Rock Over Climbing

I only climb sporadically but I always enjoy coming to ROC. I actually prefer lead climbing, but without a regular partner, bouldering is the easiest option.
On other walls, that have multiple climbing types (lead, top rope and bouldering) the bouldering area always feels a bit sparse for an occasional climber like me. There are only 2 – 3 routes at each grade and when you only go once every few months, you’re out of routes in no time.
This has never been a problem for me at ROC. They have a great balance of route setters, with loads of different types of routes at every level (crimps, jugs, f’ing slopes, etc).
One thing I’m always impressed by is their efforts to innovate, and the place is always getting bigger and better, with more routes, more caves, more floor space, I always look forward to my next visit.

Even though I’m just a beginner, I really enjoyed trying such a new experience here, and it’s also very rare to like a sport the first time you practice it, especially if you do that with more skilled friends. I found this place very well organized, suitable for all levels. Stones on the walls are of different colours, depending on the difficulty of the path, and the various levels are so many! No ropes are required, but soft floors allow you to fall over without worrying. There’s such a huge variety of possible climbs that it’s almost impossible to get bored, also because it’s a tiring and challenging physical activity (be ready to have your fingers and forearms in pain the day after!). There are a few climbing walls also on the second floor, even though much less than on the ground floor. There’s also a wall that you have to climb moving horizontally, which I found not technically difficult, but physically demanding.
The first time you come here for climbing the cost is 9£, but after a few times you can take a membership which allows you to pay much less in your next visits. Proper shoes are provided and can be hired at the entrance.

Having recently had a taste of what bouldering was all about at Manchester Climbing Centre (see review
) I was really looking forward to going to ROC as they are solely geared up for it (MCC is mostly indoor climbing with ropes and only has a couple of bouldering walls to try).
I went along with a friend who’d been a few times so even though I was pretty much a beginner, I didn’t have to do the induction session on this occasion, but was advised that if I was to return I would have to then instead. We paid £9 each for the climbing and £2.50 for shoe hire.
Though the Centre is effectively one large space it’s divided by lots of climbing walls of varying styles and some set at steeper angles for increased difficulty. The large mezzanine level upstairs has a long ‘traverse wall’ for horizontal climbing as well as a stretching area and children’s activity/​climbing zone.
The main bouldering area on the ground floor has wall-​to-​wall crash mats to protect you whilst climbing. The activity, though obviously physically demanding also poses a mental challenge as you have to work out how to move up the walls using the colour-​coded hand holds. Each colour corresponds to an increasing degree of difficulty.
I liked the fact that they regularly remove all the hand holds and then reattach them in another configuration so that every climb will be different when you come back again.
It wasn’t an intimidating atmosphere in there at all, in fact there were young and old, both men and women all bouldering away quite happily together. This is definitely one of the better centres to go to in Manchester.
Tip: Be sure to warm up beforehand; and stretch off properly afterwards.
Tip: Strongly recommend you have climbing chalk for gripping on the hand holds.
Tip: There are separate male and female changing rooms with lockers (bring your own locks though) and a small café bar selling snacks and drinks.

I’ve really got into this whole, saying ‘YES’ to opportunities and gobbling up all of life’s energies. So when my friend Jayne asked me to go climbing with her I said… yes. I felt as though I’d done a bit of climbing before, maybe during summer camp of high school or something. Oh no, this is called ‘bouldering’ accordingly and nothing I’ve done before. They take it quite seriously.
It’s really good fun and social. But boy, it’s hard work! Really good workout! I visioned myself as Sly Stallone in Cliff Hanger — but didn’t look like him. I looked more like a stranded, starved chick stuck high up on some mountain (look at the photos). It did feel quite natural though, something nostalgic about it, like climbing trees when you were a kid. You need no ropes, harnesses or other equipment to do it and there are no scary heights — the ground is all crash matted out for your safe landing.
Wear decent, well fitted footwear. I wore some Toms initially until I was demanded to take them off, that just wouldn’t do and I rented a pair of sturdy shoes. Stiff toed, strap on things that improved my ability to grip on with the tips of my toes. And chalk! Get chalk! I’ve typically got clammy hands and so kept slipping. So I nicked Jayne’s chalk to get back in the game. There’s different grades of climbing directions to work your way up. For amateurs, like me, I stuck to the V2 level which is pink if I remember rightly.
I felt it the next day. My fingers hurt when water hit them in the shower and I could barely take the lid off the coffee jar my forearms ached so much.
I’ll sign up for membership me thinks! I do remember before I left I said «I really need to get back into the gym» and the cool dude, who gave me the shoes responding «swap the gym for climbing. The only way to get better and fitter at climbing is to climb.» Duly noted.

Excellent place to do bouldering. First time properly bouldering so had a 1 hour induction first and then stayed for almost 2 hours afterwards.
Good induction showing around the place, how to climb properly and warm up etc. I signed up via Groupon which was £15 for induction, 1 year membership and 3 free sessions (inc. shoe hire). The induction alone costs £15.
All details about costs are on their web site. Dont think it mentioned shoe hire on the site — its £2.50.
(Hands sore now and a bit «raw» now! — and starting to feel forearms tighten!)