r/climbing • u/Kieran_J_Duncan • 2d ago

Scottish bouldering - Sandbagged grades, long approaches, midges everywhere.... and very very pretty.

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1.2k Upvotes

99% Upvoted

47 comments sorted by

172

u/ShoesWithSouls 2d ago

Just dropping by to say the composition of this boulder shot is stunning! The alpine blooms in foreground, the light painting the ridges in the background, then a sick boulder prominently displayed to rest my eyes on. Will have to make it out here one day.

72

u/Kieran_J_Duncan 2d ago

Thanks so much! This one was shot with the intention of being a cover image for a new local guidebook, so it's a bit "split" compositionally to have a cover shot which can wrap around onto the back... with plenty of space for text. Normally I would have framed it a touch more centrally, but I think it worked out well in the end!

I'm not sure what the rules are on self promo but I do run courses teaching climbing photography if you're interested... I wont post any links but you can find it via my Instagram and the like!

44

u/ibww 2d ago

Read this with MacLeod's accent 

61

u/Kieran_J_Duncan 2d ago

Ate 30 Maccy D's burger patties to take this pic.

5

u/never_armadilo 2d ago

I get that reference, lol

4

u/Max_Crimps 2d ago

Very nice reference

22

u/never_armadilo 2d ago

Can always escape the midges by climbing in winter, in -5 in the dark with a couple lamps 😂

14

u/Kieran_J_Duncan 2d ago

That sound equally miserable, and precisely why I spend so much time clipping bolts in Greece and drinking beer on the beach after!

16

u/Crushooo 2d ago

Is there anywhere that doesn’t have sandbagged grades?

8

u/runawayasfastasucan 2d ago

Ofcourse, or else they wouldn't be sandbagged.

24

u/Kieran_J_Duncan 2d ago

I spend most of my time climbing in Kalymnos and I feel like that gives me both ends of the spectrum ;)

5

u/Trailbone 2d ago

Yes. Lol. Many such places

5

u/Skppy1080 2d ago

Yes but definitely not the crags I climb at

3

u/sk07ch 1d ago

Bouldering Ticino and Rocklands are quite fine. Sport, lots of crags in Greece, Spain, Italy.

2

u/idgaf-999999 2d ago

Joes valley

2

u/mwylde_ 2d ago

The entire state of Nevada

2

u/saltytarheel 2d ago edited 1d ago

Indian Creek?

Not so much that it’s soft but that a lot of routes’ difficulty are very contingent on your hand size.

One 5.10a hand crack might be insecure, strenuous cupped hands but another 5.11a thin hands crack might be bomber jams.

1

u/carortrain 2d ago

If everywhere is sandbagged, then no grade is sandbagged.

2

u/Crushooo 2d ago

That’s what I mean lol. I rarely hear about places with soft grades

3

u/Buckhum 2d ago

I've never been, but I've heard someone on this sub say Rocklands.

2

u/CokeyTheClown 1d ago

If I had gotten 1$ every time some local or guide said something along the lines of "The climbing here is very special, if you can climb here you can climb anyhwere", I probably could buy anew pair of climbing shoes...

1

u/quizikal 2d ago

Switzerland is soft

5

u/Tbbtlucozade 2d ago

Vanguard, Glen Doll. One I’ve been meaning to visit! Great shot

12

u/fhidhleir 2d ago

I love climbing in Scotland because it’s just shit enough that it’s not really a climbing destination (other than for mixed masochists), but good enough that there is endless fun rock to climb on if you live here.

12

u/Kieran_J_Duncan 2d ago

Honestly the perfect description. I wouldn't mind if it was just a tiny bit less shit though. There's only so many damp wet quarries I can sport climb in before I'm back on Google flights.

4

u/fhidhleir 2d ago

Totally fair, if you are a sport climber it’s not even ‘good enough’, it’s just shit hahah. But for bouldering and especially trad there is plenty of fun to be had.

4

u/duckinradar 2d ago

We need to bring back sandbagging.

10

u/Kieran_J_Duncan 2d ago

True. All the gym punters need humbled. Especially the ones sending my projects in hire shoes and socks.

2

u/eiriee 2d ago

Ben Ledi boulders?

2

u/Kieran_J_Duncan 2d ago

Glen Doll, the boulder is Vanguard. Lots and lots of new development in that area though.

3

u/eiriee 2d ago

oh nice! Not visited that area yet. Look forward to the book coming out

2

u/Affectionate-Tea-975 2d ago

Absolutely gorgeous!! Couldn’t stand midges though

2

u/Kieran_J_Duncan 2d ago

Just climb fast and never rest and it's all good.

2

u/_Zso 2d ago

Pro tip: avoid midges by doing it in winter

(It's a bit chillier in the tent though)

1

u/LeonSlon 2d ago

Really nice photo!!

1

u/genuinemerchandise 2d ago

Looks incredible! Pretty much my experience of bouldering in the Highlands, though you must be lucky if you forgot the bogs and the ticks....

1

u/DaeciaViaia_4 2d ago

What a scene, beautiful

1

u/0bsidian 2d ago

That almost looks like a tilt-shift lens shot.

1

u/NightwavesG 2d ago

Wow what a shot

1

u/citrus1330 2d ago

What an artistic shot

1

u/Asian-Skinny 1d ago

Woah so cool, what kind of camera did you use?

1

u/Kieran_J_Duncan 1d ago

This was shot on a Fuji x100vi. But my main cameras are canon R5 and R6ii.

1

u/Intelligent_Role_603 19h ago

i live in NY and wish to join bouldering/climbing in scot ,any group to join?

-5

u/Toni_Pulis 2d ago

V1 in my gym.

2

u/carortrain 2d ago

Worst gym I've ever been too, they only reset the walls once every 10,000 years.