Adventure Stories

Coasteering in East Lothian

Ocean Vertical is an adventure company based in Scotland. We have a fairly simple philosophy: a deep respect for wilderness and the natural world, a love for silent sports with no motors involved and a passion for real adventures in the mountains…

Sunrise: Winter Mountaineering on Buachaille Etive Beag, Glen Coe.

The 13th of March 2020 unfolded into one of the most remarkable winter mountaineering days; transformational and life affirming. Little did we know we wouldn’t be seeing the mountains again for a while. Coronavirus; social distancing and…

Winter Mountaineering on Meall nan Tarmachan

Its late February and its been snowing. The Mountain Weather Information Service is telling us winds of 30 – 40mph dropping by early afternoon, snow showers clearing and 50% cloud free. Temperatures -3 at 900m but feeling more like -15…

Winter Mountaineering in Glen Coe. An Experience for life.

The Mountain Weather Information Service forecast is looking good. Tomorrow we leave for Glen Coe.

Group equipment check: Ice axes, crampons, winter boots, group shelter, emergency blankets, head torches, first aid kit, map and compass, spare rucksacks…

Winter Mountaineering on Buachaille Etive Beag, Glen Coe

Its mid December and office party frenzy dominates; booze, turkey, over boiled vegetables and cremated spuds. Fun or just grim? Not for this team who have decided to dump the chaos of office party’s in Edinburgh and instead…

winter mountaineering on stob coire nan lochan, glen coe

6am and its pouring down in East Lothian. It really is grim. There seems a remarkable amount of chattering and laughter as we load the vehicle with equipment for the day. Someone gets out a flask of…

stob coire sgreamhach and the beinn fhada ridge, glen coe

We had spent an epic day on the Beinn Fhada ridge back in October; swirling mist piling into the Lost Valley far below us and the final ascent to Stob Coire Sgreamhach a scramble up into…

WINTER ON BUACHAILLE ETIVE MOR – GLEN COE

The alarm goes off and its 3.30am. It’s very dark and very cold. Why on earth would anyone get up at this time? Its simple really; the Mountain Weather Information Service forecast for Glen Coe is simply magnificent.…