28th September 2014
Ephraim and I decided to check out Balmashanner quarry on Sunday. Located just outside Forfar this small quarry is the site of some of the hardest sport routes in Scotland. But it does also sport a few easier routes. We tried the left wall first. The climbs were ok but to be honest the ground here was minging, full of nettles and a rather smelly pile of mud. So after warming up on a 4 and Ephraim’s successful onsight of Mini the Minx (6a) we moved to the main wall. This is impressively overhanging with routes up to 8b+ but it did promise one easier route at the end, Starting the Fire (6a+). Oh dear. Ephraim and I can normally make a reasonable hash of 6a+’s but not this one! It took several goes by each of us, up and down, getting progressively further each time, before Ephraim finally clipped the lower off. Suitably spanked we slunk off to Legaston quarry to try a couple of old favourites there.
- David Matthews
