The Dumby Project

“You could write a blog post about your project if you want?” Helen

“I’ve never written one of these before, but it felt like too good an opportunity to ignore. So, hi, welcome to my brain-fart of making a film about Dumbarton Rock.

Livia first took me to Dumby in June 2023, where I promptly got my ass handed to me on Treasure Hunt (7b). At that point I hadn’t even touched a commercial gym 7a, and I remember standing there wondering why I’d even bothered coming out at all.

Despite the humbling rock interaction, the vibes were immaculate. Sun hanging high late into the evening, midges staying mercifully down by the Shadow Wall, and a group of pals just hanging out with zero expectations. It felt notable.

Over the following months, Dumby quietly became part of the routine; where we climbed, where we spent our evenings, where familiar faces kept reappearing.

It’s hard to articulate what draws people back. You see the same climbers turning up week after week, working the same projects relentlessly. Some days they’re fired up and driven, other days visibly defeated… yet they still come. They spend time among broken glass and the smell of stale bam pee, all in pursuit of sending that route. There’s a strange beauty in that kind of obsession; I find it completely inspiring.

Somewhere along the way, I came to the romantic conclusion that Dumby must have a soul. That ancient rock has a way of getting its talons into people. It doesn’t let you leave until you’ve learned what you need to; about the route, about your climbing, and about your head game. You don’t climb hard at Dumby without adapting, without working with the place rather than against or brute forcing it. It’s not a coincidence that the strongest climbers tend to have the worst experience when a group visits the place for the first time… “I should be able to flash this!”

That’s really what I want this film to show. Dumby is bigger than just a climbing crag. It’s a place that shapes people if they choose to spend real time there. And I think it deserves a modern, high-production look at its history, its climbing, and its community.

Filming began in May 2025, and I’m still tying up a couple of interviews and final chapters of ongoing climbing journeys (looking at you, Cubby and Lewis… Sufferance will go). It’s been one hell of a year.

Some moments still feel surreal. I’d been building myself up to ask Andy Gallagher for an interview when, purely by chance, he topped out the warm-up boulder a few feet from where I was filming. Gregor casually introduced us, and suddenly I was firing questions at Andy while the camera rolled. No prep, no warning, and he delivered the most poetic, off-the-cuff reflections I’ve filmed.

Filming with Lucy, Tesla and Elle reinforced something Dumby teaches time and again: you don’t need to be a buff boulder bro to climb hard there, you need good technique. Watching Mat Wright’s journey developing the direct version of Alan Cassidy’s iconic Unfinished Symphony, alongside Joe Hellier’s experience of the original line has been a privilege. Meeting old climbers like Colin Campbell, and seeing those memories light up as he recognised holds still intact decades later, reminded me just how deep Dumby’s history runs. (I still can’t believe people used to belay off the castle cannons.)

As the film moves toward post-production; editing, sound, colour grading etc I’ve reached the limit of what I can manage alone. I’ve poured a huge amount of my own time and resources into this project, and I want to do it properly. That’s why I’m launching a Crowdfunder, recently accepted for Creative Scotland’s Crowdmatch programme.

I truly believe this film can showcase a special part of Scotland to a wider audience, not just climbing, but community, responsibility, and the relationship between people and the places they love.

A pal once told me Dumby didn’t need this film, it already has Cutting Loose. I’d argue it deserves a modern look at where it’s been, where it is now, and where it’s going. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: this project is Dumby’s talons in me.

I’m not getting out of here without finishing it.”

Support Ewan’s Film

You can support Ewan's film about Dumby via this crowdfunder link. You can follow Edge Photography on Instagram. You might also enjoy reading this old TCA article by John Hutchinson.