Kohltech Climbing Wall (Rath Eastlink Community Centre)

The wall

The Kohltech Climbing Wall is on the ground floor of the Rath Eastlink Community Centre (RECC) in Truro, the multi-sport centre on Abenaki Road that opened in November 2013 with an ice pad, pools, a walking track and a fitness centre. The centre describes it as one of the highest climbing walls in the Maritimes. It has ten roped lines, two of them auto-belays, so you can climb without a belay partner, and lead climbing is available to experienced climbers.

Drop-in climbing

The wall is open to all ages at set times, mostly weekday afternoons and evenings and weekend daytimes, with community climbing sessions on some days. Climbing comes with an RECC day pass, punch pass or membership, all of which cover the whole centre. Everyone completes a waiver first (a parent or guardian signs for under-19s), and harnesses and shoes can be rented; members rent them free.

Courses and programmes

• Learn to Belay (15+), taught by a CWA-certified instructor, with a retest at least 24 hours later
• Lead climbing for climbers aged 16 and over
• Wall Nuts youth programmes for ages 6 to 18, from first climbs to lead and competition training, plus a parent-and-child class
• Climb Fit workouts, Friday fun nights, ladies' climbing nights (16+) and occasional 'I Used To Climb' sessions for over-50s

Times change with programmes, rentals and events, so check the centre's online wall schedule before you go.