Sunday,  17th April 2011

Despite a very favourable weather report, there were a mere 24 members on this Bus meet.  The day was warm with little wind and a thin veil of cloud was just covering the tops of the big Nevis range hills in the distance.   A good spring day, and the start of the serious hill walking season!!  This Laggan/Spean Bridge road is a very convenient route for dropping off and collecting people, without, unfortunately,  the option of walking to a Pub!

First off the Bus at Aberarder Lodge was Ray Harron (with all his mates!).  He walked up to the trig point on Carn Dubh, and then followed the ridge line on to Carn Liath and then Stob Poite Coire Ardair, before descending the ‘window’ to the car park.  At the Creag Meagaidh car park, Sue Horth, Jake, Fiona, Bob Mac and Mark began their stroll up to the window then west over the tops of CM before descending the SE ridge to Moy on the A86.  They had a very relaxing and enjoyable day with great weather and even greater company.  Rachel, Lisa, Andrew, Bob Litster and Fiona Cuninghame began their walk from the same place but continued over all 3 Munros with time to spare for sunbathing at the end of the day.

At the large lay-by further down the road, another large group alighted to tackle various hills from the bridge at Luiblea.  Bill Lindsay and Graeme Milton went over the rocky Grahams of Binnein Shuas and Binnein Shios before walking back on the track to Luiblea.  Natacha and Sandy completed the 3 Munros of Beinn a Chlachair, Geal Charn and Creag Pitridh and just to be different, Greg and Graeme Morrison did the same hills in reverse.  According to Greg, Gael Charn is now officially the most comfy Munro – although he has still quite a few more to test out!

Andy Brooks and Illona went for a climb on the Ardverikie wall, at the back of Binnein Shuas, and above the secluded Lochan na Earba.  They climbed The Soft Shoe Shuffle VS (very slippy?) which was wet and mossy, so they decided to abseil off resulting in a shorter day and more quality time sunbathing!

Next off the Bus at Fersit was Bob Weeks, George Herraghty, Natasha Lilly and Donna Nash.  Their walk took them down the minor road and then through the woods , to the ‘round lump’ of the Graham, Cnap Cruinn – west of the Easains’.  They had the perfect combination of good weather, good views and good company (pity about the ‘round lump’!).  John Henderson was last to de-bus at Glen Roy for a long trek to the even rounder lump of the Graham, Leana Mhor.  This could easily be in the top 3 dullest hills in Scotland (did I mention how dull it was)?  He then traversed across to the rocky top of the Munro, Beinn Teallach, before the easy descent to the road – in the sun.  A ‘rehydrating stop’ at the Glen Hotel in Newtonmore rounded off a great day out – but drinking mountains is an unquenchable thirst!!

And remember – “Mountains do become valleys after a while – if you keep walking”.

John Henderson

For more photos from this meet, click here.