Adventure Scotland - brought to you by Scotland's National Tourism Organisation

A must visit attraction for any visitor to the West Highlands of Scotland, the Ice Factor is the UK's Premier Adventure Centre. Located in the village of Kinlochleven (10 minutes from Glencoe Village). The £3.5m centre has become an iconic destination for over 130,000 visitors each year, who come to experience the world class range of adventure activities on offer, all under expert instruction with all specialist equipment provided.

These include:
Ice Climbing on the world's biggest indoor Ice Climbing Wall
Rock Climbing and Abseiling on the UK's Highest Articulated Wall
Aerial Assault & Giant Swing on the UK's newest outdoor skyride aerial adventure course.

The centre has an award winning coffee shop, restaurant and mountain theme bar, outdoor equipment and gift shop.

The Ice Factor is two times winner of the Thistle Award for Visitor Excellence.

What we do best:

Hit The Ice! - experience life in the freezer! Climb the world’s biggest indoor ice wall! We run a variety of indoor ice courses every day – from 1.5 hours to 3 hours. Open classes run from 1230-1530 daily and cost only £35 per person including instruction and full equipment hire. Please pre-book to avoid disappointment.

Winter Mountain Craft - Lochaber is justifiably the epicentre for winter mountaineering in the UK. The National Outdoor Centre and most of the major schools operate from Glencoe throughout the winter. On these courses you will join a group of up to 5 other people as you learn how to enjoy the Scottish Mountains safely in winter.

The course will teach the use of ice axe and crampons, security on steep snowy ground and will also cover avalanche awareness, rope work and navigation. Courses are 1 week £355 per person, or short introductory weekends £150 per person. Dates available throughout January, February, March and the first week of April. Please pre-book to avoid disappointment.

Snow, Ice Climbing and Winter Mountain Craft - here the aim is to produce a safe and competent approach to winter climbing. The course if for those with winter walking and preferably some rock climbing experience. However, the ratio is 1 instructor to 2 clients so the course will be pitched to your required standard. Approach/descent from climbs, belay selection and construction, rope management and techniques for climbing ice and mixed ground. Evening lectures on Mountain Craft, Avalanche Awareness and Mountain Safety are optional. Our chief instructor was the founding member of the Association of Mountaineering Instructors and the first guide to operate in Lochaber. £425 per person. Please pre-book to avoid disappointment.

Ice climbing tuition is also available to children over the age of 14. Contact us to discuss your requirements and to find out more.

Available packages

Taster Classes are run every day, 364 days a year (closed Christmas Day)

Taster Class times are generally:

1000-1100
1100-1230
1300-1400
1400-1500
1530-1630
1600-1700

Classes last from 1-1.5 hours and include instruction, entry and all specialist equipment. No experience necessary.

Classes are suitable for ages 8 and upwards (min boot size 4 for ice climbing).
Half Day (2 Activities) and Full Day (3 Activities) Packages save 15% and 20%.

The centre can get extremely busy at holiday periods, especially when there is wet weather, so advance booking is always recommended.

For younger guests there is are Free Children's Play Centres -indoor and out and a 30min taster class on rock climbing using the automatic belay devices.

Other activities available

     

Useful info

Equipment provided?

All technical equipment, ropes, harnesses, helmets, rock shoes, ice axes, crampons, boots, gloves.

What do I need to wear?

Comfortable clothing (warm for the ice wall).

What do I need to bring?

Your own hill/technical equipment if you have it (for outdoor courses), gloves for the ice wall.

When can I do it?

All year round.

Is there a pub nearby?

Crawling distance.