If you’re looking for
BOULDERING NEAR Reading
you’re in the right place.
With two separate bouldering gyms, we have some of the best and most comprehensive bouldering walls in the country. Whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned pro, we look forward to welcoming you to 270 Climbing.
BEGINNER CLIMBERS
First time climbing, or need a refresher? Click below to book onto an Climbing Intro and you’ll be on our climbing walls in no time.
EXPERIENCED CLIMBERS
If you’ve climbed before & know what you’re doing, just click below to complete the waiver, and you’re ready to roll.
Why Reading Climbers Travel to 270
There’s some great climbing centres in and around Reading, but if you’re looking for something new, then 270 Climbing Park is around 90 minutes away via the M4 and A419. With an international-standard competition bouldering wall, a main bouldering gym with over 1,000m2 of indoor and outdoor climbing walls, as well as a smaller beginner area, plus there’s the UK’s tallest outdoor lead climbing wall, a dedicated auto belay balcony, speed climbing walls, a high ropes course and a great cafe bar all on one site, 270 is well worth a day out. We’re set on the edge of the Cotswolds between Cheltenham and Gloucester, and we’ve become a regular weekend trip for climbers from Reading, Theale, Pangbourne and across the wider area. No pre-booking needed for bouldering – just complete your waiver and climb for as long as you like.
Making a Day of It
Most climbers travelling from Reading make a day of it – once you’re in you can stay all day! With plenty to climb, lots of seating and our café bar serving hot and cold food and drinks to help you refuel between problems there’s no reason to leave! If you’re staying over, there’s a Premier Inn at Little Witcombe just down the road, and Cheltenham and Gloucester are both 10–15 minutes away.
B2. BOULDERING
B2 is our comprehensive and inclusive main bouldering centre. Split over two levels there’s a range of exciting holds, dynamic walls and hundreds of blocs all waiting to be explored.
Over
1,000m2
CLIMBING
SURFACE
Five
SLABS
150+
BLOCS
Boulder
CAVE
16ft
KILTER
BOARD
Outdoor
COMP
WALL
16ft
wide
SPRAY
WALL
WARM-UP
AREA
12m
78°
BOULDER
ROOF
TRAINING
GYM
B1. BOULDERING
B1 is our unique dedicated short-reach bouldering area. Perfect for adult beginners and shorter people as well as youngsters under 7, to learn to boulder in a smaller, more relaxed and bijou space.
200m2
CLIMBING
SURFACE
SHORT
REACH
CIRCUITS
GREAT FOR
NOVICES
LIQUID
CHALK
ONLY
AVAILIBLE
FOR
PRIVATE
EVENTS
BOULDER GRADING
Ok, can of worms opened. Everyone has their own opinion on grades and they can be hugely personally subjective. We use our own grading system within bouldering which is designed test different physical and mental elements.
The decision to go with a numbered/coloured tag based system wasn’t made lightly. While we’re never going to please everyone, we believe our system improves experiences on our bouldering walls and give us more control over what we set. We feel it provides a smoother progression path, compared to, say, the V grading system (which if you really want to compare to then please refer to our Grading Posters). We recognise its different and may need some getting used to; however, we’re passionate about it and believe it benefits development and helps alleviates the negative pressures of grade chasing – something we’re just not here for.
Our circuits are graded using a combination of numbered levels, from 1-7, and three coloured skills tags – grey, red and black.
Both tags show the start of a route and its difficulty. The higher the level tag the harder the problem. Coloured tags indicate reflect the type of skills required.
Levels 1 – 7
From Easy to Hard
Skills
What’s required?
GREY
A grey is more related to physical power and basic moves – you’ll need strength, flexibility and endurance for these.
RED
A red adds technical skills – routes with these tags will test your balance, co-ordination, positioning and techniques.
BLACK
A black builds on the physical and technical elements by being more psychological – there will be a need for a committing move (or moves!), and a combination of technical and dynamic co-ordination on routes with black tags.
ROUTESETTING INFO
We invite you to have fun, explore and challenge yourself.
Our setters work on a rotation system, this means everything within the centre will have been reset roughly every seven weeks. Check our Routesetting Schedule or our socials for details of where and when setting work is being done.
BOULDERING FAQs
The Rules
Please scroll to the bottom of this page to read our full Climbing Rules of Play, but in brief, some of our key headline rules are:
- All participants must be registered and have paid for entry/membership before climbing.
- Be mindful of others.
- There’s no top out boulders at 270.
- Apart from the Fun Walls, clean climbing shoes must be worn whilst climbing.
- Tops must be worn in all indoor climbing areas.
- No food or drinks allowed on the mats. Only sealable drinks allowed in climbing areas.
- Must not be under the influence of drink or prohibited drugs when climbing.
- Access is restricted dependent on the entry or membership type – for example, if you paid for entry/membership to bouldering (B1 & B2), you are not allowed to climb (in C2) without payment. If you wish to access both bouldering and climbing you must purchase a climbing & bouldering entry or a combined membership.
Chalk
Do I need to book bouldering in advance?
What do I need to bring?
Climbing with Children & Supervision
Shoes, Clothing & Appearance
- Climbing shoes must be worn whilst climbing. Climbing shoes must not be worn in toilets. Barefoot entry is prohibited in the café bar. We recommend wearing closed-toe shoes when using weights in the gym.
- Free shoe hire is provided for all first time visitors and particpants on Bouldering Intro’s, all NICAS courses and our Squads.
- Tops must be worn in all indoor areas. Tops may be removed in the outdoors climbing areas.
- Please change clothing in the changing facilities. The changing room is an open-plan, communal space used by all ages, so please use the cubicles to undress in privacy.
-
Jewellery and piercings must either be removed or appropriately covered before climbing.
- Loose hair must be tied back.
What about bags & personal belongings?
- Try to only bring essential items and store backpacks, bags and unnecessary clothing in lockers or designated storage areas.
- Lockers are available in changing rooms and in climbing areas and can be locked (using your own padlock). Storage is available in changing rooms and in climbing areas.
- We cannot take any responsibility for theft or loss of personal items during your visit.
Lost Property
Food & Drinks
- Sealable drinks may be taken into climbing areas but must be stored in designated areas. Hot drinks must be in takeaway style containers with a lid. Keep drinks off the mats. Only water bottles are permitted on mezzanine areas.
- Please consume food away from the mats (preferably in the café bar or on any of the outside benches around the park). In the café bar please refrain from consuming food not purchased on the premises.
Can I get additional support?
If you need extra assistance in participating around the park please get in Contact with us prior to booking to discuss your requirements.
Are dogs welcome?
Yes absolutely but dogs are not allowed in any climbing areas. Well behaved pooches are welcome in reception, seated areas of the café bar and all outdoor areas of the park. Dogs must be kept under control and on a lead at all times. They may be tied in numerous locations around the park, however not where they block access or cause issue to passing people. Hopefully it’s obvious but dogs must not be left unattended (however friendly or well behaved).