Neist Point

Piggy Bank goes just right of the arete

Today I managed to get up to Neist point and put a few routes to rest which I have wanted to do for a while and which turned out to be really good.  I headed up there with Ian and it was great temps for climbing, a little cool which helped with friction.  We climbed a good haul of routes ranging from E1-E3 with the highlight being Piggy Bank which is a contender for one of the best E3's i've ever done.  The sea cliff were ideal today, despite the mountains being dry, it was cold up there so tucking out the wind was the logical solution.  Cant wit to get back.

Great place to climb

Coire Lagan Round

George getting ready for his round

100 things to do before you die - Climb the Cioch

The Coire Lagan Round is one of my favourite single days on Skye, picking off some of the most iconic pieces of rock and some fantastic sections of climbing.  George's aim was to get to grips with some nice scrambling and also summit a few Munro's so the Round of Coire Lagan seemed logical.  We started up the Sgurmain Stone shoot, ascending under the mighty Cioch and bumped into Jamie and his client for a social-able ascent.  We proceeded onto Sgurr Alasdair, the highest peak of the Cuillin, over some fantastic terrain to traverse along Hart's (Collies) Ledge and up onto Sgurr Micchoinnich.  From hwere we proceeded in beautiful weather to the scramble up onto An Stac and finished our day on the Inaccessible Pinnacle.  The Coire Lagan round never disappoints, if you havent done it then you must get it done.  Including the Cioch is even better.

Been there done that, the skyline we just climbed over.

Climbing up An Stac

All done, smiles on the way down

Northumberland

Amazing sandstone with amazing weather

Donald cruising at Bowden Doors

With a little mixed forecast in Scotland, Donald and I decided to nip over the border and find some sunshine at Northumberland.  I have been her before when I was younger and really keen to get back knowing what I know now (and being able to hold on a little longer).  We visited Bowden Doors, Kyloe and Callerheus over the 3 days climbing around 50 routes in various different styles.  Donald brought his big cams so we spent some time climbing very wide cracks, something I am not very good at and demonstrated a complete lack of skill which left Donald crying with laughter.

Donald soloing

Donald on an E4, ger in touch to find out what happened next! ;)

Donald finally got hold of the camera and took a photo of me

Tower Ridge and the CMD arete

Today I was back out with Graham, a client who I was out with last year and wanted to do some climbing on Ben Nevis.  Tower Ridge was the obvious option and was a route Graham has had his eye on for a while.  Fortunately another lovely day and not another soul on the ridge, or on the north side as far as we could see.  I don't know how many times I have done Tower Ridge but I never get bored of it.  Always interesting and exciting all the way to the top and everyone responds to the difficulties in their own way.  On the top was a different story, lots of folk shouting, smoking and falling over.  We thought lets head for Carn Mor Dearg, a Munro Graham hadn't done...and some peace away from the crouds.  Another great day and now for a few days off.  No pictures today.

Super Skye

Mark and Dan ready for action

Dan enjoying summit views

Another two super days work on Skye covering all the Munro's in the Southern end of the Cuillin and up to the In Pinn.  I was out with Mark and Dan and working for Skye guides.  Day one was the nicest so we hit Sgurr Mhiconnic and followed with a peaceful ascent of the In Pinn.  We shared no summit with anyone and passed only a couple of people which was a lovely chance from the masses I sometimes encounter on the Pinn.  Day two was a little overcast and a wee damp so it was ideal for the southern end finishing on Sgurr Alasdair.  It was a great couple of days and get me fit and ready for a weekend of wedding celebrations.  I shall allow myself some beer and champagne.  For these two days I was working for Skye Guides.

In Pinn happiness

Ardmair

Lou on Scultress

Last night I managed to steal an evening at Ardmair after work with Lou and returned today for another few routes before the rain.  We had a nice tally of routes, all of which were really good fun and it feels like a long time since I last went climbing in my own time.  Arms felt weak, flexibility was restrictive but things improved as the day went on.  I really should take more days off.

Nice evening location

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North West Rock

Father and son on Stac Pollaidh

Ed loving the friction

Reed ready to walk the plank

Ace place to work

Over the last 3 days I have been based in the North West and doing a spot of climbing with Reed and his son Ed.  We covered most bases when it comes to traditional climbing.  Mountain crags, sea stacks and single pitch sea cliffs.  We started up at Stac Pollaidh and Climbed 2 VS's, Summer Isles Arete Direct which was great followed by Bats in the Belfry which was OK.  We were lucky with the weather and climbing in the sun all day.  Unfortunately it was a little bit moist on our second day and we planned for the Old Man of Stoer.  Unfortunately the rock was damp and Ed was unable to climb the slimy pitches in the rain, nothing was easy as it should be so we decided to bail and after some interesting abseiling we made it back to the Tyrolean.  Our final day was great and made up for day two as we climbed heaps of routes and Reed and Ed got up every single route and with smiles and eagerness for more

So far yet so close, then so close but so far :/

We didn't top out but this was fun

One of the 10 routes we did on our 3rd day

After a long day, coiling the rope is always a hard task

Something different

Our transport

Usually I spend all my time on dry land however  for the Last two weeks I have tried my sea legs.  We have toured around the west coast of Scotland looking for sea cliff and sea stacks, wild life and island life and meeting some great people on the way, we got some climbing in along the way but we has such a busy itinerary we had to keep pressing on.  From Ballachulish we sailed up to Skye and the surrounding Islands, past Rassay and onto Harris.  From Harris we went to two very remote islands, Sula Sgeir and Rona and onto Orkney.  We were rained off the Old Man of Hoy, got a kreel caught in the propeller so had to get towed in by the coastguard (see the pic below).  After some repairs, we then went up to Shetland Island, Over the North Sea to Floro in Norway and finally down to Began via some fantastic Fjords with hugh granite walls.  Lots to talk about but I will let the photos do the talking.

Our navigation system

John plotting the course, Angus making brews

Under the Skye bridge

Rassay or Rona...cant quite remember

Climbing on Harris

John bridging on Harris

Yet more crags

The brewing storm never caught us

Amazing cliff on Rona (near to Sula Sgeir)

The Old Man of Hoy

The bad climbing conditions, the kreel and our tow

Oil rig in the North Sea

Nice wee house in Norway

Lots of big boats

Somewhere in Norway

I caught all of this! Yum

A floating bridge

Boats...cable layers for the North sea.