Coasteering Skills Training Course and SLSGB Coasteering Safety and Rescue Award course.

Over the last three days Hebridean Pursuits Ltd have been hosting a British Rock and Water Association Coasteering Skills Course and a Surf Lifesaving GB Coasteering Safety and Rescue Award. The course was based out of Oban. Steve Bowens of H20 Training worked alongside Andy Spink to facilitate a varied and exciting program of skills required to work with coasteering clients and manage and implement rescues.  The water was warm which complimented the fresh snow on the hills nicely. Everyone passed the robust yet realistic SLSGB Certificated Award assessment and with much swimming, towing, rescuing under their belts all were happy to have passed. Well done one and all!
The next open course will be in Oban in spring and again on November 1st and 2nd 2014. Contact hebpursuit@aol.com or call us on 01631720002 for more details and booking.  Hebridean Pursuits also offer site specific training and Technical Advice for companies and organisations who work or are considering working in this fun, educational and exciting environment of coasteering.

For Sale. Ford Connect Transit Van.

Reliable and in good condition. Well maintained and serviced. 140,00 miles. New tow bar and roof rack. Wood lined. Recently replaced front tyres. MOT & Tax until end of December. Oban based. 

Contact hebpursuit@aol.com or call 01631720002

Atlas Mountains Trekking Expedition.

I have been working for Hebridean Pursuits over the last two weeks. We have just returned from guiding our third expedition in the High Atlas Mountains in Morocco this year.
We ventured away from the tourist hubs of the Toubkal valley and found remote, relativity unspoiled villages of traditional lifestyles of the Berber peoples.  We headed from Imlil 1700 m  to Tizqui and so over high passes to Tiziane and then back over another very high Tizi to Tamsoult 2200 m and stayed high in the spectacularly placed French Alpine Club hut, The Lepiney mountain hut at 3000 m. From there we ascended the well positioned mountain of Alguzime 3650 m .There after with a fit and well acclimatized team, the whole party ascended Toubkal 4167 m. An amazing 10 days of trekking with a great bunch of folk. We met some wonderful local people and shared some fantastic food and songs along the way.

The team back in Imlil after 10 days trekking. 

Remote typical villages far from the tourist routes.

Toubkal from Alguzime at 3650 m 

On the summit of  JebelToubkal 4167 m. Andy Spink has now made the summit 8 times in a variety of seasons.

Up at 3600 m on one of a variety of Tizi's we ascended to access remote valleys.

Winter Mountain 'Silver Jubilee' Skills Courses 2014.

It will be Hebridean Pursuit's 25th season of winter instructing and guiding in 2014. So we are offering a couple of Special Celebratory 'Silver Jubilee Courses'. You can find details of these courses on the blog or contact us hebpursuit@aol.com. £60 per person for two days skills training based on 6 booking. A great way to learn and celebrate with us this winter.

To watch follow the youtube link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=8uBeLHRsgwA

Mull, wet and dry. Some images so far this week whilst working out at Tavool House Outdoor Centre.

Carsaig from Tavool House.

Canyoning today.

Tavool House sun rise.

Rock climbing instruction on Tuseday.

The Ross of Mull beaches.

Cloud walking today on the Aonach Eagach.

Scotland Outside wins again! An atmospheric day in Glencoe today. I was guiding Andy and Kat along the classic Aonach Eagach ridge. Andy and Kat came on a winter walking skills course last winter and after looking across at the notched ridge decided they had to traverse it. They were so lucky with the weather. It has been stable now for a few days and the temperatures are spring like. A glorious experience today with a charming couple. Well done to the guys, it's a big day. For guided traverses of the Aonach Eagach contact Hebridean Pursuits.

Rock Climbing instruction and guiding on the beautiful Island of Erraid.

Yesterday I was working with Jamie on the beautiful Island of Erraid which lies just off Mull.
The day started with a dramatic grey sky enhanced by the low rising sun, gradually as the day developed the sun came out and the beaches began to shimmer against the emerald sea.
The climbing wasn't too bad either! We adventured around a variety of grades of crags. An exploratory journey is always fun. We started down on the middle tier of the main crags with a charming and long route of about Diff in standard. Moving up to the upper tier we did fun severe and onto an awkward 4b route. After this thrutch we headed to some easy but delightful scrambling and onto the uniquely positioned Pink Walls. We ascended a few severes and a Hard Serve to test Jamies hand jamming skills. An active and great fun day with just ourselves on the island and a large seal watching on from the shallows.

Jamie on the middle tier.

Always fantastic to finish a route in style! 

Not a bad place to climb.

Looking south to Islay and Jura.

We do like to be by the sea side.

On the  Pink Walls.