The Stuic and Lochnagar
Paul, Portia and I are just back from a short adventure in the Southern Cairngorms. Originally we’d planned something over west, but forecasts of heavy rain and lightening meant we headed to the Lochnagar area.
Paul and Portia low down on The Stuic.
After walking in and camping at Sandy Lochan on Wednesday afternoon we got up early this morning to hit a weather window and scrambled up The Stuic before heading around over Lochnagar and then down to pick up the tents.
Creag na h-Eighe
On Friday Alex, Anya and I had a great day climbing in the sunshine at Creag na h-Eighe near Dunkeld. The crag was dry, but there was heavy rain after we left in the late afternoon.
Anya on Grant’s Route. Photo credit. A. Kosogorin.
LLA Training
John and I delivered a Lowland Leader Award Training at the weekend for Falkirk Community Trust Outdoors. A varied group of seven candidates and pleasant weather made for a good course.
Caolon, Alan and Jeannie with the Forth bridges behind.
Harris and Lewis
Jen and I are just back from a week on Harris and Lewis. The weather wasn’t always helpful, with cold north-easterly winds and showers most days, but we had a great time and still managed to fit in some good walking and climbing.
Jen on the pleasant gneiss slabs at Caitiosbhal.
Additionally, the ancient monuments, amazing beaches and great welcoming cafes made for a delightful trip.
Summit view from An Cleasam (Clisham).
Pentlands DofE
This week I’ve been delivering DofE training for The City of Edinburgh Council for a good group from Trinity School. This culminated in a practice expedition in the Pentlands. I was particularly impressed with the ambitious cooking options of the group, as some of the photos on The ClimbNow Facebook page show. Wet earlier in the week, but thankfully dry on Thursday and Friday for the practice expedition.
The group in the Pentlands.
Dalmeny
I spent four days last week delivering navigation and emergency procedure training to DofE groups for The City of Edinburgh Council. We used the Cramond and Dalmeny Estate area, which worked well in a week of sunshine and showers.
A group enjoying a sunny spell in Dalmeny.
Elephant Rock
Last week Euan, Ivor and I went to climb at Elephant Rock between Arbroath and Montrose. However, there were house martins nesting on large areas of the cliff and around all the routes we were after, so we headed off to another crag. I’ve been meaning to post about this just to say it’s probably worth avoiding the crag until after the nesting season. The photo is of Nettle on Elephant rock last year.
Nettle on “Tale of the Tape” last year.
Skye
The last four days I’ve been on Skye with John and a Falkirk Outdoors team of Donald, Euan, Fiona, Julie, Mel and Mike. On Sunday after travelling up we walked in from the Glen Brittle Youth Hostel to An Dorus and climbed Sgurr a’Ghreadaidh and Sgurr a’Mhadaidh in the cloud.
Euan and Donald on Sgurr a’Ghreadaidh.
On Monday we started form Sligachan and went up via Coire a’Bhasteir to ascend Sgurr nan Gillean via the West Ridge. We descended back to the bealach before heading out and back to Am Basteir and then nipping around and up Bruach na Frithe and descending via Fionn Choire.
The summit of Sgurr nan Gillean. Photo credit: Julie Stewart.
Tuesday looked like potentially the best weather day so we headed out to Sgurr nan Eag via Coire a’Ghrunnda before taking in Sgurr Dubh na Da Bheinn and Sgurr Dubh Mor. We then retraced our steps over Sgurr Dubh na Da Bheinn before heading around and up to Sgurr Alasdair via its South West Ridge. After that we descended to the top of the Great Stone Shoot, before heading on over Sgurr Thearlaich and Sgurr MhicCoinnich via Hart’s/Collie’s Ledge and descending via Coire Lagan.
Mike, Euan and Donald descending Sgurr MhicCoinnich.
Yesterday the weather was worse than forecast, but thanks to a fine effort from the team we still managed to climb the Inaccessible Pinnacle in very wet conditions approaching and returning via Coire na Banachdaich and Sgurr Dearg.
The girls on a very wet Inaccessible Pinnacle.
A great few days climbing all but one of the Black Cuillin Munros. Thanks to all the team for making it a very enjoyable and successful trip.
Kirrie Hill
Ivor and I had a very pleasant morning sport climbing in the sun at Kirrie Hill, Kirriemuir today. It’s a very sheltered crag and a real sun trap.
Me leading Hard Labour. Photo credit: Ivor McCourt.
The nature of the crag meant we were able to climb a good number of routes in a relatively short visit.
