Port of Leith Abseil raises over £150,000 for Scottish charities

We’re hugely pleased to announce the incredible results achieved at the second Port of Leith abseil in Edinburgh.

Taking place on May 9th & 10th, Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland and 67 other charities joined forces to raise over £150,000!

At the event’s debut in 2025, £100k+ was raised. To be able to achieve £50,000 more this time round is a fantastic achievement - made possible by the hard work and commitment of their supporters and fundraising teams.

Abseiling from One of Edinburgh’s Most Unique Buildings

More than 380 fundraisers completed the 130-foot abseil challenge from the unique Port of Leith Distillery - the UK’s first vertical distillery, and only the second of its kind in Europe. 

Rising nine storeys above Edinburgh’s waterfront, the striking building has become one of the city’s most recognisable modern landmarks. Grain milling and mashing take place at the top of the building, before the whisky-making process continues all the way down to distillation at ground level - a truly dramatic setting for supporters taking on the descent. 

The atmosphere on-site was buzzing throughout the weekend, with fundraisers, spectators and charity teams cheering each other on in the sunshine, even as the sea breeze picked up later in the event. Supporters also enjoyed some traditional Scottish entertainment on the Sunday, with a bagpipe player adding to the occasion!

Feedback from SBH Scotland on the Port of Leith Abseil

We’re grateful to Lynsey Hamilton, Community & Challenges Fundraising Manager at SBH Scotland, for sharing her feedback:

“We had an outstanding experience working with Big Bang Experiences who hosted our Edinburgh Port of Leith abseil event. From the very beginning, communication was absolutely exceptional - clear, timely, and reassuring. The pre-event briefings were thorough and well-organised, ensuring that everyone knew exactly what to expect and felt fully prepared.

On the day, the event ran seamlessly, which is a true testament to the hard work, professionalism, and dedication of the entire team. Every aspect was managed with precision and care, reflecting a level of expertise that gave us complete confidence throughout.

The management of the event was second to none, and it was clear that participant safety and experience were top priorities at all times. Every individual taking part felt supported, safe, and encouraged, which made the experience all the more enjoyable and memorable.

We would not hesitate to recommend this team to others and look forward to working with them again in the future.”

The Power of Multi-Charity Challenge Events

Since first working with SBH Scotland in 2022, we’ve delivered various zip wire and abseil events supporting a huge range of Scottish charities. Across the past five years, these large-scale challenge events have raised around £1.4 million - with another zip wire event still to come this August.

Results like these demonstrate the fundraising potential of large-scale, multi-charity challenge events year after year. To discuss something similar for your charity or local area, get in touch with our team. We’d be happy to share how this event format works, and why it continues to be so effective for fundraising.

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