Nick Bullock | Scotland Is Not a Training Ground

Words by Nick Bullock

Filmed on Hanging Garden, VII 8, No. 3 Gully Buttress, Ben Nevis

“I don’t know what’s a good day in Scotland?

A good day I suppose is finding the crag, finding the climb, finding the new route, finding something that really inspires you.

I think now climbing in Scotland for me is all about not knowing what it’s going to be about. I’d rather go to somewhere where you have an idea that it’s going to be in condition, something is going to be in condition, but you don’t know what.

When we actually began climbing, I soon discovered that all the cracks were full of ice. It wouldn’t accept protection, it wouldn’t take it. Then all of a sudden this reasonably technical climb went into being a technical climb but very, very bold.

Everything had to slow down.

I had to be very careful… just take my time.

It was good climbing, it was different, it was in a great, great position. It was probably a bit more out there than it should have been.

Scotland is not a training ground. It’s an experience in its own right.”

Film by Lukasz Warzecha | LWimages Studio