UKC

Wheres the best (only?) places to climb indoors in Southampton? Im moving down there in the next few weeks and keen keep climbing after work etc so just wondering what peoples thoughts were? After having Bristols TCA & undercover rock on my doorstep I feel it could be a tricky act to follow...

Rob

In reply to rob514:

Calshot is good but a bit of a faff from central Southampton (Hythe ferry+bike or a long drive). THere is also St.Marys wall but I've never been.

In reply to mkean:

Yea Ive just found calhot does look like hell of a way from so'ton - But then does look good (altho the website doesnt show many snaps). Maybe something for the weekend when its raining.

In reply to rob514:

Calshot is great for leading/TRing, but rubbish for bouldering.

St Mary's is very small, but ok for a mid week finger session.

In reply to rob514:
Not a lot on offer in central Southampton apart from St Marys or a bouldering room at Southampton Uni. Otherwise you're looking at bouldering at Fort Purbrook nr Portsmouth or the Reading wall which has a decent bouldering set up (and roped climbing too). Calshot will probably take you 30+ mins from central Southampton depending on the traffic.

In reply to rob514:

A mate climbed to the top of the Bargate once. Not recommended...but it was funny at the time.

In reply to rob514: get involved with the southampton uni club! Plenty of non uni students, lots of trips around the uk, very busy active club. There is a reasonable bouldering wall at the university as well, that is part of the gym, so you can only use it if you buy gym membership and not for a single visit, but it makes for a cheap way to train regularly in a good social atmosphere. Check out http://www.facebook.com/groups/164038700294200/ and http://sumountaineers.org/ Though the website is very out of date in some ways, it is used a lot, and you can contact the committee through it. Lovely bunch of people, taught me to climb years back and though i left a year ago i still go on trips with them regularly.
See the uni wall here: http://www.sportrec.soton.ac.uk/content/view/70/63/

In reply to cuppatea:

LAD

In reply to rob514:


I spent many an hour down St Mary's before they finished the Uni wall.
Great if you like top roping and mediocre bouldering, but cruising the same route repeatedly will keep you fit.

Calshot is literally the coldest place on earth - worth the trip on a chilly Wintery Wednesday evening though But pack the Down jacket!.

Uni wall is ok - quite small but a lot going on.

In reply to rob514:

As has been said, the main choices close(ish) by are Calshot (lots of leads and longer routes), Southampton Climibing Wall (St. Mary's wall, http://www.southamptonclimbingwall.co.uk , tiny but cheap and convenient, TR only) and Fort Purbrook (http://www.peterashleyactivitycentres.co.uk/peter_ashley_clubs-climbing_wal... , bouldering only, but two decent rooms and cheap).