Top roping is the easiest way to get started in rock climbing. At ECAT we have a large variety of top rope wall profiles containing at least 70 professionally set top rope routes. Our routes are set by some of the most experienced coursesetters in the country, and are changed on a regular rotation to provide a continuous source of fresh challenges. Our routes are colour coded and graded for ease of use. Routes are provided for climbers of all skill levels, ages and heights. Our routes are set to be both mentally and physically challenging (brute force is rarely the way forward!). Our top rope walls have a maximum vertical height of 8m and a maximum climbing length of 18m (8m vertically, then 10m out a horizontal roof!). ECAT top rope walls incorporate the latest "Slo-Go" belay system for the highest level safety and ease of use.

Top roping is the most common style used in indoor climbing facilities and is an easy technique to learn. 
The climber wears a harness and is attached to a rope which runs up to an anchor at the top of the wall and 
then back down to the ground where it passes through the belay device (brake). As the climber ascends the 
wall their partner acts as the "belayer", pulling the rope through the belay device to keep it tight. When the 
climber reaches the top or falls off the belayer can then easily lower the climber to the ground. The belay 
device is attached to the ground to prevent the belayer from being lifted up by the weight of the climber. 
No strength is required to catch a falling climber, with proper technique the belay device takes all the load.