Ratho · Indoor Leisure
Edinburgh International Climbing Arena
At EICA Ratho, younger children can head for Scrambles soft play while children aged four and over can try Clip n Climb with the adults.
- Ages
- Soft play 0–10; Clip n Climb 4+
- Cost
- Paid; choose your activity
- Weather
- Indoors
- Visit length
- Soft play 60/90 min; Clip n Climb 1 hour
Our family take
For a first family climb, Clip n Climb welcomes beginners and lets adults join in. With mixed ages, plan who stays with each child: an adult must remain in the climbing or spectator area with under-12s, while younger siblings may need someone with them at soft play.
- Different booking rules. Book Clip n Climb ahead; Scrambles is walk-in. Ordinary climbing needs separate safety checks.
- Parking. Validate your number plate inside for free customer parking.
The practical details
Plan your visit
- Choose an activity
- Scrambles is for ages 0–10; Clip n Climb starts at 4 and adults can take part too.
- Booking and first visits
- Scrambles is walk-in, with 60- or 90-minute sessions. Clip n Climb must be booked online in advance. For ordinary climbing or bouldering, check registration and competency requirements.Clip n Climb sessions and booking
- Prices
- Clip n Climb: £18 per adult or child, with Friday off-peak sessions £15. Scrambles prices depend on age, day and session length. Pay by card or contactless.
- Opening and sessions
- Scrambles: weekdays 9.30am–4.30pm, weekends 9am–4.30pm. Clip n Climb normally runs Friday 2–6pm and weekends 9am–6pm; check the booking calendar for holiday sessions and changes.Check current activity times and events
- Address and parking
- South Platt Hill, Ratho, Edinburgh EH28 8AA. Free customer parking on site. Enter your car registration on a tablet inside the venue; charges apply if you do not register it.
- Buggies and toilets
- Ramp access is available for buggies and wheelchairs, with toilets, accessible toilets and changing facilities. Ask about any support you need for the activity itself.Venue accessibility information
Café or restaurantAccessible toiletsToiletsPlay areaStep-free accessClimbing And Bouldering
2 November 2026
Check activities, prices and opening times (official)A little more detail
Make it work for your family
Scrambles for younger children
Scrambles has a separate baby area and separate toddler and junior play frames, so babies and older children have their own spaces. The soft-play café looks onto the play areas. This is the simpler choice for a visit led by a baby or toddler.
Trying Clip n Climb together
Clip n Climb uses colourful climbing challenges with automatic belays that lower climbers back down. No previous climbing experience is needed, and the session lasts one hour including a briefing. Wear trainers or other closed-toe footwear and bring a warm layer in winter.
With children under 12, an adult must accompany them to the activity and stay in the climbing or spectator area. A café break elsewhere is not a substitute for supervising them. Parents or guardians of children aged 9+ must remain in the building throughout.
If you want to help on the climbing floor without climbing yourself, assistant places are limited. You must attend the safety briefing and wear a Clipper Vest; priority goes to the youngest children and those with additional needs. Arrange support before booking if it will determine whether your child can take part.
Climbing, bouldering and coaching
The main climbing walls and bouldering rooms are separate choices from Clip n Climb. First-time climbing, belaying and bouldering visitors need registration, and new climbers and boulderers are assessed for competency on arrival. A competent registered climber can sign in up to two guests to climb under their supervision.
For a family new to ordinary climbing, look at the instructed taster sessions before setting off. Coaching and holiday courses have their own age bands and bookings; the venue also offers junior gym access from S1. Choose the session for your children’s ages and experience.
Find an instructed climbing tasterScrambles prices by age and session
Scrambles charges by age and session length. Check the current tariff before visiting.
- Babies aged 0–5 months
- Free for either session length.
- Ages 6–11 months
- Monday–Thursday: £1.50 for 60 minutes or £2 for 90 minutes. Friday–Sunday: £2 for 60 minutes or £2.50 for 90 minutes.
- Ages 1–2 years
- Monday–Thursday: £6 for 60 minutes or £8 for 90 minutes. Friday–Sunday: £6.50 for 60 minutes or £8.50 for 90 minutes.
- Ages 3–10 years
- Monday–Thursday: £9 for 60 minutes or £13 for 90 minutes. Friday–Sunday: £9.50 for 60 minutes or £13.50 for 90 minutes.
Food, buggies and access
Café Refresh serves food, drinks and snacks, and Scrambles has its own soft-play café. If you are bringing a packed lunch, ask where you can eat it before planning your food for the visit.
The venue has ramp access, internal lifts, accessible parking, accessible toilets and changing facilities. Contact the team before booking if your child needs help to use the climbing equipment, or if wheelchair access will determine your choice of activity.
Getting there without a car
HcL service 67 links the arena with Ratho, Hermiston Park and Ride, Haymarket and Edinburgh city centre. It runs seven days a week, with different weekday and weekend timetables. Check the current city-centre stop, diversions and return bus before choosing an activity time.
You can also cycle along National Cycle Route 754 beside the Union Canal. Bike racks are by the main entrance.
Map data credit
Map location data: Overture Maps Foundation, with source data from Meta. Licensed under CDLA-Permissive-2.0.
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