UKC

Hi there, Forum newbie here so let me know if I've posted in the wrong section etc... Anyways, off to Scotland for a bit of a Bouldering road trip on the 11th of September and need a guide. I already have access to Boulder Britain but it doesn't seem to offer much...

So, I've been trying for get hold of a copy of "Bouldering in Scotland" by John Watson, but i can't find it anywhere! It appears the 3rd Edition is being released a week or so after i get back (of course bloody of course). Anyone know where i can get hold of a copy of the first or second edition that isn't stupidly expensive? Any help or advice much appreciated.

Cheers, Gene

In reply to Geno:

try calling either Tiso outdoor shops in glasgow or perth, or the glasgow climbing centre, or the TCA glasgow.
All shops have had the guide in the past and may be able to post you one.

In reply to ogreville:

Thanks! Ill drop them a bell tomorrow and see if they have a copy. Cheers!

In reply to Geno:

If you are desperate, i will donate my copy to a good home, wee fergal is now quite big, so bouldering in Scotland is now off the menu!

In reply to Andy Clarke1965:

Top man! Very kind, It'd be very much appreciated. I'll give the shops ogreville suggested a bell around tomorrow and and get back to you. Cheers

In reply to Geno:

Pretty sure I saw copies in Tiso at Ratho (EICC Edinburgh) last week. Could give them a call aslo.

In reply to Hamfunk:

Cheers for the headds up Hamfunk. Very helpful over there but unfortunately no joy!

In reply to Andy Clarke1965: Hiya again, no joy on any of the above unfortunately, although all of them were very helpful in suggesting other places to try etc.. If the offer still stands to donate your copy i'd be very grateful and make sure it's used and looked after (If you want some money i'd be more than happy too). We have a communal guide book shelf at the climbing centre i work at so it would see off a good few trips for sure... Cheers, Gene

In reply to Geno:

Glad to help, e mail me your'e address (find in profile).

In reply to Geno:

No problem!

It's worth noting there are a number of mini-guides available on BoulderScotland and a couple of illusive ones that are harder to come by. If you're heading to Cummingston i can pass on the complete guide.

In reply to Geno:
I saw a copy in Bournemouth branch of Cotswolds recently. Perhaps you can order it from them directly.

In reply to Hamfunk:


Do you have links to these ?

I've often mused while sitting on my pad that the future of scottish bouldering guides is probably keen locals producing pdf or print guides with the select guides steering you to the best / new areas ......

if no one has mentioned it check out dumby.info for a dumby topo pdf.

In reply to Burnsie:

I've also failed to find a copy of the Stonecountry guide in the last year, am now giving up as leaving Scotland soon. Amazed at how great the online topos for Devon are by comparison!

Anyway some links for the north of Scotland for anyone else struggling to find the guide before november:

http://boulderingnearaviemore.blogspot.co.uk/ - the website for Mike Gale's old strathspey guide that was once available in Ellis Brighams in Aviemore. A collection of all the dirty, sketchy, rarely visited boulders in Strathspey plus other nicer places in the area. The Strathnairn boulders (brin/farr/ruthven) and Tom Riach are very out of date and everything is randomly in UK technical grades but this guide was still the first resource I found and inspired me to dig deeper online and visit some of the more random spots.

http://www.ukclimbing.com/photos/item.html?nstart=24&sort=v&crag=91... - Hidden within this very site, an awesome photo topo of Ruthven!

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/105126359/Bouldering%20PDFs/Laggan%20Bo... - The topo for Laggan by Gaz Marshall. Great guide although haven't seen the Stonecountry one for comparison.

https://www.mountainproject.com/v/weem-bouldering/107080212 - Good photo topos of East and West Block at Weem.

https://www.scottishclimbs.com/wiki/Bouldering - mentioned higher up in the thread. bunch of stuff. Have only used the Brin and Tom Riach topos but both good!

http://pierreboulderingblog.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Ross%20%26%20Cromar... - some bouldering near Gairloch

http://www.alphamountaineering.co.uk/downloads/downloadsPage.html - kessock bridge and strathconnon photo topos

Anyone got any more?

In reply to Kahti:

Thank you for your nice comments about the Ruthven Topo's. its nice to hear that the work put in is appreciated.
As far as i am concerned On-line guides are the Future.

In reply to scragrock:

Yeah online guides are great and thank you again for putting them up! Although I do appreciate the time it takes to make guidebooks, and that the authors need to make a living while doing so. However as most problems are set by locals (apart from the ridiculous ones dave macleod puts up seemingly everywhere in Scotland!) and most of those people have access to a camera and a computer, maybe it's time for a change. Especially as we already have a brilliant database here on UKC that just needs pictures added. I also find it inspiring and helpful to watch videos of people climbing problems and it would be great to see more of that (although maybe that's cheating a little?)

It is also very frustrating as a new climber when the only comprehensive bouldering guidebook to the country is out of print and impossible to find.

It would maybe be worth adding in the Ruthven crag description that topos are on the second page of photos, as I would never have known about them had you not told me (I'm the noob you so kindly showed around a few weeks ago)

In reply to Kahti:

I think in many respects Guidebooks are and have been Fantastic....However wouldn't it be fantastic to be able to get an app for your phone that gave in depth beta, pictures,vids,GPS to the exact location, start holds, weather, history....etc.

i would love to see this...i am sure i am not alone.

Perhaps we should down grade if someone uses Video Beta or its not seen as a Flash{interesting topic not sure on this one}.

I will amend the info on UKC Ruthven to point out the photo Topo's.....Thanks for the suggestion.

Hopefully catch you up at Ruthven when the Dreaded Midge bugger off.......if your looking for more info and vids-
https://www.facebook.com/Boulderladder/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

Or someone to climb with-
https://www.facebook.com/groups/175726239203571/1007770659332454/?notif_t=g...

In reply to scragrock:

Cheers for the links, wish I'd got in on the inverness climbers page earlier rather than just the aviemore/cairngorms ones!

I think with the videos if your serious about onsighting stuff then maybe it's cheating. But you can always not watch them! It's no different from getting beta from someone at the crag. Personally I'm just at a level where I'm happy for any help I can get, and I'm not exactly trying anything groundbreaking anyway.

For an online platform something similar to walkhighlands but for climbing would be ideal. Just replace the os map/gps with topos and pics!

Am vaguely-permanently headed for the continent (via a quick stop in devon) next week but will have to go past ruthven on the way for a few last attempts so maybe catch you there!

p.s. where's the Barry Valley that's in all the recent FB posts? Can't find it on here...