Clett of Crura.

The above picture shows the view looking East, from the start of the cliff top path leading to the Clett of Crura access geo. From here you get a good look at the two stacks along this coast. The furthest away stack is the Clett of Crura between it and the car park is the smaller stack simply known as The Clett. If you continue east along the cliff top walk past the Clett of Crura for another kilometer you will come to a headland known as Hesta Rock.

The Clett of Crura is located at GR 463875 in Windwick Bay on the east coast of South Ronaldsay. From Lythe (as for Stackabank) follow the A961 north then take the oddly angled road, first right. Once on this road take the first left and drive to the car park at the beach. (GR 457868) From the car park walk back up the road for 50 meters and follow the overgrown cliff top path for about 500 meters to the cliffs overlooking the stack.

ACCESS: Stand on the cliff tops facing the center of the stacks summit ridge. Scramble down a few meters to a large exposed lump of rock perched on the side of a mini geo. Use this rock for anchors and ab down the geo to a good non tidal ledge at sea level. There is now a short swim to the sea level ledges at the base of the landward face of the stack. Due to the stacks close proximity to the surrounding cliffs the land ward face is rarely dry and very green. The seaward face, on the other hand, is a much more pleasant place to be, with perfect rock and a huge non tidal along it's entire base. At lowish tide it is quite easy to traverse around the western end of the stack on sea level ledges. There is an old piton hammered into a break showing the way round. Keep an eye on the tide as this traverse becomes increasingly more difficult as the tide gets higher.

ASCENT: The seaward face has four routes following the most prominent features.

Route 1: Approx. 4 meters to the left/West of the large open book groove in the upper centre of the seaward face, climb the faint full crag height groove up to and through the smaller o/b left facing groove. Top out at the summit cairn. Ode to my Friend 27m HS 4b.

Route 2: The center of the face has a vague fault leading to a big open book corner in the last few meters. The Original Route, 20m, severe.

Route 3: To the left of the below open book corner, climb the juggy arete and continue up the face direct to the summit. Sea Spray, 20m severe.

Route 4: At the eastern end of the seaward face climb the big open book corner to its top and pull out right onto perfect rock and climb direct to the summit. A Drop in the Ocean, 20m Severe.

The landward route, climb easy ledges into a large depression left of center to a short overhanging crack at about 2/3rd's height. This short hard section can be climbed by placing a runner high on the right side behind a good flake, from here traverse into the crack, place more gear and pull through to easier ground and the top. The Landward Route, 25m VS.

DESCENT: We found it easiest to abseil down the seaward and traverse back around the western end to the base of the landward face. The summit is very loose and good abseil anchors are easier to arrange for this descent.

In the above pictures the green arete on the cliffs surrounding the stack is climbed at severe, 25 meters back up to the exposed block where your abseil anchors are. The great Escape.

Go to North Gaulton Castle.

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