I know we are somewhere...

Well what a fun weekend I'm just recovering from... The weather looked the best in the SW so a plan was hatched to meet Ben in Inveraray on Friday night. It was quite a long drive, but half way between the Lakes and Inverness.

The drive over gave hope of the great adventure to follow

Inveraray seemed a very posh Scottish hamlet as I skipped in and met Ben in 'The George' where I had a rather nice sticky toffee pudding amongst the local high brow or city slickers - who knows, probably a mix of both.


We pushed on late into the night heading South towards Achnamara at the top of knapdale. After trying to sleep in a forest but getting moved on late at night by two very friendly locals out with guns and beer in their 4x4 on a fox hunt we had to back track and slept in the car park of the Scottish Beaver trail (Beaver reintroduction area)!!!

Beaver time

Van life...

Saturday was very busy.... early start and Creag nam Fitheach (crag of the Raven), a nice crag in this remote spot. The crag approach was entertaining, an easy track to a point where the crag was very close, but this final bushwhack was torturous through trees, bracken and over a crazy rock field.... at some point Ben declared 'I know we are somewhere..'.  If I ever visited again I would take a machete or go before or after bracken (or ice age)... The midges were terrible and I nearly ran away, but we did 3 rather good routes before the forecast rain arrived on cue at lunchtime. We quickly escaped and headed East holding a planning meeting at the Green Welly Stop, Tyndrum.

So close... and yet tortuous to actually get to the crag!

We are somewhere!

Midgetastic belay

Compact but great routes

The weather forecast was spot on and started to really brighten into the afternoon so we headed to Creag Na H-Iolaire (Eagle Crag) in Glen Lednock and did another 3 great routes, including a rather fine powerful HVS called Sultans of Swing! We were both reasonably tired by now with all of the travel so just got fish and chips in Comrie, parked the van in the forest near town and had beers and 'man' chat (with no touching!)!

Eagle Crag

Ben stretching out

Sunday dawned bright and clear and we headed the short distance to Dunkeld, another scenic Scottish village/town. On Loz's recommendation we climbed at Craig A Barns. Wow, a great crag set in a very scenic location. Today it was sunny with no midges and we both really enjoyed the 4 routes that we climbed here. They were all brilliant but maybe the highlight was 'The End' a great VS 5a, 4c. The crag and climbing was very reminiscent of climbing at Tremadog in N Wales.

Photo doesn't do it justice, the fantastic Craig A Barns

A great weekend of dirt bagging in the van, hanging out and climbing  a wee bit!