The world’s largest indoor climbing facility is to reopen next month freshly refurbished after being damaged by fire.
Ice Factor Kinlochleven, south of Fort William, one of Scotland’s top adventure tourism attractions, will reopen to the public on Friday March 18.
The £3.4million west highland facility, that is also designated the National Ice Climbing Centre has been closed since July 29 last year due to extensive smoke damage caused by a fire in the sauna area of the 120 year-old building.
Annually attracting in excess of 100,000 visitors, climbers and adventure seekers come from throughout the UK and abroad to scale the 45ft high ice-walls that are designed to replicate winter climbing conditions on the likes of Ben Nevis.
Professional climber Dave MacLeod, of Roy Bridge, said: “I’m delighted to see it reopening. It has been for a decade or so a really important facility for the local climbers and the visiting climbers as well.
“I was at the Ice Factor during the opening, coaching climbers up the wall, and so many people have been on the ice wall and the rock wall since that time.
“It was definitely missed as a local sports facility during the time it was closed and it is great to see it reopening.
“I was in there last month setting routes and putting holes in the wall. It is looking really good with new walls, a new cafe and new facilities.”
Sandwiched between the classic mountaineering terrain of Glencoe and the Mamores and Ben Nevis, Ice Factor also offers rock climbing for climbers of all standards on its gargantuan indoor walls and the chance to tackle an outdoor aerial adventure course complete with 164ft swing.
Jamie Smith, owner of Ice Factor Kinlochleven, said: “It has taken almost eight months but after a huge effort by all of the team I’m proud to announce that an even bigger and better Ice Factor Kinlochleven will reopen on March 18.
“I’d like to thank our many customers for their patience and we now look forward to welcoming them back before Easter for loads of vertical fun!”