06.09.2019 - The Elie Chain Walk


On a beautiful autumn day we began our Elie scramble at the Warning Notice above the cliffs and took a big gulp. Darren, our instructor from Ancrum Outdoor Centre had us all too quickly sorted out with harnesses and helmets.  The first part was an 'easy' decent down a short section of links to introduce us to the hand over hand art of clipping our harness to the chain.  Finding footholds below, and out of sight, was a bit tricky but with a lot of "right a bit" or "left a bit" we were on our way.  

A few more chains and, with an improving technique, we were soon half way round and opted to stop for lunch at a sheltered bay and enjoy the sun, sea and rocks.  Next was a scramble across a boulder field, passing ever so quickly by a towering outcrop said to be ready to topple sometime between now and the next few years! The vast basalt cliffs would certainly look the part for a Jurassic era movie.  Now feeling a lot more confident we opted for the next vertical ascent without a harness and were just roped to a post at the top. After a difficult first few feet with scant toeholds, we all managed the 30 foot climb.  
We proceeded to descend to MacDuff's inlet, where the chain hugs the face tightly and ends in a large gap to cross, difficult for wee legs, between the cliff and a large rocky outcrop that leads back to the beach.  The final section was the most difficult, simply because of a central section without a foothold, and with the chain sagging out from the rock, it needed a strength in the arms that not all of us could muster.  With terra firma back beneath our feet we high-fived ourselves for another wee adventure completed and began the steep walk back to the waiting bus.

 (Photos courtesy of Mike Taylor)



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