Climbs 4
Rocktype Sandstone (hard)
Faces S
Solitude (E2 5b), North Gaulton Castle - 23/07/16 © Kevin Woods
Crag features
North Gaulton castle is a sea stack found in a lonely part of Orkney's west mainland, situated roughly half way between Outertown in Stromness and the car park at Yesnaby.
The stack is very much the big brother of Yesnaby Castle, as they are both of similar dimensions and composition and both are set in an amphitheatre of cliffs which guard against any approach. However, North Gaulton is almost twice the size of Yesnaby Castle.
Approach notes
The most convenient approach is from Mousland Farm, (GR HY 229128) follow the signs for Birsay as you leave Stromness then take the Cauldhame road (sign posted) to Mousland farm. From here it is about a mile walk across open fields to the cliffs that guard the stack.
The easiest way to the base of the stack is undoubtedly by boat. But for those of a more adventurous nature, abseil to the sea level platforms at the base of the cliffs to the south of the bay. From here it is a 40 metre swim to the wave washed platforms at the base of the landward end of the stack. Originally access to the stack was by a massive Tyrolean traverse, roped between the headlands to the north and south of the stack (a distance of 200m). With rope stretch this gave access to the big ledge at the top of the first pitch.
| Cleared a tone of old tat off the top, recon the abb stake could/should be shortened or removed - its a bit unnessesary and is too visible imo bodovix - 24/Jun/21 |
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| I enjoyed watching Andy Torbet on this stack on BBC2 'Britain's Ancient Capital: Secrets of Orkney episode 1' recently.
Unfortunately only a short clip is currently available on iPlayer.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04m3l4d Vanessa Simmons - 13/Mar/17 |
Climbs at this crag
| Name | Grade | Stars | Type | Logs | Partner Ascents |
|---|
These climbs you have climbed by seconding or top-roping.
These climbs you have Dogged.
These climbs you Did not Finish.
Climbs are waiting to be checked by a crag moderator, and may not be accurate. Climbs can't be verified by a crag moderator, and they need more information to confirm it. Climbs are no longer climbable.
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