Five days to go…
HAD a few days in the vast open spaces of Sutherland - immense cloud tumbled skies, rain showers like curtains of grey and vastness of view, all round. It really is an amazing area of Scotland. We drove up via Golspie and Wick and across to Thurso and camped for the night near Rosal, a cleared village in Strath Naver.
We then took what must be the loneliest road in Scotland, from Strath Naver across to the little railway village of Kinbrace, stopping off to climb Ben Griam Mor and Ben Griam Beg. It was a bit of a fight against gale force winds but at least it was dry. On the way home we wandered up Ben Bhraggie above Golspie, wondering why the statue of the Duke of Sutherland has never been blown up. It seems a little incongruous that a family that caused such devastation in the clearances should be celebrated in such a way…
It was a good break before a busy week preparing for the BBC’s Live Climb on Harris. The safety team are already in place on Sron Ulladale, rigging up the crag for the cameramen, and the producers are doing all sorts of weird weather dances to encourage the gods to look kindly on us. Climbers Dave MacLeod and Tim Emmett will arrive tomorow or the next day and the presenters and commentary team will arrive on Wednesday and Thursday. Rehearsals on Thursday and Friday before the big day on Saturday. Broadcast starts at 1.30pm on BBC 2 Scotland and Sky Channel 990. Breaks into the UK network from 5-7pm on BBC HD Channel.
It promises to be a good afternoon’s entertainment with the two climbers attempting a new route, possibly E9, on the horrendously overhanging face of Sron Ulladale. It’s so overhanging Dave MacLeod has described it as the best umbrella on Harris! Other then the climbing there will be loads of feature films looking at the wildlife, walks and culture of the Isle of Harris. I’m looking forward to it, but I guess I better go now and start doing my homework, then go and buy some more midge repellent. I think I might need it…