Lewis trip

A few of us ventured over to Lewis last week to see how Holly was getting on and to enjoy the island.  With Juliette and her mother Morag and Rae along to provide a local perspective we had a great time.  Based at Kneep campsite at Reef Beach in the Uig area we explored the area and indeed the whole island from Ness in the north to Leverburgh in the south and took in some walks, climbs, swims, relation visits (for Juliette and Morag) and provided some evening distractions for Holly from her work in Stornoway. (we even avoided dropping rocks on her, although did force her to abseil towards an angry looking sea!)

                                            Holly enjoying (??) Lewis seacliff climbing

                                               Stuart and Juliette's van and Morag's tent

                               The view across Reef beach with the campsite on the right

                                                        Bhaltos beach looking great

          Butt of Lewis lighthouse and Judith looking pleased after spotting a pod of dolphins

Stuart, Melba, Rae and Judith enjoying the views of St. Kilda coming down from Mealaisbhal the highest point on Lewis

                                           the spectacularly located bothy at Mangurstadh

                                                             inside the bothy - space for 2

                                     the dogs enjoying another amazing beach at Uig sands

                               Stuart leading one of the 6 pitches of a severe on Griomabhal, if this was in the
  Cairngorms and south facing it would be mobbed!!

                                      Looking across at the 300m slabs we had just climbed

            The weather couldn't last forever but at least we had Losgaintir beach to ourselves.  This was followed by meeting up with Holly again and supper and a ceildh in Tarbet, Harris.  A a visit to the new distillary where large amounts of gin were purchased was also included.....

Lovely evening for bouldering at an unrecorded cliff. The boulder problems are mainly easy grades and slabby, partially tidal.

We had low tide in the evening, so we could climb EVERYTHING!

... and since there was anything more to climb (this obviously a joke, there is ALWAYS something more to climb!) we then enjoyed a good BBQ all together, with professional tools and an invasion of burgers.

 

See you at the next climbing-social. Bye!