The jury seems to be out on who invented the artificial climbing wall. King Leopold III of Belgium? Or folk at Schurman Rock, just outside Seattle, in 1939? Skip forward 30 years or so, though, and Britain lays claim to the first modern-style setup after a University of Leeds lecturer stuck bits of rock into a campus corridor wall. Suffice to say, the sport has found increasing favour across the UK since, and has never been so popular as it is right now, with Rock Over Climbing up there with the finest indoor facilities you’ll find.
Situated in Cheetham Hill, a north-central district packed full of hidden gems, Rock Over Climbing first opened its doors to our city around 2010, and has consistently developed and evolved. At the time of writing, it lays claim to being one of the largest indoor climbing centres in Britain. It certainly has the credentials to prove this with events such as the renewed GB Titans and ROCFest which attracted the worlds best climbers. Also between 2017-2019 Rock Over Climbing was home to the GB Climbing Team training wall the Hub. With more than 300 individual routes spread across 4 building’s along with a functional training gym and café.
In addition to freestyle, Rock Over Climbing also offers a large number of specific classes and coaching options, catering to different needs, abilities and interests. You might be an experienced climber looking to socialise with others, or a newbie who just wants to conquer a few fears. There really is something here for everyone, including a dedicated training room and handy little cafe. Throw in ultra-friendly staff, just as willing to talk shop with experts as explain what a Trace Eight is to a complete novice, and you should be pretty sold by now. Oh, and the location is great, of course — a stone’s throw (well, 200metres) from Victoria railway station, placing vast swathes of northern England, alongside key Manchester cycling, tram and bus routes, pretty much on the doorstep.