Sunday 3 July 2022

It’s been a year since DMC visited Aberdour, so time for return visit. The tide was good, but how would the weather pan out? Things weren’t looking promising as we left Dundee in a downpour…. But it was all still dry when we arrived at Aberdour so, after wandering along the base of the cliff for a while, we selected our routes….

David started off with a nervous lead of Gunga Din (S), heading to the top eventually after a moment of doubt. Then Iain upped the game by trying Saracen (VS), definitely a bold start getting off the ground! Next it was Gaëlle’s turn to try leading Chimney Arete (VD), which she cruised up. Iain had one more VS in his sights: Guano. Unfortunately I fell off seconding and found myself at the base of a VDiff which was much easier to romp up! Well done to Gaëlle for sticking to the correct route.

The tide comes in all too quickly at Aberdour, so we had to repair to the west end of the cliff for the end of the afternoon. David made a ‘comical’ ascent of Cranium Crack (VS) with Iain using the top-rope to full effect on Conquistador Crack (VS). We were almost thinking about leaving when we decided to have a last go at Ugh!(HS).

All in all a great day out and somehow all the rain showers avoided us.

• Report by David Matthews