Indoor climbing and bouldering in the Lake District and Cumbria

If you’re learning to climb, or are an experienced climber who wants to keep going when it’s wet and cold out, then get yourself to one of the excellent indoor climbing walls in the Lake District! Learn the ropes with professional lessons, practice your dynos at a bouldering centre, or work on your technique with top rope routes.

And if the weather is fine and sunny, and you fancy a day in the great outdoors, we’ve also got a great guide to amazing outdoor climbing locations in the Lake District too.

Kong Adventure Centre, Keswick

Copyright: Kong Adventure Centre

You can’t miss Kong Adventure Centre in the heart of Keswick thanks to the very large gorilla that stands outside! After taking a moment for a selfie with Kong, head inside for some top rope climbing, bouldering, lead climbing, auto belays and even indoor caving! Kong boasts a selection of routes for all grades, and its main walls have plenty of challenging overhangs as well as easy slabs. A dedicated area for children has fun climbing routes where they can scale Jack’s beanstalk, mimic a climb up a glacier, or race one another on a timed route. A play area, escape room and café mean that this is a great retreat on wet weather days.

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Keswick Climbing Wall, Keswick

Copyright Keswick Climbing Wall

Just outside Keswick is yet another climbing wall: one with amazing views from its doorstep! Keswick Climbing Wall, part of Newlands Adventure Centre, sits on a farm right by spectacular Castlerigg Stone Circle, and it’s well worth stopping here before or after your climb.

When you get to the wall, you’ll find over 120 routes for experienced climbers, as well as a good bouldering area. Sessions are available for learners, including kids-only lessons and family lessons that help everyone get in on the action. If the weather clears up, an outside play area is a great place for children to run off any excess energy!

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Clip ‘n’ Climb, Maryport

Copyright Clip ‘n’ Climb

At the southern tip of the Solway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is the seaside town of Maryport. The Clip ‘n’ Climb here is a perfect adventure for kids, with a range of fun and colourful routes that will keep them interested and challenged. They can scale a giant block of Jenga pieces, make their way up a Tetris game, or even take on a huge Connect 4 board! For those who want an even bigger challenge, there’s a Stairway to Heaven (a series of increasingly tall towers), a ‘leap of faith’ high above the ground, and a caving experience to explore.

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Penrith Leisure Centre Climbing Wall, Penrith

The unmanned wall at Penrith Leisure Centre in Penrith is suitable for experienced climbers with their own kit, including ropes. Perfect for lead climbing, you have 120 square metres of wall to choose from, including a couple of overhangs that provide a decent challenge. If you’re heading to the wall on your own, there are a couple of auto belays to make use of too.

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KendalWall, Kendal

Copyright KendalWall

Boasting the tallest indoor climbing wall in England, loads of routes, excellent bouldering, and additional indoor attractions, KendalWall in Kendal has plenty to draw you in. Family and child-friendly taster sessions require absolutely no experience, while accessible CrazyClimbs and a thrilling Sky Jump will really test your mettle! More experienced climbers can try roped climbing (with walls up to 25 metres), the dedicated Training Room, The Tool Box for dry tooling, or one of two bouldering rooms (new adult climbers can also enjoy these after watching an induction video). There are also opportunities to learn with friendly and helpful courses, drop-in sessions, and private tuition.

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Ambleside Climbing Wall, Ambleside

In the heart of the South Lakes, Ambleside Climbing Wall is perfectly located if you’re staying in one of our holiday cottages in Ambleside or nearby. Friendly and welcoming, this is a wall where you can just as easily start learning the basics, build up your experience, or really challenge yourself as an experienced climber. The instructors are patient and happy to offer advice covering everything from climbing skills to recommended equipment. The bouldering room, though small, has a surprisingly large number of routes that will challenge even the most experienced boulderers.

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The Wall, Ulverston

Copyright The Wall

Perfect for working on your technique, The Wall in Ulverston is a small but mighty bouldering gym with a whole host of routes to help you work on your footwork and positioning. As an experienced climber, you’ll be able to focus on fine-tuning your technique, while beginners will get a great start by immediately learning the important basics of climbing and bouldering. If you need an energy boost, the coffee comes very highly recommended.

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Eden Rock, Carlisle

Eden Rock is a dedicated bouldering centre in Carlisle with friendly and enthusiastic staff and a large selection of varied routes, including slabs, overhangs, and a cave. You’ll give your mind a workout as well as your body, with plenty of problems to solve. Or you can pick out one of the easier routes and just enjoy scaling it! There’s a small gym area for you to use, as well as a little shop and an eco-friendly café. Don’t miss sampling one of their delicious homemade pizzas before you leave.

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Holiday cottages in the Lake District

After a good workout, settle down at one of our wonderful holiday cottages in the Lake District. We've got everything from cosy cottages for romantic breaks to big family boltholes where everyone is invited. 

Browse our cottages in the Lake District.