The Barn Climbing Centre
ENTRY
from £7.50
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
Tavistock
What it’s like
A big wooden bouldering wall, roped climbs and a 9.5 metre lead wall under one roof, open till 10pm on weekdays if you fancy an evening session.
Three ways to climb here, and they don't overlap much. The free-standing wooden boulder has close to 100 problems set on it, which is where most people spend their time since there's no faff with ropes or partners. Step up to the seven top ropes (around 45 routes) once you want height with a safety line, and the 9.5 metre lead wall with about 70 routes is the one to save for later, once someone's actually confident clipping their own gear.
There's no age range given on the site, so it reads as a place for climbers rather than a specific age band, but the mix of bouldering and roped walls means a nervous first-timer and a confident teenager can both find something without getting in each other's way. Walk-ins are fine for general entry, which is the easy option if you just fancy an hour on the boulder. Instructed sessions are a different matter: they have to be booked over the phone, which is a bit old-fashioned when everything else is a walk-up.
Entry is £9.50 for an adult, £7.50 if you're 16 or under, and a student card knocks it to £8.50. That's a fair whack for a single visit, so if you know you'll be back the ten visit cards (£80 adult, £70 junior) or the monthly memberships bring the price down noticeably. Weekdays run 10am to 10pm, which is generous if you want a late evening session after work, but weekends and bank holidays close at 6, so plan around that if a Saturday morning turns into a Saturday afternoon.
There's a café and a gift shop on site, plus some outdoor play, and the system training and traditional climbing board are there if you're working on technique rather than just ticking routes. It's an indoor centre, so the weather outside doesn't matter either way.
Facilities
Need to know
- Booking
- Instructed sessions must be booked over the phone
- Instructed sessions have to be booked over the phone, not online
- Weekday evenings run till 10pm but weekends shut at 6, so a lie-in Saturday can eat into your session
- A student card gets you a pound off adult entry
- The lead wall needs proper clipping confidence, it's not where a first-timer should start
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£9.50 for an adult, £7.50 for 16 and under, £8.50 with a student card. A ten visit card is £80 for adults or £70 for juniors if you're planning several trips.
Do we need to book?
General entry is walk-up, no booking needed. Instructed sessions are the exception, those go through a phone call.
What are the opening hours?
10am to 10pm on weekdays, 10am to 6pm on weekends and bank holidays. The late weekday finish is handy if you're squeezing in a session after work or school.
What's there to actually climb?
A large wooden bouldering wall with close to 100 problems, seven top ropes with about 45 routes, and a 9.5 metre lead wall with roughly 70 routes. There's also a system board and a traditional board for practising belays and anchors.
Is there anywhere to eat?
There's a café on site.
Are memberships worth it?
If you're going more than a handful of times, the ten visit cards or the monthly memberships bring the per-visit price down a fair bit compared with paying full price each time.
Is it suitable for a beginner?
The bouldering wall is the obvious starting point since there's no rope or partner needed. The lead wall is more for someone already confident clipping their own gear.
Can you just turn up?
Yes for general entry, no booking required. Instructed sessions need a phone call in advance.
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