Scottish Rock v1

Volume 1 (South)

Scottish-Rock-Vol1_2ndEd
(2 customer reviews)
BY: Gary Latter
ISBN: 978-1-906095-58-1
EDITION: second
PUBLICATION DATE: 3 May 2017
FORMAT: 480pp, colour, 140x200mm, paperback / section sewn
AVAILABILITY: out of stock

£29.99

Out of stock

Out of stock _ new edition in the works

2nd Edition

The best mountain, crag, sea cliff and sport climbing in Scotland.

From the Foreword by Hamish MacInnes:
“If you have an ambition to do all the climbs in these two Scottish Rock guides I think you’d better schedule time off in your next life. This labour of Gary’s has been of gargantuan proportions. Those of you who use the guides will benefit by his dedication and the sheer choice offered…”

New in the second edition:
There have been numerous grade adjustments, improvements in descriptions, some topo corrections and new topos. Several less popular crags and cliffs have been removed, freeing up additional space for the inclusion of over 120 additional routes. There are also over 60 new photos.


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Gary Latter

A native Scot, Gary Latter has climbed extensively throughout Scotland for over three decades, pioneering hundreds of new routes of every standard throughout the Highlands and Islands, including major new routes and early repeats in all the major climbing areas throughout the country. During the dozen or so years researching and compiling these guides, he has personally visited and climbed on almost all the crags and cliffs documented, amassing an extensive collection of photographs along the way. His favourite places in Scotland are the islands and the north west – anywhere with the possibility of finding new unclimbed rock, secluded beaches, and hopefully some decent weather and nae midges! Amongst these, Mingulay, Pabbay and the small tidal island of Erraid, off Mull, are some of the most memorable venues.  

2 reviews for Scottish Rock v1

  1. Steve Crowe

    Simply stunning. Gary has spent 12 years climbing and photographing all the best routes on every worthwhile crag in Scotland. The final guide book is so big it had to be split into two volumes!

    1600 classic routes should be enough to be going on with.

    Fantastic. Buy it.

  2. davidprice5252

    Scottish Rock Volume 1, South (second edition) by Gary Latter, published by Pesda Press 2017 by David Price
    Beyond the stunning cover lurks an introduction so inspiring, I find myself reaching for the car keys! The lure of heading north of the border almost too strong to bear! Scottish Rock Volume one, published by Pesda Press will motivate, for that I have no doubt. Head for the land of long routes, breath-taking locations and amazing routes! Written over a decade by Scottish climbing aficionado Gary latter, Scottish Rock offers outstanding value, in terms of both content and price.
    A native of Glasgow, Gary Latter embraced rock over thirty years ago, his knowledge of Scottish rock, larger than Donald Trump’s ego, has gained biblical proportions. With hundreds of new routes to his name, Gary invested a huge chunk of his life into writing Scottish Rock. Volume one (south) and two (north), were first published in 2008 and 2009 respectively, with volume one re-printed with minor updates in 2012. The second edition ticks every box for the Scottish Rock Virgin and spasmodic visitor alike. Having personally visited and climbed on every venue in the guide, Gary’s encyclopaedic knowledge of Scottish crags makes for a truly brilliant guide. Scottish Rock has individuality and character, it’s well thought out and easy to use, but most importantly, the book is motivational and inspiring! The second edition includes a net gain of over 120 routes.
    Flapped front and rear with a great feel, the eye catching cover delights. Ewan Lyons on Swastika E3 6a, on the legendary Beinn Trilleachan (Etive Slabs). I give Pesda’s Franco Ferrero credit, choosing not to include adverts, a refreshing touch. The introduction both informative and entertaining, with sections on everything you need to know, plus a whole lot more. Bursting with essentials, even the ‘wee bastards’ (sic) get a review! Of 34 species of biting midge only five prey on humans! Culicoides impunctatus, the Highland Midge the main Villain. Advice provides a solid defence, just in case you come under attack! High wind speed prevalent on the coast, islands and higher ground will be your saviour on all but a rare occasion.
    The prelude to each area is a well written history that sets the scene, you will be predisposed. With great maps by Bute Cartographics, the two volumes collectively include 4100 lines. Factor in that many routes are mountain days out, you’re investing in a lifetime of adventure! With a much fuller figure than the only direct competition, the SMC guide ‘Scottish Rock Climbs’ contains 1200 routes and covers the whole of Scotland. Scottish Rock splits to two volumes, number one-South includes 1700 lines—ample coverage for all but native climbers and the Scottish devotee.
    Isle of Arran, The Arrochar Alps, Isle of Mull, Glen Coe & Glen Etive, Ardgour, Ardnamurchan, Glen Nevis, Ben Nevis, Central Highlands, The Cairngorms and Easter Ross are all included. Inevitably mountain routes are prevalent, however balance is on offer with sea cliffs, outcrops and even a smattering of deep water soloing, Paradise Wall on Mull, the depth and breadth is sublime!
    Outstanding classics abound such as, Tower Ridge Difficult, Ben Nevis which gifted me one of my all-time best days out! Labyrinth VD, Cir Mhor Arran, a six pitch excursion of ‘Classic Rock’ fame! Twenty routes on Etive slabs with grades to high extremes and The Fugue E9 6c (psychiatric disorder) Glen Croe given three stars first climbed by rock legend Dave MacLeod. In contrast, Paradise Wall on the Island of Mull described as ‘a fantastic deep-water soloing venue’ by Latter, but please watch out for the shags! And routes on the ‘dark side’ of Glen Ogle, to name but one of many sports climbing venues. Once hooked, you might add a definitive, but be warned to complete the Scottish rock tick list, you will need dedication only demonstrated by an elite band of climbers like Latter himself!
    With a symbol key and grade chart within the flaps, the guide gives everything required from a modern guide. Scottish Rock is slightly smaller in size than books produced by market leader, and king of selectives—Rockfax. Minute scrutiny reveals spacing of text is wider than that in some guidebooks. This might explain only twenty full page action shots, and nine full size topos. You will encounter, up to 100 full page shots in some marques, yielding just that modicum more inspiration. Reduced spacing could accommodate larger images, and in addition route descriptions on the same page as the topo would be helpful, but by no means essential. The increased spacing of the route index is however, very much a winner. With only five photographers featured, you might think the depth would suffer, but far from it! My pick of the images being David Simmonite’s Etive Slabs p113 and my favourite Mr Latter on his first ascent of The Wrecker E3 6b, on the Island of Mull p82, by his wife Karen.
    The majority of current guides number routes left to right as standard. Gary’s preference being to number lines ascending from the point of approach. The result being some topos are numbered right to left with some opposing! For a plebeian like me, a standard system would be preferable but that said, to number routes from the point of approach makes sense—either way the author’s system works!
    Pesda Press publish a large range of specialty outdoor books and guides! Franco writes “we publish books for the adventurous. For us it’s all about conveying the author’s enthusiasm and knowledge to the reader”.
    Gary Latter through Scottish Rock has accomplished the Pesda ethos with style. This outstanding publication represents superb value at £25.00 the price of cheap champagne. Celebrate in style with Scottish Rock, for the inspiration alone, it’s worth every penny!
    Mission accomplished Mr Latter!
    The second edition includes a net gain of over 120 routes. Gary Latter concludes, “I have replaced several harder or less popular crags, cliffs and routes with many additional routes, primarily on a number of Polldubh crags in Glen Nevis, and Creag Dhubh, along with a number of recent additions to many major mountain crags, such as a number of Glen Coe cliffs, Carn Dearg Buttress on Ben Nevis and Shelter Stone Crag in the Cairngorms”.
    My Rating
    Value 10/10
    The climbs 9.5/10
    Photography 9/10
    Other information 10/10
    Topos 9/10
    Design 9.5/10
    Ease of use 9/10
    Overall impression 9.5/10

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