Saturday 8 October 2022

A team of 5 (Callum, Dave, Simon, Lesley, and the writer) meets in Kirriemuir to seize what might be the last chance for a while to climb outdoors. It’s a lovely dry afternoon, ideal for climbing on the extensive sandstone outcrop located on the side of Kirrie Hill, in the former quarry, for a few hours. With just one rope to share among five, the team alternates climbing and snacking on the Kirriemuir Gingerbread provided by Lesley, who is climbing outdoors for the first time. Simon and David share their knowledge with their less experienced climbing partners. Climbing proceeds at a good pace as the team ticks off ‘The Hill Has Eyes’ (5), ‘Screwless’ (3), ‘Badly Overdrawn Boy’ (6a+), ‘Ruthosaurus’ (3+), ‘Curtain Call’ (6a+), and ‘When Annabelle Met Tinkerbelle’ (6a). As the evening closes in, the shadows cast by the thicket in front of the crag grow longer. The air grows colder. Time to leave.

• Report by Paolo Savino