Climbing Wall

Description

Cliffsbarn Climbing Centre was opened in 1992 as part of a farm diversification project. Ed and Mark realised the potential that the space of the old milking barn had, and with the help of a family friend and soon to be extraordinaire wall builder Colin Rockley they clubbed together to create the Legendary ‘Barn’.

Initial visitor predictions were soon exceeded as the unique wall design, friendly and warm yet slightly competitive atmosphere, and the start of the bouldering boom combined to create thriving wall community.

The design of the wall was pretty much unique in its time as it was the first to use featured paneled walls when most others were moulded resin/concrete. It also has a massive range of angled surfaces to climb on, from slab to horizontal roof, a complete circular traverse, and then there was the cellar.. the first wall to use curved plywood combined with wooden holds.

Over the years the ‘Barn’ became a local training facility for many a ‘hotshot’, the likes of Pete Black a weekly regular, cranking many a hideous rock over, the ‘pexhill’ crew, Mick Lovatt, Ian Vickers, Gaz Parry, and someone who recognized the potential of the cellar as a ‘power endurance’ training facility (like you do?!) Neil Carson.

Unfortunately the success of the ‘Barn’ was to encounter troubled times. A serious problem that is still the plague of all Climbing Walls, the suing culture, saw a number of injuries in 2002 and subsequent insurance claims. The inevitable result was the closure of the barn to the public.

The wall is still open but only can be used with a qualified instructor.