train: Train to Central Station, Glasgow, then jump on a tube from there.
By tube: Get off at Ibrox or Cessnock station. For Ibrox, exit station and turn right, cross over main junction to T junction, turn left and you'll see the climbing centre 50yds on the left hand side. For Cessnock, exit station and turn right. Follow this road for approximately ½ mile until you see the church.
By car: From M8 heading west, exit at junction 23, turn right, over the top of the motorway, turn 2nd right and you'll see the church 500 metres on the left.
From M8 heading east, exit at junction 24, turn right, over motorway to roundabout, turn left. The church spire will now be in view approximately 1 mile away.
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Address:
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Ibrox Church, 534 Paisley Road West, Glasgow, G51 1RN
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Tel:
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0141 427 9550
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Web:
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www.glasgowclimbingcentre.co.uk
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Wall Description:
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Bouldering
A dedicated bouldering and training haven is located upstairs. Designed and built by Ben Pritchard, this wall is for seriously strong boulderers who want to be tested. Walls consist of a 45 degree wooden board with bolt ons, a 25 degree board with bolt ons, and a slightly overhanging board with right-angled roof and minuscule bolt ons. In addition a Campus Board sports three separate ladders - 1st joint, 1½ joint and 2 joint (training gurus will know what this means). The Route Book shows a comprehensive list of problems devised by locals, such as the dedicated Paul Savage who can be found either insitu on the 45 degree board or dead hanging off his 1st joint!
Easiest problem: Font 5 donated by the super strong and beautiful sisters, Carmen and Maria. Font 5 never felt so hard!
Hardest problem: Font 8a+ donated by the legendary Malcolm Smith. Remains unrepeated despite many desperate attempts. The closest the locals have come to succeeding on it is a combined ascent by Paul Savage and Dave MacLeod!
Classic of the crag: "Clampdown" donated by Paul Savage, super problem.
A further two bouldering walls are located downstairs. These are a Livingstone wall - a 4m high fully featured, moulded resin wall; and a DR wall - a 4m high lightly featured, moulded resin wall with bolt on holds.
Lead/ top-rope walls
The new Rock Works lead wall now takes pride of place in the main hall. This imposing 12.5m high wall offers climbs as long as 14m, some of which overhang to 4.5m! The bulging walls and overhanging aretes guarantee a superb training facility for both strength and stamina workouts, with nine lower off points giving an average of 25 routes.
The rest of the climbing hall sports several walls, varying from 24 feet to 38 feet in height, each offering varied styles and steepness. In total 43 lower off points are designated for top roping and 11 for leading. The DR pillar at 24 feet in height, offers vertical climbing on lightly featured resin panels with bolt ons - good for beginners. The Livingstone Slab at 34 feet in height, sports wooden panel walls with a few textured resin features but mainly bolt ons - better than it looks. The brightly painted main Livingstone wall dominates the back wall of the centre and stands at 38 feet high. Featureless wooden panels mean footwork outside of using bolt ons is a slippery affair. In parts this wall overhangs by 2½ metres, sporting corners, roofs, aretes etc. The Blue Room is a more recent addition and is very blue. This self-build wall is wooden panelled with large resin features and bolt ons, easy angled to slightly overhanging, it stands at 32 feet. The moulded resin Rockworks wall is full of interesting features - moulded fist crack and flake, chimney, slab and an abseil platform. At 36 feet the fist crack just goes on for too long, unless you're good at jamming, then its not long enough! - a popular corner with beginners. And finally, the DR wall is the favoured training area by the more advanced climber. This is the main lead wall with grades from 6a-7b+. It stands at a height of 32 feet and overhangs at its most severe by 1½ metres. It consists of lightly featured resin panels with bolt ons.
Easiest problem: There is usually the odd f3 lurking around and several f4's.
Hardest problem: f7b+ (this may vary with harder lines occasionally put in place).
Classic of the crag: two wide fist/arm cracks, pumpier than they look!
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Opening Hours:
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Weekdays: 1200-2200, Sat: 0900-1900 / Sun: 1000-2000.
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Entry Fee:
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Peak £5, off peak £4.50. Concessions for UB40, students and kids (off peak £2, £3 before 4pm and £3.50 peak - after 4pm).
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Entry Requirements:
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Must be over 16 to join. A one off registration fee of £2.50 is charged for new members and a disclaimer must be signed. Persons aged between 14-18 may be allowed entry if parental consent is given. Children may enter if signed in as a guest by an existing member over 18, or as part of an organised group.
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Equipment Hire:
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Yes: shoes size 13 - 47, belay devices, harnesses.
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Other facilities on offer:
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n/a
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Showers:
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Yes
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Food:
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Snacks available at reception. Vending machine for hot & cold drinks. |
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Kids Club:
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Yes - Rock Rats (8-12 yr olds) Sat & Sun am - 2 sessions, each session lasts 1¾ hrs)
Climatize (12-18 yr olds) Tues, Wed, Thurs eve - 1 session, each session lasts 1¾ hrs.
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Courses/Instruction on offer:
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Taster Session - a one-off session for adults or children with full supervision and all equipment supplied. Session duration: 1¾ hrs. Cost: adult £55, children and concessions £40.
Kids Party - a one-off session for children with full supervision and all equipment supplied. Session duration: 1¾ hrs. Cost: £40.
Introductory Lesson - teaches you how to become a member of the centre, covers belaying, leading etc. Equipment and instruction included in the cost. Session duration: 2 hrs. Cost: £30.
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Shop:
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Yes - Summits shop, stocks full range of specialist equipment including clothing, rock shoes, hardware, chalk etc.
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Famous names who train there:
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Ex famed climbers such the talented Mark McGowan cranked here. Existing famous bods such as Malcolm Smith, Mark Garthwaite, Ben Pritchard, Cubby, Andy Gallacher and Tracy Harrison can occasionally be seen sneaking in a wee session. Regulars include Paul Savage, Roger Everett, Neil Craig and Dave MacLeod. Visiting celebs such as Richie Patterson and Andy Bowie have popped in on passing, whilst Gary Latter, April Marr and Karin Magog, have appeared for a comp or two. And then there's Fireman Davy - he's not famous but Glasgow wall would not be the same without him! |
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Best Nearest Pub(s):
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Be careful where you tread in this part of Glasgow! Best bet, head into City Centre or the West End…..
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Best Nearest Food:
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Devotees of Harry Ramsdens will be pleased to know that a mile back towards City Centre (east), on Paisley Road West, lies a plate of large haddock and chips. For a cheap cup of tea and egg roll, head into the friendly greasy spoon café, just 5 minutes walk (east) along Paisley Road West from the climbing centre. For those with a more refined palette, the Italian restaurant, La Fiorentina, no.2 Paisley Road West (head east along Paisley Road West towards City Centre), has acquired a reputation of excellence. Advisable to enter smartly dressed!
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Regular bouldering guru, Paul Savage training on the campus board
Larger Picture
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