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Ullapool summer family climbing

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AJM:
Weighing up summer holiday choices and considering Ullapool. Always fancied the north of scotland, been years since I've managed to get up there. Family holiday - occasionally climbing wife and a 3.5yr and 6.5yr old both of whom are generally fairly ok at the outdoors and coming to crags and stuff.

What are the options like for bouldering round ullapool (nearer the better, as this is potentially the option for short day hits and/or trips where I just take the kids out if my wife fancies non climbing pottering/relaxing) that will be reasonable in summer (I'm not expecting primo friction, more thinking about being midges to death or losing the children on unsuitable crag bases or into man high bracken)? Reiff in the woods looks like it has good problems but mentions midges? I've seen references to a few other places, are any of them worth visiting?

Decent crags to take kids to (short walk and a decent space at the base for them to play) - any top tips? The wired guide makes some of the stuff round by gruinard look plausible (jetty, goat, some of that sort of stuff), I'd love to try ardmair if there are buttresses with a sensible base camp spot - any top recommendations would be great? I'm vaguely aware there's quite a lot of sport stuff there beyond what's in the wired guide but not yet researched what the best info source for those is.

Is there much of an active local scene? (I.e. if I could get an evening pass, would I be likely to be able to find a partner for bigger things)

Cheers,
Andy

SA Chris:
Ian T (who is on here occasionally) is the man with a lot more knowledge than me, but there is quite lot in the area, worth getting his little Ullapool Bouldering Guide, which you should be able to get at Ullapool Outdoors.  We stayed in a cottage out towards Rhue when son was tiny, and you can walk to a selection of boulders in the headland, great for a quick solo hit with a couple of pads. Ardamair beach has some pleasant lowball roofy stuff, and is great for a family chillout / paddle on the pebble beach (great stone skimming). There has been some bouldering developed at the base of Ardmair Crag  too.Reiff is OK for kids, a lot of the crags have easy descents, and flat platforms at the bottom, but worth sussing out choices beforehand. Also it's a fairly long and windy road, need a full day there really. Sport wise there is Glutton Crag, which I have earmarked for a family trip, but not got there yet. https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/glutton_crag-20419/#overview don't know how child friendly it is.

Midge wise, you take your chances! If it's bright and sunny or breezy, you will be OK, otherwise they can be relentless. For low key family stuff, there is a lot of walking to do, nice beaches for paddling, boat trips, and things like Corrieshalloch Gorge with the Suspension Bridge  are fun for small kids https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/corrieshalloch-gorge. Lochinver is day trippable, with great beaches at Achmelvich with some limited bouldering.
 
Ullapool itself has a fair bit of child friendly stuff to do.   

AJM:
Thanks Chris.

I might face mutiny at the idea of 20 minutes of vertical bog hillside approach to glutton  ;)

That's useful to know about Reiff. It looks great, but I had largely written it off on the (seemingly incorrect) assumption that it would all be too involved. I'll dig further.

Yeah, the midges are an obvious risk, I guess I was just wondering how many places were particularly prone (shaded, sheltered etc) versus more exposed to sun and breeze - particularly triggered by the UKC description for reiff in the woods which sort of suggests it's more the former. This is the guide you mean, right?
https://ullapooloutdoors.co.uk/northwestoutdoorsullapool/2018/11/12/ullapool-bouldering-pdf-1

SA Chris:
lol, yeah, that's the guide. Good for getting you to what's there anyway. Reiff varies greatly, Pinnacle area is generally everyone's first port of call, due to short walk and spread of grades. Pinnacle Walls has a reasonable descent, kids might need individual escorting down onto the platforms, and easy to set up topropes and a good spread of grades. https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/reiff_-_roinn_a_mhill-303/

sherlock:
Pretty much what Chris is saying.
Couple of other things you might wish to consider....
Ullapool and environs are hellish busy in the summer. It can take ages to get anywhere due to the over popularity of the NC fucking 500.
It's getting silly expensive, with blatant profiteering in some places.
If you're struggling for car space,I can lend you a pad or two.

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