Hiking, Scrambling, Mountaineering, and Climbing

Thanks @JB @skinny I thought as much. May have to get a fresh set of the Terrex mids as the tread is pretty worn, but comfort over 10 days will be worth it.

Why mids? Restricts movement and gives more stuff to rub skin.

yeah, here's me outside it on a perfect day up there!

1 Attachment

I did it in a leisurely 10 days in a pair of Meindl Respond GTX with a far too heavy bag. Low shoes, no issues.

15 years later I just did a fun after work scramble in the same shoes.

1 Attachment

Awesome! Spooky tree

Didn’t know you’d were in a Wes Anderson film, cool stuff

Wes Anderson, but it's people in second-hand quechua eating couscous with garlic olive oil

Currently got a pair that's all. Will try a couple of pairs on.

I've subscribed to the school of low trail shoes. I've rolled my ankles a good bit now and they're getting strong as a result and now bounce back. I don't see a need for higher unless it's for water protection or warmth, unless you've some issue. I'll happily hike rough ground with 20kg (kid in backpack) without issue. Just be careful where you step.
For me I much prefer the freedom of movement of lows, breathability.

Just be careful getting something new so close.

I remember when I was in Scotland, saw this poor person in huge boots with a rucksack like they were going to the Himalayan. Obviously their feet were fucked.

And I thought my backyard was sweet. Beautiful.

As far as I can remember, the only "sketchy" bit was the ladders if you are going clockwise.
Oh, and perhaps the Fenetre d'Arpette.

Enjoy, it was one of the highlights of my life so far.

I went the Alp Bovine route, so didn't pass the Fenetre d'Arpette. That is a lovely valley though and pretty cool to see the Glacier du Trient, I've only been up there in winter.

Incredible achievement, third round!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66027099

I have some time off at the end of July, but planning it will be last minute as we're having work done on the house the week before and it might run over.

Does anyone have any recommendations for places for sport climbing for beginners (up to 7b) that is easily accessible from Edinburgh? Happy to go as far as Wales or a last-minute flight if needed.

for beginners (up to 7b)

Gtfo

I definitely still feel like a beginner? We've only been indoors, and would need to spend time on youtube if there was anything other than two carabiners at the top.

I guess a range of grades from 6b to 7b, where it is well climbed, and the ground is flat to make belaying easy?

Maybe I am jaded - 7s are well into the "serious amateur" level IMO? Imagine taking an actual beginner to have a go at a 7b sport route....

I'd prob go abroad for your wishlist tbh but that's as much because all the crags I can think of up north are trad

Nah, not jaded. 7’s are defo well serious amateur. Can only suggest Portland for sport in that level, but not sure it’s worth it to fly to Bournemouth from Edinburgh…

Haha, I would consider myself a very intermediate climber and i’ll onsight 6a, hangdog my way up a 6b. If you can climb 7s without serious training and are considering giving it a go for your first sport session outside then fair play! If I was climbing outside for the first time and wasn’t confident in setting anchors and rappelling then I wouldn’t dream of attempting anything over 5b.
Also be wary of indoor vs outdoor grades. If you’re not used to route finding then it can suddenly feel a lot harder.

Does anyone you're going with have outdoor experience? I'd def consider going somewhere you can get a guide / bring along someone who knows what they're doing if you can - stuff like threading the bolts at the end is worth having someone who knows what they're doing. Otherwise I second everything @chiroshi said

OK cool, appreciate the advice. For argument's sake we are both beginners outside. Hopefully by then we'll have had some days with an instructor, but the weather here looks terrible for the next 2 weeks so it might not happen.

Happy to pay for a guide. Is there a recommendation for where to go?

I'm not local but I've heard of Ratho https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/books/scottish_sport_climbs-1281

Vdiffclimbing is a good resource for outdoor techniques, I recommend practicing on the kitchen cabinets at home

Alternatively, I've recently written an outdoor single-pitch techniques guide. It's intended for English-speaking members of the Amsterdam student climbing association but it might be useful to others as well. It's available for free on ovs.guide. It needs more pictures and/or schematics though :)

Could come out here, I hear it's spectacular for climbing.
Montserrat, Oliana

Isn't Oliana mostly really hard stuff?

Advanced beginners crag I think