Climbing Frames
Climbing frames give children the height, challenge and problem-solving that build strength and confidence — multi-activity structures with climbers, nets, walls and slides, all tested to BS EN 1176.
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Traverse Walls
Traverse & Climbing Walls
A traverse wall is a low climbing wall you move across rather than up — children work sideways along the holds, close to the ground, building grip and problem-solving with minimal fall risk.
What it is
Traverse & Climbing Walls
A traverse wall is a climbing wall designed to be climbed sideways rather than upwards. Children move across the panel from hold to hold, staying low to the ground, which delivers the challenge and problem-solving of climbing with very little height and therefore minimal fall risk.
Traverse walls fix to an existing wall or a free-standing frame and pack a lot of active play into a narrow footprint, which makes them ideal along a boundary or the side of a building. Colourful holds and route markings let staff set challenges and games. All are installed to BS EN 1176 over fall-safe surfacing.
- Climb sideways, stay low
- Grip & problem-solving, minimal height
- Fits along a wall or fence line
- Colourful holds & set routes
- Great value play per metre
- Tested to BS EN 1176
For height and slides too, see climbing frames and play towers. All play equipment.
Good to know
Why traverse walls work in schools
Because the climbing is horizontal and low, a traverse wall gives real climbing challenge without the height, supervision demands or large safety zone of a tall structure. That makes it one of the best-value ways to add active play, especially where space is tight — a strip along a wall or fence becomes a climbing challenge.
Staff can set routes and games using the coloured holds, building problem-solving and turn-taking. Traverse walls complement climbing frames and play towers for children who want the climbing challenge without the height.
Why Commercial Play
The benefits at a glance
Challenge without height
Sideways climbing gives grip and problem-solving with minimal fall risk.
Fits tight spaces
A narrow footprint along a wall or fence turns dead space into active play.
Set routes & games
Coloured holds let staff set challenges that build problem-solving and turn-taking.
Tested to BS EN 1176
Installed to the European standard over the correct fall-safe surfacing.
FAQs
Traverse Walls: common questions
What is a traverse wall?
A traverse wall is a low climbing wall that children move across sideways rather than climb up. It gives the challenge of climbing while keeping children close to the ground, so the fall risk and safety-zone requirements are much lower than a tall structure.
Are traverse walls safe?
Yes. Because climbing is horizontal and low, the fall risk is minimal. They are installed to BS EN 1176 over impact-absorbing surfacing, giving real climbing challenge in a controlled, low-height way.
Where can a traverse wall be installed?
Traverse walls fix to an existing external wall or to a free-standing frame, so they suit boundaries, the sides of buildings and other narrow spaces where a full climbing frame would not fit.
Do traverse walls suit all ages?
Yes. Hold layouts and heights can be set for the early years through to secondary, and staff can set easier or harder routes using the coloured holds to suit the group.
The rest of the range
More play equipment options
Part of our full play equipment range — explore the other surfaces below.
Play Towers
Play towers are the centrepiece of a playground — raised platforms linked by bridges, slides, climbers and dens that pack a whole adventure into one multi-play structure.
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Swings, Springers & Spinners
Swings, springers and spinners deliver the movement children love — the swing of a nest, the bounce of a springer and the spin of a roundabout — building balance, core strength and coordination.
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Aerial Runways
An aerial runway — the playground zip wire — is the biggest thrill in the play area: children grab the seat or handle and ride the cable from end to end, building grip strength and nerve.
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Mud Kitchens
A mud kitchen is where the best early-years learning happens — a sturdy outdoor kitchen with sink, hob and worktop where children mix, pour, stir and make-believe, building language, science and fine motor skills.
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Metal Play Equipment
Metal playground equipment is built for the long haul — powder-coated steel frames, slides and climbers that shrug off heavy use and weather, ideal for high-traffic and public play areas.
View metal play equipmentThinking about traverse walls?
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