Climbing Walls in Derby

Alter Rock

Alter Rock opened in 2008 inside St James Church on Malcolm Street, a Victorian church that had stood empty for years; fixing the walls needed only 132 small holes in the old stonework. It has over 600 m² of top-rope and lead climbing rising into the church's arches, bouldering on 4-metre walls, an Air Walk aerial course in the roof space and the Labyrinth Cave, a maze of tunnels inside the walls. On Monday evenings an instructor pairs up climbers who come alone.

Bouldering at The Climbing Unit

The Climbing Unit is an independent bouldering centre on Mason's Place Business Park in Chaddesden, next to Derby Brewing Company. Its 1,100 m² of 4-metre walls carry 10 colour circuits, a dedicated competition wall and a training area with a campus board and training boards, and the café sells homemade cakes. It runs a Winter Boulder League each season, with rounds from November to a final in March, and has free parking.

Other walls

• University of Derby Sports Centre: 164 m² of top-rope, lead and bouldering walls at Kedleston Road, run by Everyone Active and open to registered climbers.
• Green Bank Leisure Centre in Swadlincote: 16 themed auto-belay walls for families and first-timers, in 50-minute sessions at weekends.
• The Face at Wirksworth Leisure Centre, 20 km north: the Derbyshire Dales' indoor wall, with 10-metre lead lines, top ropes, auto belays and bouldering.

Prices and passes

An adult day pass costs £12.85 at Alter Rock, with half-price entry if you return within six days, and £12.50 at The Climbing Unit. Alter Rock's month of unlimited climbing is £65 paid upfront, while The Climbing Unit's direct debit is £39 a month after a £52 first month. Both charge a one-off lifetime registration (£6.50 at Alter Rock, £5 at The Climbing Unit), and juniors pay £8.60 and £9.50.

Beginners and children

Adults can boulder at Alter Rock on their first visit after a safety brief; roped climbing needs belay skills, taught on tasters, a three-hour beginners' course and a lead course. The Climbing Unit's one-hour boulder induction (£30) includes membership and kit hire, after which an adult can sign in two novices or juniors. Under-14s must be supervised at both. For young children, Green Bank's auto-belay sessions take climbers from four years old.

Outdoor climbing nearby

Derby is the southern gateway to the Peak District. Black Rocks, a gritstone outcrop above Cromford between Matlock and Wirksworth, has about 270 climbs, from easy gullies to some of Britain's hardest grit routes, and the limestone of High Tor and Willersley Castle Rocks is close by in the Derwent valley. Further north, the eastern edges run up to Stanage. See also Nottingham and Sheffield.