All-weather activity
Ages 4yrs + (adults welcome too!)
Exeter Quay
Parking close by at Haven Banks Retail Park
As first-timers at Clip & Climb in Exeter, we weren’t quite sure what to expect, but I can confirm it made for a great activity for kids of differing ages. In fact, it’s something kids (aged 4 years plus), teens and adults could all enjoy at the same time – good if you have a group of mixed ages and abilities.
It’s an indoor climbing centre with 25 different climbing challenges set in an old warehouse building opposite Exeter Quay.
No prior climbing experience is needed, and all climbers use an automatic belay system, meaning that you must be clipped on to a safety rope in order to attempt a climb, which automatically lowers you down safely when you want to return back down to earth after reaching the top (or if you fall off/give up!)
Staff brief the group on safety rules and supervise the donning of harnesses. Climbers need to be wearing appropriate clothes (comfortable sports wear is ideal, nothing too bulky/restrictive, and closed toe shoes e.g. trainers are essential.)
I wasn’t booked in to climb with the kids so I wondered if I’d need to help them with clipping their harnesses on at each climbing station, or if a member of staff does it for them, or if they’d do it themselves. (Really I was wondering if I could creep away for a bit to the café and viewing balcony while the kids had the climb of their lives… who can blame me?)
The official line is that one adult should take responsibility for their own household group if you are with children under 16 years. In practice, the answer probably depends on if the climber is able to operate the clipping system, and how much you think they’re going to need you (are they afraid of heights, are they independent etc?)
After a couple of goes my children aged nearly 11 and nearly 8 could manage to do their own clipping independently, although a bit of a struggle – a couple of times the clips got stuck and either I was on hand to help or a member of staff was beckoned. Climbers are allowed to do their own clipping if able, parents/guardians can stay on the climbing floor and help (and shout encouragement of course!) or view from the balcony, and staff are on hand to assist. Younger children would struggle with the strength required to detach the clips so will need supervision. I stayed with my two for the duration in the end and it was good fun cheering them on. I didn’t get a café break but I did get a McDonalds afterwards so… it worked out fine!
Climbs last for around 1 hour once the safety briefing is complete and harnesses are on. You can’t take water on to the climbing floor but you can store bags in the foyer opposite and pop over there for a quick drink.
Leap of faith
For an additional fee, climbers over 120cm in height can have a go at the Leap of Faith challenge. This involves climbing to the top of a high platform, a bit like a diving board, and leaping into space to grab/hang on to a bar suspended mid-air. A great challenge for all. The distance of the bar from the platform can be adjusted depending on how far you think you can jump!
Facilities
There’s a café on the upper floor leading out onto a balcony with benches, which provides a great view to watch your climbers have a go at the various climbing challenges.
The venue doesn’t have its own car park, but the Haven Banks Retail Park car park is just behind the building (pay & display) – just a minute’s walk away.
Booking & Prices
Book online in advance (walk ins allowed but book if you want to guarantee availability especially in school holidays and weekends.)
Climbing costs 13.95 per climber, see prices and timings here.