There are many climbing schools with qualified instructors if you are inexperienced and want to go climbing in Scottish. Whether
climbing independently or under expert instruction, look for the Scottish Mountaineering Club (SMC) guidebooks which are a good source of
independent information.
Scotland is one of the best places in the UK for rock climbs, from short roadside crags through to some of the best alpine routes in the
country, including the only mountain sport climbs anywhere in the UK.
One Scottish climbing 'mecca' is Glen Coe. This breathtaking location's worldwide fame might have more to do with ancient clan rivalries,
but the glorious 'glen of weeping' is also one of Scotland's premier climbing resorts, featuring a diverse range of venues on two contrasting
massifs - and very accessible too.
Glen Coe is one of Scotland's premier climbing resorts essentially made up from two distinct mountain masses - Buachaille Etive Mor and the
sprawling Bidean Nam Bian massif. The diverse range of venues within these two contrasting mountain masses, together with the fact that it is the
most accessible mountain area in Scotland, make it a particular popular area.
Central Scotland and the North West Highlands also host some of our finest roadside crags while, once again, the Hebridean Isle of Skye's
Cuillin Ridge offers numerous possibilities for original and classic rock climbing in some of Scotland's most remote mountain locations.
Rock Climbing in North West Scotland
Some of the best rock climbing in Scotland is to be found in Wester Ross and the wider Northern Highlands. The remoteness gives the North-West a
special feel. There are no crowds here and more than often you'll have the crag to yourself. Multi-pitch climbs on Carnmore in the heart of
the Fisherfield Forest or in Coire Mhic Fhearchair on the north side of Beinn Eighe are committing mountaineering experiences that contrast
wonderfully with the abundant low-level, mostly single-pitch venues scattered from Torridon to Ullapool and on up to the north coast.
Lewisian Gneiss, Torridonian Sandstone, Cambrian Quartzite, sea-cliffs and sea stacks, traditional climbing, bolted sport climbing, bouldering
areas, sunny crags, shady crags, perma-dry crags for rainy days, windy crags for midgy days, undeveloped crags for the thrill of new-routing -
there are hardly any days you can't enjoy climbing. You can also meet the instructors and guides here.
Sea stack climbing
Sea stack climbing in Scotland can be exposed, remote, exciting and atmospheric.
Old man of Stoer - Coigach near Ullapool
Situated on the Stoer Peninsula near Lochinver, it is one of the classic sea stacks, alongside others like Am Buachaille at Sandwood Bay and the most famous of all, The Old Man of Hoy in the Orkney Islands (see below). The day at the Old Man of Stoer involves a swim (for some brave soul) and a tyrolean traverse to the base of the climb. The most popular route by far is the Original Route, VS, 75m. There are also other routes on the stack, two E1s and an E2.
An impressive 55m abseil gets you back to the base of the stack and if you are clever with your tyrolean, no need to swim home. What a
great adventure.
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