Back to Basics

A truly wildlife bonanza this weekend. Finally got myself back on some trad routes with Stewart at Redhyte point near Portsoy. The crag itself is pretty unremarkable, but the setting is excellent. Although the routes are short you can pack a lot into the day and I thoroughly enjoyed a chilled day out on the rock, watching little boats bob about as I belayed.

We started the day with the sea level traverse of the crag, and whilst out on the seaward end we saw thousands of Mackerel topping and playing in the crystal clear waters. Despite a bit of a sandbag HVS that felt E1 to me, we had a pretty relaxing day. The grades are a bit all over the place, VS that feels vdiff and HVS that felt..well hard! The day finished with Dolphins in the Firth as the sun began to set on a long autumn evening, and hand made ice-cream at Cullen.
Sunday Becky and I stormed our way around the hills that make up the Meall a’ Bhuachaille ridge behind Glenmore Lodge. The wildlife theme continued when we saw this little fellow pop his head out to say hello.

Last weekend as we cycled around Glen Afric Bec ran over a slow worm too, poor bugger! We think it survived as it slithered away into the bushes.
Not much else to report really.