Author Archives: Simon Richardson

About Simon Richardson

Simon Richardson is a passionate Scottish winter climber

Winter Finally Begins

After a very warm November, the winter season season finally got underway in the first week of December as westerly winds brought snow to the higher tops. As usual, The Northern Corries were the most popular venue and there were … Continue reading

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The Cuillin of Rum

Soon after the new SMC guidebook Inner Hebrides and Arran was published, Iain Young contacted me about the Rum Cuillin in winter. “Back in early spring 1983, John Dalton and I traversed the full Rum Cuillin ridge in pretty much … Continue reading

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Book Review – The Great Mountain Crags of Scotland

This is an inspirational book. Guy Robertson and Adrian Crofton have compiled contributions from 25 authors describing 33 of the most significant mountain crags in the Scottish Highlands and Islands. The book is published in large format and illustrated with … Continue reading

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Book Review – Inner Hebrides and Arran

Back in the spring the SMC published Inner Hebrides and Arran, a comprehensive guidebook covering the climbing from Canna in the north to Arran in the south. Islands described range from the well-established venues of Rum and Eigg, to newly … Continue reading

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Colin Grant (1946 – 2014)

In September, Glasgow climbers were shocked and saddened by the sudden death of Colin Grant. Colin had been a lifelong mountaineer with a seemingly ageless capacity for climbing and hill walking. Colin was well into his third round of Munros … Continue reading

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First Blood to Nisbet and Yearsley for New Winter Season

Andy Nisbet and Simon Yearsley succeeded on the first winter route of the season today (November 5). Simon takes up the story: “It’s been a pretty warm autumn, and although I’ve had a growing sense of excitement as I always … Continue reading

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Total Kheops on Ben Nevis

Remi Thivel has provided more details about his inspirational run of routes on Ben Nevis climbed with Laurence Girard in early March. After warming up on Minus One and Minus Three gullies on March 10, Remi and Laurence had an … Continue reading

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The Shield Direct Direct

“And again, like all of the times before in this winter of difficult conditions and wrong weather forecasts, Guy Robertson, normally so knowledgeable in where to go, procrastinated,” Nick Bullock writes. “An Teallach, Beinn Eighe, Glen Coe. I received text … Continue reading

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From The Jaws of Defeat

The vertical triangular headwall on the left side of the North Wall of Carn Dearg on Ben Nevis is split by a spectacular groove that runs up to the very apex of the wall. It had fascinated me for years, … Continue reading

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Ben Nevis – Seven Routes, Four Days

I’ve been trying to find out more details on the extraordinary run of routes climbed on Ben Nevis by a French team staying at the CIC Hut a couple of weeks ago. I was climbing on The Ben on Sunday … Continue reading

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