- Creag an Dubh Loch in all its glory on a perfect Spring morning! Looking very dry and very inviting from the approach path.
- Central Gully Wall basking in the morning sunshine – Dubh Loch Monster starts up and left of the central shadowed corner of King Rat and trends left to breach the steep wall left of the King Rat roof
- The mighty Central Slabs in very good condition, scene of our grand day out on Cyclops.
- Andy arrives at the belay stance below the crux notch, after a mellow re-introduction to the delights of Dubh Loch granite weirdness
- Committing to the innocuous-looking but surprisingly steep crux. Very well protected but some stiff pulls required! Photo credit: Andy Harrison
- Andy enjoying his perch on the post-crux ledge – a horizontal haven from the steepness below!
- Excellent exposed moves up the arete constitute the main interest on a short pitch 3
- The psychological crux of the whole route for me – committing moves on a rising traverse with just enough gear. Fantastic climbing! Photo credit: Andy Harrison
- Andy padding his way across the insecure rising traverse on pitch 4. Pulling the bulge felt very committing, although thankfully gear does appear.
- Andy in his element after negotiating the short wall before the corner on pitch 5. This was a tough pitch, sustained, with a crux that felt just as hard as anything below.
- Balancing across the final slab of pitch 5 after an unrelenting pitch – a proper sting in the tail! Photo credit: Andy Harrison
- Andy on the easier ground of pitch 6, which felt suspiciously like the final section of King Rat. Can’t complain though!
- Andy basks in the sun after emerging from the shadow of the Dubh Loch Monster. I’ll never tire of these views!