North East Outcrops

[GrahamJ]

Draw a line from Cummingston to Grantown and then east to Aberdeen and hypothetically there are no inland outcrops.

Is this correct? Seems like such a huge area to be devoid of any single pitch inland crags.

[Stuart S]

There are a few bits and pieces - the tors of Bennachie are probably the most obvious, but you've also got the boulders at Luath, and there are random scatterings of rock around the Cabrach that might be worth checking out.  There is also some climbing on Ben Rinnes, and there's an outcrop of rock on the banks of the Ythan near Methlick that has at least one route recorded in an old edition of the NEO guide.

But you're right - not much for such a large area. 

[Chris F]

There is also the wolfstone not sure if it quite fits into your wedge though. Not particularly exciting, I'll admit.

http://www.ukclimbing.com/photos/author.html?id=11178

[GrahamJ]

I had made a few enquiries about the Wolfstone after seeing it in the UKC database, seeing your photo it is certainly not what I expected. Hardly worth a visit really.
I suppose something more like Adam's Rock is what I had conjured-up in my imagination.

Romantic thoughts abound, with the Farr Boulder being uncovered in Strathnairn recently it makes me wonder how many erratics may dwell undiscovered in the woods of the North East.

[Chris F]

Or something like the Tom Riach Boulder. I always keep my eyes open when I am mountain biking in the woods, but no joy so far.

There is Craig Corn Arn too (near Ballater / Cambus O may) , but I think it falls just outside the region you describe.

[tom]

travelling round the north east with work I've seen a couple of ok erratics, greatstone just outside kemnay, good size, maybe 4-5meters tall, good clean granite but all easy problems I'm afraid and the harestone at pitmedden, well just off the road to pitmedden, only 1minute walk in, smaller with 1 nicely overhanging face but in need of a good scrub! the graetstone is right in front of someone's house so expect funny looks!

Check them out!

tom

[tom]

Chris

I found your gate boulder at clova!, looked good but I was out walking at the time so didn't try anything, solid granite with few holds, lots of slopers. The boulders further up the glen looked disappointing though and not worth trekking for.

tom

[George Ridge]

The boulders further up the glen looked disappointing though and not worth trekking for.

tom

are you on drugs? the boulders further up the glen below the crag at Juanjorge are well worth the effort.
be good if someone could do the obvious line up the front on the gate boulder (all the other lines have been done, i seem to remember)

[GrahamJ]

tom,

any chance of some directions or GR for the Harestone?

Graham

[tom]

I didn't have that close a look i'd admit at the juanjorge boulders, definetly 1 that looked good on flat grass down and right of crag and saw a jumble above that. It is a good 45minutes walk though, that's a lot for a boulderer! Maybe some LSD might have made them look better but shame didn't have any on me...

tom

[tom]

Graham,

Stone is off b999 to pitmedden, just north of belhelvie on road to orrock I think, marked on map as harestone moss I think, it's in behind a small quarry but you can see it from road further south. I wouldn't go out of your way to get to it though! It's quite dirty with some rubbish around it. It is a boulderable size  though, equivilant to sea pig but not in quality... The kemnay stone is far bigger and nicer but only has easy lines.

tom

[GrahamJ]

I had a look there, I have been checking out potential in the area. The quarry on the map turned out to be a gated scrap yard with any rock covered in gorse with nothing of any real mention.

About 500m NE of this quarry is a really nice looking outcrop in the middle of a field. Mainly an East facing slab with scope for half a dozen or so very easy lines. Again not really worth a visit on it's own.

There is also a small outcrop marked on the map 1km SSE from this quarry which I have yet to have a look at.

[tom]

The boulder is just south of quarry down a little track with a slightly nicer outlook than the quarry, I'll try and post some pics if I can

tom

[Chris F]

Chris

I found your gate boulder at clova!, looked good but I was out walking at the time so didn't try anything, solid granite with few holds, lots of slopers.

It's not mine. I have never been near it. George and co did some developing up that way (be nice if they could add it to wiki!  ).

[tom]

Added a couple of shots of the boulders in north clova to my ukc gallery and a short film of the greatstone of kemnay! to you tube.

Good luck with the boulder hunting graham, would be great if you found someting good north of aberdeen!

tom