Outdoor climbing in the second lockdown – in pictures
Photographer Murdo MacLeod’s project for our lockdown diaries series focuses on outdoor climbing;
‘Many of my favourite pastimes such as community ocean rowing and sea kayaking have been seriously disrupted by the pandemic but outdoor climbing has been mostly possible in one form or another. It has helped protect my sanity during lockdowns and extended periods of restrictions. It has flexibility in that it can be done in nearby quarries, crags or in the mighty mountains’ - Murdo MacLeod
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Andy Swann is a 56-year-old climbing instructor, based in Alnwick, living under lockdown. He is seen here keeping active at Bowden Doors crag near his home in Northumberland.
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He solo climbs the crag with no rope and no protection
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Colour Heugh and Bowden Doors are two crag rock formations in north Northumberland
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They consist of exposed early-mid Dinantian fell sandstone, enabling its alluvial sedimentary strata to be seen, and preserving the shapes of meandering river beds
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Andy says: ‘I had two months when I couldn’t work. lasting until lockdown eased in May. Since then I’ve been extremely busy which I am very grateful for’
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‘This last lockdown has just about stopped me working all together, even though I can work, and that’s because it’s not great running outdoor climbing activities at this time of year’
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‘The climbing walls are shut so I cannot work indoors. I cannot run my coaching courses. I’d normally be in Spain now and I cannot run those courses either. It’s actually hit me harder this time’
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‘It’s good to carry on climbing even with some restriction’
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Climbing free solo style on Canada Crack HVS 5a
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Climbers head to the rocks
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Andy on Main Wall route HVS 5b with no rope or safety back up
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Abbey Davidson and Adam Watson climb Flake Crack S 4b at Kyloe-in-the-woods in Northumberland
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Abbey says: ‘Climbing brings a unique blend of physical challenges and huge social benefits. It’s good to carry on climbing even with some restriction’
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Adam has thrown himself into traditional climbing in the recent lockdown, taking himself to the more obscure and less visited crags to avoid crowds and to find new and forgotten challenges. With gyms shut it has been his pathway to a personal normality despite the pandemic
