Climbs 40
Rocktype Basalt
Altitude 150m a.s.l
Faces N
Summer evening on Pillar Crag © drconline
This is a small slabby crag of striking columnar Basalt about 10-12m high. It's not visible from the road and you could even walk right past it on the mountain bike track along the top and not realise it was there.
It is often overlooked in favour of it's more popular neighbour Craigmore, but in some ways this crag is more interesting (and definitely quieter!)
The crag is a series of sloping off-vertical basalt columns with varying sized cracks between them. The routes are short and not to hard but have a nice 3-D feel to them with lots of potential for stemming and jamming.
Some of the climbs can be top-roped using the substantial trees above the crag as anchors. Others require trad gear - mainly small cams and nuts to fit into the narrow vertical cracks in between the hexagonal basalt columns. There are a couple of good but short 'splitter' type jamming routes (e.g. Cracker Crack)
It dries quickly and stays dry under large beach trees. Midges can be a problem in the summer.
The Crag lies in the trees on the south side of the B821 about 1km east of Craigmore.
Park at NS 53762 79585 (West Highland Way) taking care not to block the gate.
Walk south on the path through the gate for approx 50m then take the 1st mountain bike track to your left uphill and contour along the rise to the highest point and the outcrop down to the left beside the large beech trees.
There is a steep access path down to the base of the crag just past the second large Beech tree, but care should be taken as it's very steep.
|
Name | Grade | Stars | Type | Logs | Partner Ascents |
---|
Moderators Updates to this page are checked by UKC volunteers Scott townsend and drconline