Climbing Walls are great when the weather is bad and the winter nights close in on you. Britain was one of the first countries to introduce artificial walls. The best climbing walls try to create the many features that you may come across on the crags.

Climbing walls can be the first contact for many a climber into the sport these day's thus making climbing the fastest growing sport. With the walls the standard of rock climbing has increased, where climbers can train all year round in a safe environment, top-roping, learning new techniques, problem solving, overhangs, traversing training for strength, stamina and muscle endurance.

Competitions are held at the walls for all ages and levels.

Lake District has a number of artificial climbing walls throughout Cumbria which offer various facilities, you are recommended to contact them for further details. These details are below.

Q: Who started indoor climbing?

A: Don Robinson of Leeds University in 1964.

The indoor artificial climbing idea began in the UK. The first wall was erected in 1964 at Leeds University by Don Robinson, who was a lecturer in Physical Education and the founder of DR Climbing walls. He inserted pieces of rock into the wall of a corridor. The first commercial climbing wall was at Sheffield this was traditionally England's centre for climbing due to its location near the Peak District.

Gym climbing is becoming an increasingly popular sport because provides many people with the opportunity to try rock climbing and participate in courses. Bouldering centres focus on bouldering rather than roped climbing.