June 2017 - The Shetlands
- Richard Plater
- Jul 2, 2017
- 2 min read
Phase 1 of our mission to visit the most far-flung parts of the British Isles saw us set off on the long trip to the Sheltand Islands over midsummer. We were hoping for some almost midnight sun, something we discovered the locals refer to as the "Simmer Dim", some birdlife, some great seafood, and perhaps even some climbing. We found all of the above and more.
16th June - Bannaminn
Winterwadder (VD*)
Echo (S)
Slab n Tickle (VD)
18th June - Blovid (South Wall)
Storm Warning (VD)
Fitzroy (VD)
North Atlantic Flux (S)
Penumbra of a Landlocked Existence (HS 4a)
20th June - South Gill
Ledger (VD)
Plunder (S**)
Step 'n' Wall (S)
21st June - Fidlar Geo (West Wall)
Whaap (S)
Footabrough Tales (D)
22nd June - Bressay: Muckle Hell
Ramp Up (VD)
Crocodile Corner (S**)
Al Whitworth's Shetland Climbing proved to be a largely reliable and informative guidebook. Finding the crags and identifying the listed climbs was pretty much always straightforward. While the tidal range is small, wind direction and variations in swell added additional factors into crag choice. Our first attempt to climb at South Gill found all the lower tier climbs being hit by spray to well past half height.
The weather was of the sort that meant it was usually somewhere between two layers and five. The sun invariably shone, but there was often a good breeze, which at least meant the showers never stayed overhead for long! As we proved, down jackets can be suitable attire for a BBQ.
The wildlife and the scenery were fantastic. Aerobatic Puffins, dive-bombing Gannets, and curious seals became familiar sights and the majestic scale and sweep of the cliffs around Eshaness Lighthouse was quite something. The very thought of setting up an anchor and abseiling in gave cause for the odd knee tremor. That one is for next time!
The locals were ever friendly and for the most part seemed to have the time of day to pass.
And lastly, the climbing? Well, the climbing was varied, on occasion a tad intimidating (at which point we ran away and went swimming instead), and never short of interesting. We didn't grace the big scary lines, but there was always plenty for us to do in settings that never failed to give pause for wonder.
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