Edinburgh International Climbing Arena
Encyclopedia
Edinburgh International Climbing Arena (EICA:Ratho, formerly the Ratho Adventure Centre) is an adventure sports facility located in Ratho
, on the outskirts of Edinburgh
, Scotland
. When it opened, it was the largest indoor climbing
arena in the world. The centre opened in 2003, but in 2005 the company running it went into receivership
, and the centre was temporarily closed. In 2007 the centre reopened under a new owner, Edinburgh Leisure, a not-for-profit company part-funded by City of Edinburgh Council. Since then, visitor numbers to the centre have grown and parts that were not complete, like the office suites, have been completed.
facilities, the Scottish National Judo
Academy, and an aerial assault course
. The centre was originally going to host a scuba diving
tank, but this facility was delayed and later scrapped when the centre went into administration. The centre also has a gym
that is specifically aimed at climbers with large amounts of strength and cardio equipment. Another gym for teenagers, called NRG Zone, is based mainly on teaching young people how to build up a good workout on their own.
Coaching and training with an instructor is available, as well as courses including indoor movement skills, indoor lead climbing
, and a few less standard climbing course such as sea stack and ridge climbing. Instructor training can lead to awards and qualifications upon completion. The centre runs off-site courses in outdoor climbing, skiing, hillwalking and water sports.
The centre also hosts events such as weddings and stag/hen parties. Catering for these events is not provided by the centre, but by an external catering company. Within the centre, the Belay Café serves its own food. The centre provides team building
and work day out events for business, and also offers conference and lecture accommodation, with WiFi
access. There are four available rooms and one lecture theatre, with capacities ranging from very large (500+ people) to small (12 people). These rooms have also been used for events, including the Radio Forth
awards.
, and beside the M9 motorway, around 8 miles (12.9 km) from central Edinburgh. The centre is located in the former Ratho Quarry, which closed in 1905. The location was chosen because of the shape of the quarry, which allowed a roof to be placed over a section of it. Outside, the rest of the grounds were landscaped, and traditional climbing is available on the rock face of the quarry. Its location close to Edinburgh, around a 20 minute drive, meant a large potential customer base. The proximity of Edinburgh Airport
means that climbers from all over Europe can visit the centre for a weekend. The airport is around a 20 minute walk from the facility, and a shuttlebus service operates between the two.
Complaints about the temperature of the centre have also been raised a number of times. The main arena is not heated because of its size and therefore in winter temperatures can drop to almost 0°C inside. This made it very hard for climbers to get warmed up before performing a stressful activity. Since the takeover the arena is still not heated but there are small heaters placed around the floor where people can warm up between climbs.
Ratho
Ratho is a village and civil parish in the west of Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland. It was formerly in the old county of Midlothian. Newbridge and Kirkliston are other villages in the area. The Union Canal passes through Ratho. Edinburgh Airport is situated only 4 miles ...
, on the outskirts of Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. When it opened, it was the largest indoor climbing
Climbing
Climbing is the activity of using one's hands and feet to ascend a steep object. It is done both for recreation and professionally, as part of activities such as maintenance of a structure, or military operations.Climbing activities include:* Bouldering: Ascending boulders or small...
arena in the world. The centre opened in 2003, but in 2005 the company running it went into receivership
Receivership
In law, receivership is the situation in which an institution or enterprise is being held by a receiver, a person "placed in the custodial responsibility for the property of others, including tangible and intangible assets and rights." The receivership remedy is an equitable remedy that emerged in...
, and the centre was temporarily closed. In 2007 the centre reopened under a new owner, Edinburgh Leisure, a not-for-profit company part-funded by City of Edinburgh Council. Since then, visitor numbers to the centre have grown and parts that were not complete, like the office suites, have been completed.
Services and facilities
The centre offers the world's largest indoor climbing arena, boulderingBouldering
Bouldering is a style of rock climbing undertaken without a rope and normally limited to very short climbs over a crash pad so that a fall will not result in serious injury. It is typically practiced on large natural boulders or artificial boulders in gyms and outdoor urban areas...
facilities, the Scottish National Judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
Academy, and an aerial assault course
Assault course
An assault course is a special sort of trail that combines running and exercising. It was more popular in the 1970s than it is now. It is heavily used in military training...
. The centre was originally going to host a scuba diving
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
tank, but this facility was delayed and later scrapped when the centre went into administration. The centre also has a gym
Gym
The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, that mean a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men...
that is specifically aimed at climbers with large amounts of strength and cardio equipment. Another gym for teenagers, called NRG Zone, is based mainly on teaching young people how to build up a good workout on their own.
Coaching and training with an instructor is available, as well as courses including indoor movement skills, indoor lead climbing
Lead climbing
Lead climbing is a climbing technique used to ascend a route. This technique is predominantly used in rock climbing and involves a lead climber attaching themselves to a length of dynamic climbing rope and ascending a route while periodically attaching protection to the face of the route and...
, and a few less standard climbing course such as sea stack and ridge climbing. Instructor training can lead to awards and qualifications upon completion. The centre runs off-site courses in outdoor climbing, skiing, hillwalking and water sports.
The centre also hosts events such as weddings and stag/hen parties. Catering for these events is not provided by the centre, but by an external catering company. Within the centre, the Belay Café serves its own food. The centre provides team building
Team building
Team building refers to a wide range of activities, presented to businesses, schools, sports teams, religious or nonprofit organizations designed for improving team performance...
and work day out events for business, and also offers conference and lecture accommodation, with WiFi
WIFI
WIFI is a radio station broadcasting a brokered format. Licensed to Florence, New Jersey, USA, the station is currently operated by Florence Broadcasting Partners, LLC.This station was previously owned by Real Life Broadcasting...
access. There are four available rooms and one lecture theatre, with capacities ranging from very large (500+ people) to small (12 people). These rooms have also been used for events, including the Radio Forth
Radio Forth
Radio Forth is a group owning two radio stations based in Edinburgh. The stations broadcast to Edinburgh, The Lothians and Fife.-History:Radio Forth was launched on 22 January 1975 by current chairman Richard Findlay. His opening speech included "This, for the very first time is Radio Forth"...
awards.
Location
The climbing centre is located just to the west of the village of RathoRatho
Ratho is a village and civil parish in the west of Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland. It was formerly in the old county of Midlothian. Newbridge and Kirkliston are other villages in the area. The Union Canal passes through Ratho. Edinburgh Airport is situated only 4 miles ...
, and beside the M9 motorway, around 8 miles (12.9 km) from central Edinburgh. The centre is located in the former Ratho Quarry, which closed in 1905. The location was chosen because of the shape of the quarry, which allowed a roof to be placed over a section of it. Outside, the rest of the grounds were landscaped, and traditional climbing is available on the rock face of the quarry. Its location close to Edinburgh, around a 20 minute drive, meant a large potential customer base. The proximity of Edinburgh Airport
Edinburgh Airport
Edinburgh Airport is located at Turnhouse in the City of Edinburgh, Scotland, and was the busiest airport in Scotland in 2010, handling just under 8.6 million passengers in that year. It was also the sixth busiest airport in the UK by passengers and the fifth busiest by aircraft movements...
means that climbers from all over Europe can visit the centre for a weekend. The airport is around a 20 minute walk from the facility, and a shuttlebus service operates between the two.
Controversy
The climbing centre over the years has suffered a number a setbacks and problems with the construction and design of the facility. When the company that owned it back in 2005 went under, the roof was in dire need of repair. When it rained water would come through the roof and right down into the main arena. Climbers complained that the wall was constantly wet and wondered why a simpler design was not put forward that would have been more practical. This water also collected under the floor that was made out of locally sourced rock. Around the edge of the arena where the floor met with the bare rock water was visible just an inch under the floor level. Since the takeover by Edinburgh Leisure the roof problem has been mostly fixed and some repairs around the outside of the roof have been carried out.Complaints about the temperature of the centre have also been raised a number of times. The main arena is not heated because of its size and therefore in winter temperatures can drop to almost 0°C inside. This made it very hard for climbers to get warmed up before performing a stressful activity. Since the takeover the arena is still not heated but there are small heaters placed around the floor where people can warm up between climbs.