Father and son adventurers, Micha and Lleu, tackle indoor climbing

At more than 10 metres high, with an added 2-metre overhang for those of you that are inclined, The Hangout, the indoor climbing wall at Haverfordwest Leisure Centre should pose enough of a challenge for all ages of explorers.

We decided to don our climbing gear and check it out with the help of two intrepid adventurers.

Your challenge, should you choose to accept it.

We challenged Misha and Lleu to scale any of the 38 routes the climbing wall offers, and survive! Their verdict was…

Lleu starts making his way up the blue route, each route is graded and ranges from an easy 3 to a difficult 7c. In no time at all he’s reaching for holds mid-height along the wall and doesn’t seem to be tiring!

He’s been coming here to climb with Micha since it opened so he’s familiar with the wall, but not with the new routes – they’re changed every month or so to keep all the climbers on their toes.

Lleu is well on his way to the ceiling so Micha tells us about taking a one-hour competency test (they run at least 3 times a week) so that he can safely belay Lleu as he climbs without the need for supervision from staff. This means they can use the climbing wall whenever they want to, and don’t need to wait for a class.

Classes aren’t just for kids though – Pembrokeshire Climbing Club uses the indoor climbing wall on Monday nights too.

When Lleu has reached the ceiling on his route and abseiled back down the wall with help from his Dad, he shows off some of the pretty brilliant knot-tying skills he’s been learning and tell us…

Other climbing options

The Overhang Indoor Climbing Centre in Tenby is situated right on the award-winning Castle Beach and are open all year round. They offer instructor-led sessions both on the wall and out on some of Pembrokeshire’s beautiful coastal cliffs. It is great fun for kids, adults, groups and parties.

If you’d like to head outside and onto the majestic Pembrokeshire cliffs, there are many experienced and highly qualified climbing instructors just waiting to pass on their knowledge and help you begin a lifelong passion for climbing.