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Pinged03 Oct 2012
I am off for a week in Gairloch in the NW Highlands for christmas and new year. Hoping to get some sea cliffs and a bit of cragging done, weather permitting.
ANybody got any ideas/tips for days out and other activities?
In reply to Peter Jackson: If the weather is decent, get yourself down to Diabeg - fantastic climbing on quality rock in a beautiful setting... And don't miss The Melvaig Inn, just up the coast from Gairloch!!!
> (In reply to Peter Jackson)
> And don't miss The Melvaig Inn, just up the coast from Gairloch!!!
Seconded! Some of the best scallops I've ever had, and the landlord used to work in the music business and the walls are covered in music memorabilia. There an Elvis Costello gold disc, among other things.
Don't forget that daylight hours are quite short at that time of year - you'll have about 7 hours, so plans for days on the hills should reflect that.
Could be cold but there are some nice accessible suntrap crags that give you good trad cragging options:
Raven's Crag and Stone Valley in the south Gairloch area.
Aztec Tower and Grass Crag in the central Gairloch area.
Jetty Buttress and the Gruinard River Crags in the Gruinard area (this was Inverarie Crag in mid-December 2009: http://www.ukclimbing.com/images/dbpage.php?id=131307 ) , also hardcore winter sport climbing at Goat Crag and Am Fasdagh.
Well worth a trip to Ardmair, just North of Ullapool as that also gets all the sun going and is some of the best climbing in the area.
If it's too cold for trad/sport then there's good bouldering a wee drive away at Torridon, Reiff In The Woods, also Ardmair Beach and Inchbae Erratics.
Lots of nice walking and the scenery in the area is beautiful. Not sure if boat trips run at that time of year but would be worth it if so. The Mountain Coffee Cafe and Old Gairloch Inn are reccommended.
