The new competition bouldering facilities at the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena, in Ratho are now open.

This makes the facility the only climbing centre in the UK with international standard facilities for all three climbing disciplines: lead climbing, speed climbing and bouldering. The project received £100,000 of National Lottery funding from Sport Scotland’s Sports Facilities Fund.

Nic Crawshaw, director of climbing at Edinburgh International Climbing Arena says: “Designed for experienced climbers, these walls complement our existing facilities, offering even more opportunities to push climbers' limits and refine their skills. We’ve been really privileged to work with some of the best route-setters in the world.”

As the UK’s largest climbing gym and the only international competition venue, the EICA has hosted European Championships and World Cup for Lead and Speed in recent years, but the bouldering facilities needed an upgrade to enable it to host all three International Federation of Sport Climbing and Olympic disciplines.

Emma Ogilvie-Hall, head of operations at Edinburgh Leisure which runs the facility, says: “With indoor bouldering now the most widely practised form of climbing it will ensure that the EICA can continue as a world-class venue for all three climbing disciplines – lead, speed, and bouldering – while continuing to provide climbers of all ages and abilities with access to opportunities to participate in and progress through the sport.”