Climbing Guidelines
To see Family Clip n Climb guidelines, click here.
Changes beyond Level 0
We're taking a considered approach to introducing changes in our venues to ensure they will continue to be a safe and enjoyable environment.
Following the First Minister's announcement that Scotland is moving beyond Level 0, we are awaiting Climb Scotland's updated guidelines. In the meantime, our existing guidelines will remain in effect.
The main changes you will notice
- Climbing sessions are pre-book only (via the EL App or website)
- Our climbing sessions will run 10:00 to 15:30 and 16:00 to 21:00 (Mon to Fri), and 09:00 to 12:30 and 13:00 to 17:00 (Sat & Sun)
- There are additional hand sanitisers and cleaning stations throughout the venue
- Each customer in the arena will need a booking.
- Some lines will be closed to allow for a safe physical distance between climbers on the walls.
How you can help us during your session
- All customers must always maintain to physical distance rules.
- Please be considerate of other climbers and your distance from each other both on and off the walls/boulders.
- Please sanitise/wash your hands before, during, and after your climbing session.
- Please be aware of any floor markings or other marking on seating/matting and follow any safety guidance in place.
- Please use toilets located in the arena.
- Please be aware of your distance from other customers, whilst climbing, belaying, and moving around the arena.
- Please be mindful of your time on routes during busy periods and avoid spending extended periods on a single route.
- Please keep your bags and equipment to the side and out of the way of other customers.
- We understand that it has been a long time since you may have seen climbing friends but please be mindful of your distance and avoid gathering in large groups in the arena or on the bouldering matting.
You can leave at any point before the end of the scheduled session time. When your session is over this will be announced over the tannoy system. Please exit the arena promptly and keep to physical distancing as you leave.
Climbing Guidelines
1. Booking & payment
In order to manage numbers and flow at EICA Ratho, our climbing sessions will be pre-book only via our App or Website. This means you won’t be able to turn up to a session without a booking.
Experienced climbers can sign in up to 2 guests. Guest climbers can make their booking on arrival at Edinburgh International Climbing Arena.
If you are belaying and not climbing, you can book at reception.
There is no access for spectators
Climbing sessions will run:
Mon – Fri 10:00 - 15:30 and 16:00 - 21:00
Sat & Sun 09:00 - 12:30 and 13:00 - 17:00
Climbing sessions can be booked from 9pm 8 days in advance for members and 7 days in advance for non-members. We are not limiting how many sessions you can book per day.
To book a session you will need an Edinburgh Leisure account (You will already have an account if you are an EL member or hold discount or loyalty card).
- If you do not have an account with us you can create one here to allow you to make a booking online or via our app.
- If you are not a member paying via Direct Debit, you will need to pre-pay for your activity.
If you are unable to attend your booked session please cancel more than 3 hours before the beginning of your session to avoid a £3 late cancel or no show charge. As arena capacity is reduced it is important that if you are unable to attend that you cancel your booking.
You can find full booking and cancellation terms and conditions here.
2. Before you visit
Before your visit there’s some important things that will be different. It’s important to remember:
- Please arrive ready to climb as changing facilities won’t be available
- Please bring a prefilled water bottle– this can be refilled at a water fountain.
- Equipment can be hired on arrival at Edinburgh International Climbing Arena
- You can arrive at any point during your session and can stay until the end of the session time if you like.
- A reduced number of toilets will be available for customer use.
- Take the time to refresh basic climbing knowledge such as belaying or tying in if you haven’t been climbing for a while.
Please don’t visit if you or anyone in your household, are displaying any symptoms of Covid-19. Click here to see the symptoms to look out for.
Face coverings have been made mandatory and must be worn when in indoor communal areas (e.g. when you enter a venue). Customers do not have to wear them when taking part in their activity.
3. Arriving at EICA Ratho
We ask that you arrive no earlier than 5 minutes prior to your booked session. If there is a moving queue outside the venue, please join the queue and keep a safe physical distance whilst entering the building.
Customers with Access Cards/Fobs
Once in the building, please make your way directly to the arena, following any physical distancing or one way systems in place.
At the arena gates, scan your card and pass through the gates. Please follow any one-way systems that are in place.
Customers without Access Cards/Fobs
If you do not have an access card or fob you will need to collect one from our reception on your first visit.
Once in the building please follow the one-way system in place to the reception desk. Please stand on the physical distancing markers on the floor until you can safely move forward. When you have collected you card please make your way to the arena, following any physical distancing or one way systems in place.
Please do not visit reception unless are collecting an access card/fob. If you need to register as a new climber please use the tablet in the reception area.
4. After your session
Once you have finished your session, please leave the building. We love to see you, but we have arranged our bookings to carefully manage the number of people in our building at any one time.
If you have booked two sessions back to back you will need to leave the arena in between sessions. There will be a gap in between sessions to allow for cleaning. During this time please wait in the designated area within the atrium until your next session begins. Please be aware of any floor markings which have been measured to follow physical distancing guidance
Thank you for playing your part in keeping everyone safe.
Family Clip n Climb Guidelines
The main changes you will notice for Clip n Climb at EICA Ratho:
- Clip n Climb sessions will only be family sessions.
- There are additional hand sanitisers and cleaning stations throughout the venue.
- Your session must be pre-booked.
- Children aged 4+ can now be booked onto a session.
- Each booking must include one adult (18+) to assist their group with harnessing and clipping in.
- You will need to fit your own harness and clip yourself in and out, our staff will be available to show you but cannot physically assist.
- You will need to fill out a disclaimer form once you at Clip n Climb.
Booking & Payment
In order to manage numbers and flow at EICA Ratho, our Clip n Climb family sessions will be pre-book only via our App or Website. This means you won’t be able to turn up to a session without a booking.
You can book up to 4 members of the same household into a family sessions – One of these must be an adult (aged 18+) who is willing to help harness and clip in other members of the group during their session. Children over the age of 4 are now allowed in our family sessions.
Each session will last 1hr including harnessing and your safety briefing.
Climbing sessions can be booked from 9pm 8 days in advance for members and 7 days in advance for non-members. We are not limiting how many sessions you can book per day.
To book a session you will need an Edinburgh Leisure account (You will already have an account if you are an EL member or hold discount or loyalty card).
- If you do not have an account with us you can create one here to allow you to make a booking online or via our app.
Before you visit
Before your visit there’s some important things that will be different. It’s important to remember:
- Please arrive ready to climb as changing facilities won’t be available. The arena can be cold so please ensure you are dressed appropriately. We ask not to wear hoodies as these will need to be removed when climbing.
- Please arrive wearing closed and flat shoes such as trainers.
- Please bring a prefilled water bottle– this can be refilled at a water fountain.
- Please do not bring any food, chewing gum, or drinks (other than water).
- A reduced number of toilets will be available for customer use.
- Please bring limited valuables with you as we only have small lockers available for use (these take £1.00).
- We ask that you do not bring any spectators
Face coverings have been made mandatory and must be worn when in indoor communal areas (e.g. when you enter a venue). Customers do not have to wear them when taking part in their activity.
Arriving at EICA Ratho
Please arrive no later than 15 minutes before your session. If there is a moving queue outside the venue, please join the queue and keep a safe physical distance whilst entering the building.
You won’t need to queue at reception when you arrive – please follow the arrows down to the climbing arena where you will check in with the Clip n Climb team. Once you arrive at Clip n Climb you will need to fill out a disclaimer form before taking part in your session.
Before you start climbing
- Please make sure long hair is tied back.
- Certain accessories and items of jewellery cannot be worn while climbing and must be removed. If these items cannot be removed they must be concealed with tape. This includes:
- Hard or metal headbands
- Dangly earrings
- Necklaces, chokers, bracelets, rings, or watches
- Please remove all items from your pockets e.g. keys, coins, phones etc.
- Please zip up your jacket/jumper.
- Make sure any shoelaces are tied and your shoes are clean.
- Please go to the toilet before your session - toilets are on level three and two opposite the elevator.
How you can help us during your session
- All customers must always maintain to physical distance rules. Please be considerate of other climbers and your distance from each other both on and off the walls.
- Please sanitise/wash your hands before, during, and after your session.
- You will need to fit your own harness and help any members within your group. Our instructors will be on hand to show you but are unable to assist physically at this time.• Clipping in and out must be done by members in your group, either by climbers themselves or booked adult(s) within the group. Due to limited capacity we are unable to allow additional family members into Clip n Climb to help with clipping.
- Our instructors will be available in your session but due to guidelines will need to keep a physical distance except in the event of an emergency.
- Please be aware of any floor markings or other marking on seating and follow any safety guidance in place.
After your session
Once you have finished your session, please leave the building. We love to see you, but we have arranged our bookings to carefully manage the number of people in our building at any one time.Thank you for playing your part in keeping everyone safe.
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