Is that the first pitch? Surely the crux is on the upper pitch!

Technically the second pitch if you rope up for the traverse snow ramp.
According to the guide books, the awkward mantle at the top of this pitch is the crux!

I doubt many would agree with the guidebook!

Yeah I know what you mean. Great route nonetheless!

This is a picture of Sesame Groove, a fantastic pitch in its own right. The crux is definatly the one above this, as many a leader would testify!! Is there any turf left, pulling over that steep wall, once you've stepped right??

So where is the crux of North Wall Groove? I'm confused now...

I would have said the roofy section further up (there's a photo of me pulling out over it in my gallery)
The turf on some of the harder moves has gone missing and so the grade of V 6 is stiff. - http://www.smc.org.uk/downloads/updates/scottish-winter-climbs-update-march-2014.pdf
Saying that, the turf of the route was hard as concrete the day we climbed it, so it did help to make the committing moves slightly easier by the offering of bomber turf for the moves after.

I've done Sesame Groove two or three times, but never North Wall Groove, only North Wall Traverse. North Wall Traverse get IV,5 doesn't it? So that bit can only be tech 5 I guess.

Ok, I guess all the evidence points to the crux being the next pitch.
I lead it, and it felt pretty hard for V,6. VI,6 seems fairer (maybe even a little stiff).
Caption edited accordingly...

It's a still a tough move at the top of Sesame Groove - I'd say tech 6 in itself. Various decent climbers have suggested that NWG is now worth VI,7 overall.

I'll happily take VI,7! Haha