UKC

Climbs 53
Rocktype Basalt
Altitude 61m a.s.l
Faces NW

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The thin and technical 'Heuthanasia' at Balgone Heughs. © Fraser

Crag features

Bolted routes along a 15m high outcrop in a sheltered setting, only 25 minutes walk from North Berwick Law. bolts replaced on the majority of existing lines with 12mm glue ins and many new lines added Autumn 2013. More new lines added 2021/22.

** There is a voluntary climbing ban during the shooting season 1st Oct - 1st Feb. While this is not legally enforceable under Scottish Land Rights Act (walking is still permitted along the paths), it is strongly encouraged to keep a good relationship with the estate, who are currently very acccomodating of the bolting and climbing in the Heughs. **
 

Approach notes

Approach is easiest via the John Muir Way from North Berwick Law.
Parking is best at the North Berwick Law car park, from here head to NBL quarry and take the path south past a small pond and through a couple of gates into farmland. From here head directly south along the field boundary, cross a small lane and continue until meeting a larger road at a chicane. Alternatively, limited parking is available at: ///scars.hopes.cork and reduces the walk in to sub-15 minutes.

From here rather than take the roughly surface track signed "Balgone Barns" to the farm, turn left/east and follow the JMW along the road for c.600m then along the field boundaries for a further 1.1km. Turn west off the JMW and follow the sign post for Balgone Lakes. After c.200m turn right to follow the path that runs along the south side of the lake. The crag is at the western end of the lake


25 minutes brisk march from NBL side or 15 minutes coming from the parking to the east, towards Leuchie House (see w3w location advised above) 

Shooting takes place between 1st October and 1st February so please avoid between these dates.

Cars should DEFINITELY NOT be left on the Balgone Barns access road further south as this is the one thing that will upset the landowner and jeopardise access to the crag.

Restricted Access

TO PRESERVE ACCESS follow instructions below - DO NOT PARK IN ESTATE FIELD ENTRANCES/GATEWAYS

The landowner is concerned about the health and safety issues associated with the public walking/cycling through the steading at Balgon Barns. This is clearly identified as a private estate road and a gate has now been erected across the private road and access to the crag is now a little more circuitous (additional 1.5km).

Approach is easiest via the John Muir Way from North Berwick Law.
Parking is best at the North Berwick Law car park, from here head to NBL quarry and take the path south past a small pond and through a couple of gates into farmland. From here head directly south along the field boundary, cross a small lane and continue until meeting a larger road at a chicane. From here rather than take the roughly surface track signed "Balgone Barns" to the farm, turn left/east and follow the JMW along the road for c.600m then along the field boundaries for a further 1.1km. Turn west off the JMW and follow the sign post for Balgone Lakes. After c.200m turn right to follow the path that runs along the south side of the lake. The crag is at the western end of the lake.

Shooting takes place between 1st October and 1st February so please avoid between these dates.

Cars should DEFINITELY NOT be left on the Balgone Barns access road further south as this is the one thing that will upset the landowner and jeopardise access to the crag.

TAKE GREAT CARE if you are knocking rock off / developing a new route not to put others at risk.  Remember there are other users in the area.  This is VITAL to preserve access to this crag.

 

Hello! Looking for help: I think I left my keys at this crag today, if found please drop me a message. Keys included a red lizard with the tail as a bottle opener - many thanks! Will.
WillBarton - 02/Sep/23
Awesome addition to East Lothian. Lots of harder lines. I'll need to do some press ups before I return! Welldone on developing the crag.
robahalliday - 06/Jul/15
08.03.15. Hangers on Bullrush tightened and Ivy wall routes routes given a little tidy. Crag very dry and sheltered from the south westerlies.
sebrider - 08/Mar/15
Crag was nice and dry on 28.2.15. Lots of snowdrops in the woods. There are a couple of loose hangers on Bullrush I will tighten on my next visit. Nothing has changed on this route since I bolted it, grade still 6c, definitely not 7! Looks like there may be a bit of moss creeping onto the Ivy wall, will get a brush on that next time too.
sebrider - 01/Mar/15
I got in touch with James, no problems until the Pheasant shooting which starts on 1st Oct. As stated above there is now a climbing ban in place from 1st Oct to 1st Feb. Please respect this. Thanks, Seb
sebrider - 22/Aug/14
Hiya. Shooting season starts on the 12th August so access may be restricted at this crag. For your own safety ask the locals before climbing. Being accidentally shot in the bahookie may hamper your climbing. x
Gordie - 05/Aug/14
Bikes make for a swift approach. Situation was lovely, though out come the biters as the sun goes down. The rock is a suspect, but that'll only get better with traffic, and still really fun climbing despite. Excellent addition to near by law, go.
salix - 17/Jun/14
For closed projects flowers should be left at the bottom and not climbed. As below, the 'open' projects are the old routes that were there before. There may be bolts here and there missing on these routes. The old bolts were very easy to cut on other routes! Climb away or bolt away.
sebrider - 15/May/14
Gordie the open projects have not been reclimbed recently. They possible had FAs about 15/20 years ago when they were bolted.
radioshed - 14/May/14
Please excuse my ignorance but what does "respect closed projects" mean? Should I leave flowers or not Climb on them. Also is an open project unfinished?
Gordie - 12/May/14
A demoralising pile of rubble that perfectly blends the aesthetics of the worst Peak limestone crag with the rock quality of the worst Central Belt quarry. HOWEVER the climbing is actually quite good fun, and it's a far better use of bolts than any retro-bolting nonsense in the Central Belt. Go on a dry breezy day and drop a star or so from every route and your expectations and it will be pretty worthwhile. Walk has been timed at 25 minutes brisk march.
Fiend - 10/May/14
Good addition to the area, routes climb nice and are bolted really well! The quality of the rock adds a sporty feel to some of the lines. Ivy wall and the Curling pond looked wet and green, I hope they dry out for summer,nice work
TILLY - 26/Apr/14
Cleaned Curling Pond today, hopefully a bit of wind and rain will do the finishing touches. Despite our best efforts there is still an amount of crumbly rock around. The rock quality on the crag varies from good to consistency akin to hobnobs! Climb carefully and bring a helmet. The climbing should be nice once the routes settle a bit!! Crag was mostly dry today.
sebrider - 29/Mar/14
Good effort on the gardening guys! Projects look good too. Plenty of loose rock around so best to belay comfortably from one side…..
apollo18 - 04/Dec/13
This crag is in a really nice and quiet estate. The landowner, who is open to the crag being used for climbing, wishes for it to stay that way! Please respect his generosity and request that UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES TAKE ANY CARS INTO THE ESTATE! Thanks.
sebrider - 30/Nov/13
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