Gairloch Climbing Wall Open
25/11/10
Three years of work, fund-raising and
organisation came to a successful end last month (20th) with
opening of the Gairloch Climbing Wall. This corner of Scotland has
long been known for quality trad climbing and, more recently, it
has gained a reputation as one of the best venues for sport
climbing in Scotland (and possibly the UK). The one ingredient
lacking was a venue where local climbers can train, where young
climbers can cut their teeth and where visiting climbers can
retreat when the weather turns. go further
Scotland’s Paul Tattersall has been at the
heart of the local campaign to get the wall built and pushed things
forward at various times when all seemed bogged down in council
red-tape.
The new wall has replaced an (almost) useless blockwork and cement ‘climbing’ wall in one corner and a blank blockwork wall in another. Hopefully, it shows the way forward for other venues in the Highlands and Scotland where vertical space can be utilised to make leisure centres hugely more appealing and useful. Perhaps with this success, more pressure can be put on Highland Council to follow this lead in other areas - such as Ullapool.
As well as giving everyone in the area a whole day to visit and try the wall, the opening included other activities including rope climbing, spinning and rowing. Climbing films were screened and stalls were provided by Tiso, Craigdon, the local mountain rescue team and local businesses. Volunteers provided a feast of baking and snacks and Gairloch High School provided much of the support and the additional space. The day was a fantastic success, where the whole climbing community came together to support what must be the best boost to climbing the area has yet seen. Thanks again to the companies and organisations who supported the project - Ineos, SportScotland, Highland Leader Fund, Great Wilderness Challenge have all contributed to the money raised by local community.
Everyone who came along had the chance to try the routes.
Local climbers with some of the team from Avertical World (Dundee) who built the wall.
Relaxing with tea, cake and a climbing video.
Some familiar faces. Local climbers - Steve and Ray from the local rescue team.
Rowing challenges....
....and spinning tasters put on by Gairloch Leisure centre.
The new wall has replaced an (almost) useless blockwork and cement ‘climbing’ wall in one corner and a blank blockwork wall in another. Hopefully, it shows the way forward for other venues in the Highlands and Scotland where vertical space can be utilised to make leisure centres hugely more appealing and useful. Perhaps with this success, more pressure can be put on Highland Council to follow this lead in other areas - such as Ullapool.
As well as giving everyone in the area a whole day to visit and try the wall, the opening included other activities including rope climbing, spinning and rowing. Climbing films were screened and stalls were provided by Tiso, Craigdon, the local mountain rescue team and local businesses. Volunteers provided a feast of baking and snacks and Gairloch High School provided much of the support and the additional space. The day was a fantastic success, where the whole climbing community came together to support what must be the best boost to climbing the area has yet seen. Thanks again to the companies and organisations who supported the project - Ineos, SportScotland, Highland Leader Fund, Great Wilderness Challenge have all contributed to the money raised by local community.
Everyone who came along had the chance to try the routes.
Local climbers with some of the team from Avertical World (Dundee) who built the wall.
Relaxing with tea, cake and a climbing video.
Some familiar faces. Local climbers - Steve and Ray from the local rescue team.
Rowing challenges....
....and spinning tasters put on by Gairloch Leisure centre.
Snowflake (7a+) - Goat Crag
27/05/10
From time to time we profile some of
the best climbs in Wester Ross so here are a few shots of
gofurther’s Paul and Colin on
Snowflake - one of the best routes on Goat Crag which is one of the
best sport-clmbing crags in Scotland. The pictures, taken in the
last couple of weeks, hopefully capture how steep the crag is yet,
after the mid-height crux, the holds become a lot more forgiving as
the climb leads diagonally up and left over a massive jagged
flake.
The climb starts delicately up a steep face to a bulge above the second runner. The climbing is not hard for the grade here, but the holds aren’t obvious.
The crux section starts after leaving the obvious diagonal break. As the angle steepens the route goes left on good holds before turning back right over the obvious bulge above Paul in this picture.
The hardest section of the route from a different angle. Here you can see the obvious flake line at the top of the picture which takes the climb up and left to a second hard section at the top of the flake, just below the lower-off. A knee-bar rest is possible when you reach the flake.
Snowflake is the furthest left route at Goat Crag which now has more than 15 routes of the highest quality ranging from 6a+ to 8a. A topo should be available from Wild West Topos soon.
Interested in sport climbing or climbing instruction? See our climbing pages for more.
Thanks to local climber Ian Taylor for this bolted line.
The climb starts delicately up a steep face to a bulge above the second runner. The climbing is not hard for the grade here, but the holds aren’t obvious.
The crux section starts after leaving the obvious diagonal break. As the angle steepens the route goes left on good holds before turning back right over the obvious bulge above Paul in this picture.
The hardest section of the route from a different angle. Here you can see the obvious flake line at the top of the picture which takes the climb up and left to a second hard section at the top of the flake, just below the lower-off. A knee-bar rest is possible when you reach the flake.
Snowflake is the furthest left route at Goat Crag which now has more than 15 routes of the highest quality ranging from 6a+ to 8a. A topo should be available from Wild West Topos soon.
Interested in sport climbing or climbing instruction? See our climbing pages for more.
Thanks to local climber Ian Taylor for this bolted line.
Sea stack climbing - Am Buachaille
12/05/08
This climb includes everything: a beautiful walk to a stunning and remote location; a walk around a rugged coast; a swim out to the stack; a exhilarating climb; a 50m abseil; and, some breathtaking views. But words can't paint the picture, so we've put together a small video of the trip we made on Friday 9th May. Just click on the embedded movie below. Three days on and the weather hasn't changed.
If you're interested in guided sea stack climbing click here for our dedicated page.