Agassiz Rock

Agassiz Rock was the site of a special visit from the naturalist Louis Agassiz in 1840, where he confirmed striations on the andesite rock here were the acts of large glaciers, thus reaffirming the local Enlightenment understanding that geological time was a little deeper than some books suggested. The bouldering lies on this impressive overhang near Blackford Hill quarry, underneath the Royal Observatory at the top of Blackford Glen. The limestone-like rock faces south, so climbing is possible in winter and even in rain. Problems have been contrived for years by climbers such as Ian Pitcairn, Paul Thorburn and Dave Redpath.