UKClimbing.com caught up with Dave MacLeod to find out more about the ascent:

I went to the crag completely on the off chance. I was doing a talk at Outward Bound until 10pm in Fort William and then drove down to the Lakes and only arrived at 2.30am. So I was a bit tired the next day and we only got round to leaving our digs in the early afternoon after a few breakfasts.

My friend Alicia did a nice Hard Severe and after that I abbed down The Keswickian to have a look but didn't expect to do it. I had a play on the crux on my shunt but didn't have toe-hooking boots with me so ended up using a different sequence to Adam. I figured out a good sequence and led it straight afterwards and the lead went fine.

It was quite a nice day for climbing with a good breeze which helped. It's a nice route for a boulderer - it's good rock with good gear and has a short and fierce crux. I've no idea about the grade though as I've not repeated enough hard trad routes recently, I've mostly been bouldering.

I'd actually gone down to look at Dave Birkett's E9 on Cam Crag. The day after I did The Keswickian I went for a look at that but it was really wet so it wasn't to be. Hopefully we will get some nice weather for some more mountain trad this season.

Related Video: Adam Hocking on The Keswickian: