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The Scottish National Bouldering League (SNBL) is an accessible series of competitions for junior to veteran climbers, which takes place at bouldering venues across Scotland each winter.

ClimbScotland organises and coordinates SNBL in partnership with member climbing walls of the Scottish Climbing Wall Network.

The league is all about seeing who is the best climber over a series of six rounds on different bouldering walls and different styles at the best walls across Scotland.

SNBL uses one of the rounds from each hosting wall's scheduled winter bouldering events and combines them into a league. This year we will be starting off in November 2023 and there will be a round each month after that with the final round in April 2024. Scoring after each round will be ranked. The best four scores by a competitor out of a possible six will be used to decide the final placings and the ‘Scottish Bouldering Champions’.

Competitors pay their normal entry to the walls to take part in the competition, and having their scores logged as part of SNBL is free.

Sponsored by Edelrid and Red Chili

To enter the league simply attend the SNBL round at the host walls and indicate when you take part that you wish to be entered into the SNBL. There is no additional cost. The final scores and prizes will be given out after Round 6.

  • Para Open (16+) 
  • Junior (16-17) 
  • Senior (18-44)
  • Veterans (45-59)
  • Super Vets (60+)

Updated 4/12/23

The eligibility criteria was altered to allow competitors who have their birthdays during the 6 months of the league to compete in the category that offers them the majority of rounds relevant to their age. A minimum of 4 of the 6 rounds is required for ranking.


Category eligibility - how it works:

  • Competitors who have a birthday after R1 and before R3 should compete in all 6 rounds in the 'older' age category.
  • Competitors who have their birthday after R3 and before R6 should compete in all 6 rounds in the 'younger' age category.
  • It is up to competitors to choose the correct category.
  • There is no 'youth' category (under 16).
  • GB Team members under 16 will not be entered into the league, although they can of course compete in all the individual walls rounds.

This means:

  • A 15yr old can enter the Junior category if their 16th birthday is before Round 3 BUT they cannot compete if their birthday is after Round 3.
  • A 17yr old can enter the Senior category if their 18th birthday is before Round 3 BUT must remain in the Junior category if their birthday is after Round 3.
  • A Senior can enter the Vets category if their 45th birthday is before Round 3 BUT must remain in the Senior category if their birthday is after Round 3.
  • A Vet can enter the Super Vets category if their 60th birthday is before Round 3 BUT must remain in the Vets category if their birthday is after Round 3.

We will be running a Para Open category in the SNBL again this year. In keeping with the current competition format, Paraclimbers will climb the problems relevant to their age and gender at each of the rounds. The only difference is that their scores will be in calculated in a single Para Open Category.


Please note, there are no tailored problems or requirements for host walls to set tailored problems for this category. It is also at the climbers own judgement if the problem is suitable and safe for them to attempt.


We are keen to hear any ideas or feedback on this category. Please feel free to contact us at: info@climbscotland.net

Because each climbing wall offers a different kind of competition and uses a different scoring system, we rank the individual round winners in the different categories and the ranked scores are totalled to find the winner after all rounds have been completed. Ranked scores will be posted on the Competitions Results and reports page and notified through the ClimbScotland Facebook page after each round, so competitors can keep track of their potential placings.

2022-2023 Results

Appeals  If you feel you have been placed in the wrong age category or your score is incorrect, please make an appeal by contacting info@climbscotland.net

Remember it is your responsibility to chose the correct category based on the eligibility outline above.