Learning the Ropes: An Adventure at Clip ‘n Climb Blackpool!

Clip ‘n Climb Blackpool opened this week, and we just had to go along and learn what our visitors have in store!

Clip ‘n Climb is an exciting new leisure concept for Blackpool, aimed at everyone from the age of four. The attraction hosts twenty-four climbing-based activities that provide healthy, challenging fun for all the family!

All standing at more than twenty-five feet, the climbing obstacles are themed. Some of them include Face 2 Face climbing, where you climb opposite a friend with a transparent wall to match each other’s movements,  the Speed Climb where opponents compete against each other to reach the top, the Stairway to Heaven which consists of freestanding poles you have to step up to the top reaching a dizzy height of 5 metres which when you are stood up is pretty hairy, and a vertical drop slide. At 8.5 metres, this slide is the highest of any Clip ‘n Climb centre in the UK.

When we arrived, we met up with Blackpool’s own Daniel Whiston, one of the driving forces behind Clip ‘n Climb Blackpool, and quite the climber! There is a lovely mezzanine café at the attraction with some great drinks and snacks on offer, with a perfect vantage point to watch the climbers scurrying up the colourful walls.



Not wanting to waste any precious climbing time, climbing expert Chris got us suited and booted in the secure harnesses and left us to watch the safety video to show us how to climb and return to ground level safely. No climbing experience is necessary to enjoy this attraction, as you’re given all the information you need to try something new!

The staff at Clip ‘n Climb support you all the way through your hour of climbing. We can get a little jittery with heights, but a lot of the fear is allayed when you see that you’re clipped into two carabiners, one of which has a special lock to ensure you’re strapped in safe.

We opted for the Hexagon wall first, as we were told that this is the easiest wall to try first. Getting going, you’re halfway up before you realise how high you are. There is a LED button to tap when you reach the top to mark your achievement . . . but then you have to get down again!

One of us didn’t even realise that she’d started climbing back down again rather than abseiling down; this is certainly a game of mind over matter! Chris was incredibly supportive and with repeated reassurances that we’d be fine if we let go, with a small (we hope!) squeal, we let go and sailed gently down to the ground.

On each climbing feature, there are three different challenges to try, from climbing up using only one colour holds or climbing with your eyes closed.

We’re not going to say that our fear completely disappeared, but the more times the automatic belay gently takes you back to the ground and you realise that you’re completely safe and have the encouragement of the well-trained staff, you forget that you’re quite so frightened and really start to enjoy it.

For us, the vertical drop slide was an absolute no-no, but we did come away wishing we had tried it . . . maybe next time!

The drop slide doesn’t require a climbing harness. Instead, you dress in a jumpsuit and helmet and grasp the handle attached to a pulley system. It looked like such a thrill for people that were zooming down it, free falling for several metres.

Clip ‘n Climb is a great experience for everybody. For those wanting to get fit but are bored by conventional exercise, the competitive elements of the arena can double up as a work-out circuit with a difference.

The attraction can host birthday parties for varying group sizes with a dedicated party room and on-site catering, and we can’t think of a better way to do some team-building exercises for corporate days out.
Thank you so much to the Clip ‘n Climb  Blackpool team for having us; we’re already planning our next visit!

Opening Times

Term Time
Monday - Friday: 15:00 – 21:00
Saturday: 09:00 – 21:00
Sunday: 10:00 – 20:00

School and Public Holidays
Daily: 09:00 – 21:00

Sessions start hourly but please check for spaces and book in advance where possible

Prices

Climbing: £11.95 per person, any age any time.
Vertical Drop Slide: £2.00 per go, any age any time.

For further information and directions, follow this link.

To view our accommodation offer for your visit to Blackpool, click here.

You’ll certainly have a strong appetite after your climbing experience, so check out our food and drink page here.