Glasgow Climbing Centre keeps climbers coming back to its converted church on Paisley Road

Few climbing walls have a setting quite like this one. Glasgow Climbing Centre sits inside an old church on Paisley Road, and it has made full use of the space to create one of the city's most distinctive places to climb.

The centre calls itself Glasgow's community-first climbing centre. It is open seven days a week for all levels, from regular climbers looking for a training facility to people who have never tried climbing before.

The walls offer more than 60 lead routes up to 14 metres, over 100 top-rope routes and more than 100 boulder problems across three areas, including campus and fingerboards and a Beastmaker systems board. The team takes pride in the quality of its routes and resets four days a week so there is always something fresh to climb.

Recent additions include a new dedicated room for dry tooling, and the centre has been busy with events, from an ice climbing weekend to trials for its performance squad and outdoor trips to crags such as Neilston.

Newcomers are well looked after, with a range of supervised sessions to get people started or help them refresh their skills. Experienced climbers can register to climb unsupervised, bring in guests and take advantage of monthly passes and discounts, including a student special.

Climbing is a great workout, often without people realising it, and the centre also has a strong social scene. Its cafe serves locally roasted coffee along with snacks and meals, and has been praised in The List as one of the best cafes in town.

The team regularly shares news of route resets and special events, such as a celebration with climbing brand Beal, so there is usually something new happening on the walls or in the cafe.

With its unusual setting and loyal community, the centre is proof that a historic building can find a lively new purpose.

Glasgow Climbing Centre is at 534 Paisley Road, Glasgow, G51 1RN. First climbs and sessions can be booked at glasgowclimbingcentre.com.