Kendal Wall (a.k.a the Lakeland Climbing Centre) offers a unique opportunity to experienced climbers and beginners alike. We are very popular with Lakeland climbers but are conveniently situated just off the M6 which makes it worth a trip from anywhere in the North. We even have climbers driving down from Scotland on winter weekends.

If you are just starting out you can get your first taste of climbing in our centre, on one of our beginners courses, taster sessions or with an experienced friend.

If you've progressed beyond this stage, you'll find we have one of the best indoor facilities anywhere: we have over 150 routes from Fr4 to Fr 7c and for bouldering we have over 70 marked problems from Font Easy to Font 7b+......you can of course create your own 'harder' problems. Our routes and problems are 'always fresh', set on a regular basis by some of the best route and problem setters in the business including Ian Vickers of BoulderUK and the very experienced Chris Plant whose interesting routes of whatever difficulty are loved by climbers across the UK.

LEAD WALLS

Main Hall

The Main Hall has climbing of all standards, and a wide range of styles; tufas, cracks, vertical walls to strength-sapping endurance routes up leaning walls that pass impressive roofs and overhangs. Routes are regularly changed and we scrub and wash our holds each week....an arduous task but enthusiastically undertaken by our dedicated staff who share your dislike of climbing on chalk and rubber clagged holds.

The big 18 metre wall is impressive, but not only for top-graded routes - this area always has routes of a more accessible standard for ordinary mortals too! Other walls in the main room reach 12m high and feature a stalactite, roof area and slabs all with frequently changed routes.

The Chamber

We have an entire room, known as "The Chamber" that is dedicated to easier grades, and features laid-back walls, comfortable holds and thick floor matting. This room is occasionally hired by groups but generally is available for use by individuals. We try to ensure that routes in the easier grades are incorporated into all areas of the centre but the Chamber provides a quiet haven for those climbers daunted by the exposure of the Main Hall or wanting to practise rope skills.

BOULDERING

Re-designed and upgraded in Autumn 2003, our two bouldering rooms provide a great facility for all abilities whether you are an occasional boulderer or completely obsessed. The first room has a Livingstone curved resin wall giving 30 sq m of realistic bouldering. The modular system has allowed us to change the configuration for a new feel. There is a multi-angled cave/roof area and an undercut prow giving a huge variety of climbing angles and featuring grooves, arêtes, hanging slabs and roofs. The second bouldering room has angles from slabs to off-vertical, with both featured and panelled sections. There are a wide variety of features such as cracks, corners, bulges, grooves and arêtes to make life interesting! In total around 170 sq m of quality bouldering with all areas floored in thick fitted matting. You don't have to wear a beanie, but it may help on some of the harder problems!

BOULDERING LADDER

We run a very popular fun bouldering "ladder" during the winter months giving up to 80 marked problems of all grades, and host competitions at both local and national levels. Effective dust control, hold cleaning and fresh lighting complete the atmosphere to give a great place to crank those problems!

INDOOR COURSES

We have a full range of regular courses and sessions and cater for individuals and groups (including school groups and corporate).

Taster Session A 90-minute fun introduction to climbing indoors, for those with little or no climbing experience.
Beginners course: Learn the skills you need to be self-sufficient at a climbing wall in this 4 session course.
New Climbers Club: Regular session on the last Friday night of the month. it is intended for climbers who have completed a Beginners Climbing Course or experienced competent adult climbers. No need to book just turn up and climb!
Private Sessions: Ideal for groups or families. Book a private session for whenever you want.
Regular sessions for young people: A wide range of clubs and sessions for youngsters who want to climb regularly.

UNDER 16

We run a wide range of regular sessions and clubs for young people. It is suggested you call us and have a chat with one of our instructors to decide on which session might be most appropriate for your child. Below are some brief outlines of the sessions:

Junior Taster: Like our adult tasters for the younger climber.
Geckos: Fun climbing for 6 to 10 year-olds every weekend.
Geckos 2: Basic skills instruction for 8-14 year olds with previous climbing experience.
Lizards: The club for 12 to 15 year old climbers with limited experience.
Junior Club: A weekly 2 hour club session for 14 to 17 year old experienced climbers.
Groups / Schools: Any age, any ability, any number.
Party Sessions: Birthday parties for all ages.

SNACKS AND THE GALLERY

We have a well stocked snack bar featuring Wilf's cakes (Wilf's website), assorted chocolates, sweets and savoury snacks and hot and cold beverages. You are quite welcome to bring your own food and can relax in our seated gallery and watch people climb, chat or read from our library of climbing magazines.

OPENING TIMES

Winter Hours

Saturday and Sunday 10am - 7pm

Monday: 4pm - 10pm

Tuesday to Friday: 10am - 10pm

Bank Holidays 10am - 7pm

ADMISSION

Peak Time (Off Peak)

Adult - member: £6.00 (£5.00)

Adult - non-member: £7.50 (£6.50)

Under 14 member: £5.00 (£4.00)

Under 14 non-member: £6.50 (£5.50)

Annual Membership: £15.00 (£15.00)

Concessions - member: £5.00 (£4.00)

Multi-entry saver card: 12 admissions for the price of 10

6 months season ticket: £205

12 months season ticket: £315

Concessions

Off Peak prices apply for entrance before 3.30pm weekdays (4 pm for school groups). Concessions = full time students, unemployed and over 60's with proof of status. Peak rate concession available but ONLY applies Mondays and Fridays.

STAFF

Kate Phillips, Managing Director Kate Phillips is an experienced alpinist, Himalayan climber (Gasherbrum IV, Xixabangma, Gangchempo) sport climber, boulderer and trad climber (an ascent of Widespread Ocean of Fear and Controlled Burning on Lundy being highlights). She brings 24 years climbing experience to her directing role at the Lakeland Climbing Centre. She has her Mountain Instructors Award and is well versed in not only instruction but climbing performance. She has been involved with the Kendal Wall since the beginning. She lives in Kendal with her son Joe and the cake-eating sheepdog, Jess.

Mark Holt, Wall Manager Mark has been climbing (amongst other things!) for 19 years. You'll find him behind the front counter, instructing and generally wandering around the place looking busy! He was born and raised in Morecambe. He joined the wall team shortly after the Centre opened to the public and has been here for 9 years 'climbing his ways from tea boy to Centre Manager. Mark enjoys climbing in the Lakes although he has also climbed in far-reaching locations such as Canada, Australia and Nepal. Closer to home he has climbed throughout the UK with some of his best climbing experiences being on the Isle of Mingulay in the Outer Hebrides.

Mark 'Dez' Walker Dez has been climbing for 11 years and is from Kendal. He enjoys all types of climbing and mountaineering with his favourite areas being Langdale, Bernese Oberland, Isle of Skye and the Gower Peninsula! Other interests have included or include: getting lost in caves, paddling on Lakeland rivers and snowboarding. He has also been known to walk up some semi-inclined golf courses in the sky such as Skiddaw from time to time!

Ian Stephenson Ian has been climbing and mountaineering for nearly 20 years, favourite areas being North West Scotland and South America, where he lived for a number of years. After a previous life as a musician, he has been involved in the climbing wall industry for over 10 years.

WHERE

We are placed in one of the best possible locations in the UK for rock climbing, between the Lake District with superb traditional climbing and the Yorkshire Dales, with modern sport climbing as well as gritstone and limestone outcrops.

We are situated off the A6 Shap Road across from Morrisons on the outskirts of Kendal.

From the south:
Follow signs for Kendal from the M6 (Junction 36), then Kendal (South). From Town Centre follow signs for the A6N and Penrith. Pass Kendal Railway Station on your left. After a mile or so, just before Morrisons supermarket on your right, turn left into Mint Bridge Road (signposted Lake District Business Park). Take the second entrance on to the Park. We are the first very tall glass fronted building on the right. This is 15 minutes walk from the Town Centre or just a few minutes in the car.

From the centre of the Lake District:
Travelling from Windemere, take the first exit off the A591 Kendal Bypass signposted for Kendal and from the outskirts of Kendal follow signs for A6 and Penrith etc.

From the north:
Follow the A6 from Shap towards Kendal and turn right into Mint Bridge Road just after Morrisons on your left.

More detailed directions at at Multi-Map The Lakeland Climbing Centre, Lake District Business Park, Kendal, LA9 6NH. Tel. 01539 721766 mail to: info@kendalwall.co.uk www.kendalwall.co.uk/