Cuillin climbing

A wee while since my last post as I have been busy +++.  Recent highlights including climbing in the NW Highlands and on the incomparable Isle of Skye. We were extremely lucky with the weather on these trips and managed to dodge most of the rain. In particular we had some fantastic weather on Skye, and managed to climb some classic mid-grade routes on the wonderful, rough Gabbro rock for which the Cuillin of Skye are justly famous, including Grand Diedre Direct VS 5a, Sunset Slab/Yellow Groove VS 4c, as well Cioch West (Severe), Arrow Route (Diff) and Integrity (VS 4c) on the magnificent cliff of Sron na Ciche. So much more to do, now just need some more time off and for the sun to come back out. Low pressure to the NW of the UK just now, meaning our side of the country likely to fair a bit better and be a bit brighter than the West....a period to probably stay on the East of Scotland if you can. All photos today courtesy of Alex Cowan.

Stunning high camp in the Cuillin of Skye

Me leading the 5a pitch on Grand Diedre Direct

The superlative Integrity VS 4c on Sron na Ciche

The equally classic Arrow Route

Typically Scottish weather on Skye

Hot rock Provence

Slightly belated post, some photos of a wonderful recent trip rock climbing and enjoying the incomparable Provence in the South of France. A change to be back climbing Limestone, very different to much of our rock in the Highlands, but really lovely once the "feel" had come back!
And of course the sun just shone, shone, shone, and the pool and beers were refreshing. Summer in full swing back in the Highlands now, a slightly driech interlude yesterday but looking fantastic again for the next few days.

Reachy moves on a F6a slab

Henry sets of...Voie de Trous 5+

Thirsty work belaying!

Up to the belay

Abseil descent

Making the most of the dry weather.....

Admiring the evening light from Stac Pollaidh summit

Over the last week I have managed several days of playing on the rocks with friends, great to have got out whilst it was dry. Rain and unsettled conditions have now returned. Routes climbed include Sword of Gideon VS 4c in Applecross (a route originally soloed in the 1960s by that most prolific of Scottish climbers, Dr Tom Patey, who was also the GP in Ullapool!), Summer Isles Arete Direct VS 4c on the incomparable Stac Pollaidh north of Ullapool, and Ardverkie Wall HS 4b in the Central Highlands, which must surely be one of the best routes of its standard in the UK.

Alex at the last belay on Summer Isles Arete Direct, Stac Pollaidh

Stunning evening light, Stac Pollaidh

Beautiful, delicate climbing on Ardverikie Wall

The crux traverse of Sword of Gideon, Applecross

Heatwave

We have been enjoying some fabulous weather over the last week, especially so on the West coast, where temperatures have been consistently some of the highest in the UK, in the mid 20s Centigrade.
At the start of the week I had a quick dash to the incomparable Torridon hills to do a mountain bike loop that has been on my list for some time. This is the classic Beinn Damph loop. Although not enormous in terms of distance, there is a good amount of tricky climbing to get done, before the final long, long blast down singletrack all the way back to Loch Torridon. The final ten minutes of descent through the sun dappled warm pine forests, rich in scent, were a fitting finale to a great day. A change back to Arctic northerly air streams tomorrow, so forecast to be much colder, albeit still dry!

Fantastic singletrack riding, fantastic views

Good spot for a break

And another!

A pause for breath during the helter-skelter descent. Beinn Alligin looking magnificent across Loch Torridon

More rocky adventures

Since my last post I have managed a couple more days of rock climbing, both on the West Coast. First up was the very accessible but still wonderful crags of Polldudh in Glen Nevis, slap bang beneath the bulk of Ben Nevis. This was followed by a trip to the incomparable landscapes of the NW Highlands, and the wonderful crags at Diabaig. I think the pictures say it all.........

Flying Dutchman Direct, VS 4c, Glen Nevis

The superb 2nd pitch of Flying Dutchman

A great day in prospect, Diabaig

The Grunter, VS 4c, Diabaig

Superb slabs

Fantastic

Difficult to concentrate on the climbing with views like that.......

Final moves......perfection

The art of navigation

Really productive last two days for me, attending a two-day workshop for Providers of the National Navigation Award Scheme. The idea was to learn and share ideas for teaching navigation, moving away from the "traditional" ways of teaching hill navigation, and thinking afresh. Lots of great ideas to maximise time and help clients "visualise" what they should be doing, as well as learning by doing and not in the classroom. Plenty of things for me to think about and incorporate into our
existing courses to make them even better. Thanks to Nigel Williams for delivering the course, and to James Woodhouse from Lathallan School for hosting and organising the conference. Great stuff.

Contours in the classroom

Contours outside

How best to introduce the compass....?

Dry rock

Spring for me is always heralded by getting back out onto the crags, hoping for dry rock and sunny skies. I have managed to squeeze in a few days already, at Cummingston on the Moray Coast, Huntly's Cave near Grantown, Reiff in the NW Highlands, and today a few hours of bolt clipping at Moy Rock near Inverness. More please!

Hy Brasil VS 4c, Reiff

and again from the other end!

Moy Soldiers 5+, Moy Rock