https://andymain.co.uk/ Trip reports and route write-ups from the Scottish hills and the Alps. en-gb https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2026-08-21-back-online https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2026-08-21-back-online Fri, 21 Aug 2026 08:33:04 GMT The last thing posted here was November 2011. Then the PHP fell over, the host went, and that was that for fifteen years. Every entry before this one came off the Wayback Machine. It had crawled a small climbing site that nobody asked it to save, and that copy is the only reason any of this exists. In 2008 I rebuilt the gallery from scratch and promised twice, on this site, to release it as open s https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2011-11-24-gray-mares-tail-picture-published-bmc-summit-64 https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2011-11-24-gray-mares-tail-picture-published-bmc-summit-64 Thu, 24 Nov 2011 17:25:29 GMT Just found out I got one of my Gray Mare's Tail ice climbing pictures published the latest British Mountaineering Council (BMC) Summit 64 magazine. It's featured in the Top 10 Extreme Icicles (page 36) as No 1 i.e. the easiest. This issue of Summit has a lot of great winter content and has got me very cyked. Here's to a good winter and extreme icicles! To see more from the day take a look at my or https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2011-08-31-emff-2011 https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2011-08-31-emff-2011 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 21:38:22 GMT So Summer was brief, its rainy cold and the days are drawing in, time to get cyked for winter and the Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival 2011. I've got my fingers crossed for a winner 3 years in a row! The categories and my entries for this year are; A Bold Move Photograph missing Mountain days https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2011-04-02-open-london-2010 https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2011-04-02-open-london-2010 Sat, 02 Apr 2011 20:21:47 GMT I’d never been to London before; well I had been in the sense that I’ve rushed about barely catching flights and getting crushed in the tube, but here was the chance for a proper visit. After my presence was requested to handle some client training, I figured I had to take advantage of the opportunity, go do some touristy stuff, see some of the sites of the City and take some great photos. I arran https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2011-01-27-fuselage-gully https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2011-01-27-fuselage-gully Thu, 27 Jan 2011 22:53:43 GMT Flushed with the success of Slioch and recuperated after a rest day sitting in front of the fire we headed for the big one, Beinn Eighe and Callums first winter climbing route Fuselage Gully. Starting off in the false dawn light we made reasonable progress up to the saddle of Coire Dub More. The gain in height again brought deep snow and with no trail broken we floundered taking longer than we sho https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2010-12-17-slioch https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2010-12-17-slioch Fri, 17 Dec 2010 22:41:08 GMT On a crisp, cold day we drove over to the head of Loch Maree and parked up. With the first hints of dawn rose-tinting the sky, the surrounding peaks and the dusting of powder at our feet we knew it was going to be a good day. A deceptively long walk along the shores of Loch Maree lead us to a picturesque old pier in the bay formed by the out flow of the Gleann Bianasdail and the first chance to co https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2010-11-04-edinburgh-mountain-film-festival-2010-perfect-day-photography-competit https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2010-11-04-edinburgh-mountain-film-festival-2010-perfect-day-photography-competit Thu, 04 Nov 2010 12:57:30 GMT Pleased to announce that I have again won one on of the categories in the EMFF Photography competition Perfect Day Neil Mackenzie, Lewis and Reiner Luyken. Last day of the 2010 touring trip before the last decent back to Julierpass, Around the Chamanna Jenatsch Hutte, Eastern Switzerland On the back of this I also submitted a few pics to other photo comps mainly the UK Climbing Allcord Logo Photo https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2010-11-03-warren-millars-wintervention https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2010-11-03-warren-millars-wintervention Wed, 03 Nov 2010 23:05:04 GMT So getting very cyked for the start of winter and thought I had watched every skiing / snowboarding video in existence. However another one is on its way and not just any video but the premier of the new warren Millar film Wintervention. It’s 2010 winter tour will come to Edinburgh and appear at the Dominion theatre on the 11th at 7.30 get you self down there and get cyked for the white stuff! https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2010-10-12-edinburgh-mountian-film-festival-2010 https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2010-10-12-edinburgh-mountian-film-festival-2010 Tue, 12 Oct 2010 13:03:00 GMT Photograph missing So the time for the Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival (EMFF) has come around again and if this years is as good as pervious form we have some great lectures videos and partying to look forward to. After last year’s success I've again submitted a few entry’s to the Photo Competition, they have got through to the next round and are currently being exhibited at Ratho Edinburgh Inter https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2010-04-13-epic-day-bynack-more https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2010-04-13-epic-day-bynack-more Tue, 13 Apr 2010 13:49:51 GMT Despite the epic drifts of snow bearing down on the ski-road, our approach to cairngorm car park was remarkably un-enthusiastic. Our plans were undetermined and our path over the vast whiteness unclear, Andy and Warren wanted to go in different direction; I just wanted to sleep off my hangover, but this was never an option on such a fine day!! After a brief argument with a parking attendant we gea https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2010-01-11-gray-mares-tail-to-road-side-lowland-ice https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2010-01-11-gray-mares-tail-to-road-side-lowland-ice Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:27:43 GMT After weeks of freezing weather in Edinburgh I was cyked to get out to some lowland ice venues and I thought no one was up for it until I received a last minute txt from a Mr Dunn. We left Edinburgh at about 3pm pretty random driving south in sunset with winter gear. The roads were pretty dodgy, but James driving and 4 wheel drive got us there with just enough light to do the first pitch. This was https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2009-12-25-fun-in-the-snow https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2009-12-25-fun-in-the-snow Fri, 25 Dec 2009 15:46:58 GMT So the snow continues to fall in Newtonmore and I’m loving it, been looking after the hostel car park and over a week of clearing it every day has produced wall of 5m round it, were starting to run out of places to put snow :P. I’ve also been out playing in the snedge with my we bro, we’ve done the colder track on on x-country / touring skis nd built several kickers around the village, with Duncan https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2009-12-22-geal-charn-ski-tour https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2009-12-22-geal-charn-ski-tour Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:40:00 GMT Been wanting to get out ski touring for a long time and I finally managed to cobble together the gear. The last week and the constant snow and cold had me very cyked and a little nervous that my begged and borrowed gear wouldn't be up to it. Warren dove up from perth and we tackled Geal-charn one of the west drumochter munros. We arrived at Balsporran cottages to find the entrance uncleared and un https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2009-12-20-let-it-snow-let-it-snow-let-it-snow https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2009-12-20-let-it-snow-let-it-snow-let-it-snow Sun, 20 Dec 2009 12:06:00 GMT So up north for the festive hols, and it dumping anyone whos up and about give me a shout to go play in the white stuff. https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2009-12-16-the-message https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2009-12-16-the-message Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:06:00 GMT Finally got on "The Message" last weekend, met up with a mr Neil Silver organiser of next years Scottish Tooling Serise. We climbed it in very easy nick, pre made ice hooks all the way! Great climbing tho, will be back to do it in a blizzard and a foot of powder rime. Got a few snaps. https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2009-12-03-first-route-of-the-season https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2009-12-03-first-route-of-the-season Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:16:00 GMT Despite a knackered ankle I set out to the Cairngorm's last weekend for the first route of the season "Original Summer Route" a very nice varied IV, 5 **. First pitch up the grooved rib was much harder than it looked. Being very balancy and insecure with gear hard to find under the crusted powder. Warren wobbled up the start with first route trepidation but soon got some solid gear and ran up the https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2009-12-02-the-cam-doctor-has-come-to-the-uk https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2009-12-02-the-cam-doctor-has-come-to-the-uk Wed, 02 Dec 2009 11:51:00 GMT Check out a new project I've done the website for thecamdoctor.co.uk offers cam trigger wire repair kits at a much more affordable price than those currently available. Can vouch for the results as well my no4 DMM is now back up and running! https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2009-10-19-bmc-summit-56-cover https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2009-10-19-bmc-summit-56-cover Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:41:00 GMT Happy to report my photo made it onto the cover of this winters issue of the quarterly BMC Magazine, Summit 56. Deep cut chimney James Dun catches the final hook on pitch 1 of Deep Cut Chimney. https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2009-10-19-emff-photographic-competition-success https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2009-10-19-emff-photographic-competition-success Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:41:00 GMT Had a great time this weekend at the Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival . Watched some great films and some inspiring lectures. Two of my pics did well in the photo comp that was running at the same time; Winner: "Committed" Runner Up: "End of the day" https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2009-03-25-prints https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2009-03-25-prints Wed, 25 Mar 2009 14:52:00 GMT You can now buy all of my prints at My Photobox.ProGallery https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2009-02-10-ben-udlaidh https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2009-02-10-ben-udlaidh Tue, 10 Feb 2009 17:28:47 GMT We had a great two days up at Ben Udlaidh, one of Scotland’s premier ice venues. The first day, conditions were perfect; no wind, blue bird skies and about -4 at the base of the crag. However, we’d got up a bit late and by the time we reached the crag was shtumbed looking more like the Northern Corries on a busy day. We decided to forgo the classic for the time being and headed for the less busy r https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2009-01-07-festive-fun https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2009-01-07-festive-fun Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:34:00 GMT Hope everyone had a good xmas. I Had a great time staying up north over the festive period. The weather was amazing most of the time with cold still air and inversions conditions over the hills. A number of Munro’s were walked and a bit of climbing was done as well. The best route so far has to be Houdini a VI,7 in the Northern Corries. I’ve never done anything as hard as this before, but I found https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2008-12-16-gallery-development https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2008-12-16-gallery-development Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:41:00 GMT The new gallery is getting there and is up with a few test images here. So far I have a PHP back end which loads images details and forwards this via JASON to the JavaScript from end. This is then sorted and outputted using MooTools for some nice effects. More on the way soon including output of EXIF data, pics arranged into sections, image tag/info searching and direct links. After all this has b https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2008-10-27-a-walk-up-creag-meagaidh https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2008-10-27-a-walk-up-creag-meagaidh Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT So I went up North for a bit to visit the folks before they head of on holiday, we had a week of intensely shit weather up in Newtonmore but I picked my day and managed to get out on Wednesday. There was a hostels meeting in Fort Augustus, so I got a lift to beside Loch Laggan and made my way towards the Meagaidh massive following the Moy Burn. Having not been in the hills out that way before I wa https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2008-10-23-dark-souls https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2008-10-23-dark-souls Thu, 23 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT With ice on our minds we had planned to head west and sample the delights of Beinn Udlaidh, however reports of insufficient build up and a bad weather forecast convinced us to head for the east. We based our self’s in gals-alt shiel bothy, tagged onto the lodge at the side of Loch Muick, it's a wee cracker, with a great fire and loads of space. The next day we headed for Lochnagar, it was decent w https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2008-10-19-midi-plan https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2008-10-19-midi-plan Sun, 19 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT During our rest day after the mini-epic that was our ‘easy rock day’ we moved to a campsite in chamonix and met up with the injured Wee Mark (hope the knees getting better!!) and the restless, partner-less Warren. And so the three of us planned to do the Midi-Plan Traverse and leave poor Mark to figure out the origin of the Universe and brushing up his knowledge on the String Theory! The first lif https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2008-10-16-northumberlandtastic https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2008-10-16-northumberlandtastic Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT This month has been the month of the county, a pilgrimage to the famous sand stone and sunny climbs of Northumbria. Our first trip brought a much needed return to Back Bowden. Unfortunately not looking quite as magical as it once did; The much talked about tree felling has happened and although it has destroyed the atmosphere of the crag the routes are already looking dryer. I'm sure by spring tim https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2008-10-16-the-chere-on-the-cake https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2008-10-16-the-chere-on-the-cake Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT I wasn’t sure if I was still asleep, for some reason the mountain had turned into a never-ending stream of light, as though the martians had landed to colonise our camp. Nick gave me some tea and as my body warmed it dawned on me that I was witnessing the nightly parade of Mont Blanc aspirants trudging there way to the top of Europe! It was 3am and Nick and Warren were almost ready to leave by the https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2008-10-11-site-development https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2008-10-11-site-development Sat, 11 Oct 2008 08:05:00 GMT So keeping up the pace I'm going to be doing a bit of development work. The old gallery system has been stripped out! It was coded several years ago and was just to clunky; both for myself trying to update the portfolio and for you the end user when browsing. The new version will use HTML,CSS, PHP and MYSQL and will be fully automated extracting all displayed information from the uploaded files EX https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2008-10-09-published https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2008-10-09-published Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:43:00 GMT TGO magazine have used one of my pictures on the cover of there November 2008 issue, in shops now. https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2008-10-02-camping-on-the-col https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2008-10-02-camping-on-the-col Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT Eventually we managed to hook up with Nick, our friend from previous alpine adventures, and the numbers were once again balanced (unfortunately Mark was still cursing his gammy leg!). Laden with gear, Andy, Warren, Nick and I set off at lunchtime with intentions of a short afternoon stroll before an assault on Mt Blanc du Tucal early the following morning. This stroll took the form of the Traverse https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2008-09-29-site-design https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2008-09-29-site-design Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:38:00 GMT Ok so after a few years of inactivity a new site is being designed, it will be simpler and tiny bit web 2.0 styled but not over the top. https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2008-08-18-no-climbers-on-the-cosmiques https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2008-08-18-no-climbers-on-the-cosmiques Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT And so, a week into our trip, it was time to try to get a route done! This required a change of tactics, we bought a multi-day lift pass and vowed to climb shorter routes within range of lift stations. And there it was, the most famous motorway in the alps; The Cosmiques Arete to a true classic! With our campsite neighbours (and later the kind benefactors of 5 boxes of tea, 8 jars of marmalade and https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2008-08-18-parat-signeur-an-easy-day-on-rock https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2008-08-18-parat-signeur-an-easy-day-on-rock Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT Time for some alpine rock, personally recommended by one of Scotland ’s best ever climbers and, according to the guidebook, with ‘one of the finest approach walks in all the Alps ’ we were keen for a relatively easy day. A train ride towards Switzerland took us to Le Buet, from where we could see the south face of Aig. De Praz Torrents on which we hoped to climb the little known route ‘Parat Signe https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2008-08-17-mis-adventures-on-the-mer-de-glace https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2008-08-17-mis-adventures-on-the-mer-de-glace Sun, 17 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT Fresh faced and eager after a false start on the Conville course we planned an adventure up the famous Mer de Glace, onto the Lescaux glacier and to a bivi boulder behind the Courvecle hut. The route we had in mind, the Sth Ridge of the Moine, was one of Rebuffats ‘100 Finest’ and should provide a good introduction to alpine ridges and open out some of the more remote parts of the range to our pry https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2008-08-16-conville-course https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2008-08-16-conville-course Sat, 16 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT So, this was the long awaited start to our Alpine adventures..... in the good company of our guides Dave and Phil we set off up the Grand Montets to cover simple crampon work, rope techniques and abalikov threads. this was then followed by a descent towards the Argentiere glacier and an easy scramble up the Aig. de montets back to the lift station. At this point we confused the tourists by jumping https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2008-03-25-torridon-2008 https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2008-03-25-torridon-2008 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT Just thought id add a few words to go with Andys awesome pictures from our Easter trip After Wills notoriously unreliable car lost its rear spring as we passed Drummochter we sat around all friday drinking tea and waiting for the mechanics to do there stuff. This let the worst of the weather pass and we arrived in torridon on a glorious evening. After waking up to a hail storm and horrendous winds https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2008-02-18-a-wee-break-from-winter https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2008-02-18-a-wee-break-from-winter Mon, 18 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT So could have been up north hacking up gullies with the masses but for various resons there has been a lack of winter action for the punters. This wee break has been filled by my second love trad and two weekends of climbing in t-shirts in the sun in febuary, it's been awsome. So first weekend we head for Northumbria, an early start an a rude awakening for winter tuned boady's and heads; soon got https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2007-10-19-logie-head-rocks https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2007-10-19-logie-head-rocks Fri, 19 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT Last weekend a car of three headed for the o nly dry place in Scotland the M oray Coast. Darkness fell as we set off on what was to be a troublesome journey and we he aded for the bridge. Apone which was a knarly jam was found, entertainment was provided by a coach load of pissed football supporters merrily reliv ing themselves at the side of the road and one by one running after there disappearin https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2007-10-06-to-the-spammers https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2007-10-06-to-the-spammers Sat, 06 Oct 2007 12:38:00 GMT Site should now be secured against XSS, So you can all get lost! will see how it stands up in the next few days and continue to improve if necessary. On a better note More updates and new photos coming soon, with a better blogging balance between, climbing, nature, abstract and architecture. https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2007-02-20-two-great-weekends-climbing https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2007-02-20-two-great-weekends-climbing Tue, 20 Feb 2007 12:27:00 GMT I have been out the past two weekends climbing and had two very different experiences that show how variable and deadly the Scottish winter can be. The first weekend I was climbing on Ben Nevis, in the most extreme condition I’ve ever encountered. Crazy day with 80mph gusts, I blown about like a flag attached to two ice axes on several occasions, very scary. Unfortunately I didn’t get any pictures https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2007-02-07-stob-corrie-na-lochian https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2007-02-07-stob-corrie-na-lochian Wed, 07 Feb 2007 12:09:00 GMT Perfect day out, rock hard nevi, great to finally climb in the Coe. https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2007-01-26-homeward https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2007-01-26-homeward Fri, 26 Jan 2007 12:16:00 GMT Heading home for the week between first and second term. Will hopefully get some climbing. Snowboarding and walking in, see the folks and relax. Expect some good photos when I get back. https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2007-01-23-nearly-done https://andymain.co.uk/journal/2007-01-23-nearly-done Tue, 23 Jan 2007 18:13:00 GMT Only XML to go Ive got a few details to fix on how its outputed. Soon the gallery in its entirity will be avalibal as an XML document which can be browsed