The nights are long, the days are short. Vibrant autumnal colours spread across the landscape and the winds contain the icy stab of winter, as if to remind us of what’s to come. A dusting of snow falls on the tops, a prelude for the bigger, heavier dumps that will follow in time. It is a beautiful time of year, but also a sobering one when the long lazy summer days have gone, to be replaced by the cold dark winter. The sun never rises high in the sky and the mute uncaring mountainsides of winter promise comfort and safety to nobody. Perhaps that’s why it’s also a party season.…
Hogmanay 2016 Meet: Roy Bridge
Thus 31 Dec – Sun 3 January 2016 (3 nights) Accommodation: Grey Corrie Lodge Bunkhouse (Website) Cost: £50 for the weekend Facilities: Bedding, woodburning stove, kitchen The three-night Hogmanay meet will be at the Grey Corries Bunkhouse in Roy Bridge (about 5km east of Spean Bridge on the A86). Over the years, the CLub’s Hogmanay meet has proven a popular combination of drink, hills and frivolities. If you are heading for the hills, then there are a multitude of opportunities for adventure, including the Ben, Grey Corries, skiing at Aonach Mor, or even the train to Glasgow (but why would you?)! The meet is likely to be popular and so it is worth getting your name…
December 2015 Christmas Bus Meet and Awards: Ben Rinnes
Sunday 20 December 2015 O.S.Map(s): 28 Est. time of arrival: 09.45 Time of departure: 17.30 Leave Elgin: 09.00 The Christmas Bus Meet on 20 December 2015 will be a traverse over Ben Rinnes and then a meal at the Aberlour Hotel at 3pm. As this will be a shorter day than normal, the Bus will pick up first at Inverness at 8am, and then travel through to Elgin via Nairn (8.20am)and Forres (8.40am)to arrive at Lossie Green car park, Elgin at 9am. The Bus will then depart for Dufftown and drop off at the B9009 (it will be unable to get up the minor road to the normal car park), for a traverse over Ben Rinnes and then down to…
MMC Quiz Night: 20th November 2015
Date: 20th November 2015 Time: 7pm for 7:30pm start Venue: Bishopmill Hall Cost: £3 per person (all welcome) BYOB As the nights draw in, support the club by putting your brains to the test this November! MC’ed by the incorrigable Mr. Jake Lee, this opportunity to win bragging rights and a bottle of whisky in the company of fellow mountaineers and associated guests is not to be missed. Bishopmill Hall does not have a bar so bring your own drinks and nibbles. There will be a raffle to support club funds. Anyone looking to extend the Friday night fun beyond the 10pm finish is welcome to head to the Muckle Cross for post-quiz pints…
October 2015 Weekend Meet Report: Crianlarich
Crianlarich in October is becoming a tradition of the club. The area boasts big and interesting hills in all directions with great options available from the door of Inveradran Cottage, the Ochils club hut where we stayed, and many more within a short drive. Although there is plenty scope for rock climbing in summer and ice climbing and skiing in winter, many of the hills are of the big grassy variety and good Autumn tramping terrain. Scotland had just seen a week of glorious hot sunny weather. Whatever anyone might say about Scotland’s weather, we always have a hot and sunny summer. This year there were two weeks of it.…
October 2015 Bus Meet Report: Assynt
The venue for the October Bus Meet was Assynt which has an impressive array of outstanding mountains. The rocks in this area are predominantly gneiss, on top of which sandstone hills have weathered to create some of the weird and magnificent shapes typical of this region. Some would say that these are some of the best small hills in the World (yes…. The World!). A total of 28 people turned out for this meet and the weather was calm and mild with great visibility. Rob Murray was first off the bus at Loch Droma where he headed up to Beinn Liath Mor Fannaich and then east along the ridge before…
Winter 2015-16 Indoor Climbing Sessions
The indoor climbing season is upon us. We will be dividing our attention between: Speyside Climbing Centre, Aberlour SpireRoxx, Elgin (Discount available for Club members) Gordonstoun School (Club members only) Inverness Leisure Centre There will be a rotation between venues, but the default is SpireRoxx on Wednesday evenings from about 6pm. The latest information is posted on the Club’s Facebook Page and further dates will be added here in due course. SpireRoxx and Inverness Leisure Centre are commercial venues and are therefore open to Club members and non-members alike. Gordonstoun School (and possibly Speyside High school, depending on arrangements) will be private bookings and will only open to Club members. The Club has a selection of harnesses, ropes and…
November 2015 Weekend Meet: Inchnadamph
Date: 7th/8th November 2015 Venue: Inchnadamph Lodge Location: Inchnadamph Lodge is located in the heart of Assynt – a spectacular parish of mountains, lochs & beaches. The hamlet of Inchnadamph is just 25 miles north of the fishing village of Ullapool, 12 miles east of Lochinver and at the head of Loch Assynt. Facilities: The Lodge is well equipped and offers a great range of facilities. The kitchen was refurbished in 2008 with new stainless steel work benches and sinks, new cookers and larger fridges. The dining room has seating for up to 45 guests, and new armchairs in the comfy lounge. There are two iMacs with full broadband internet access in the lounge. The…
October 2015 Bus Meet: Assynt
Sunday 18 October 2015 O.S.Map(s): 15 Est. time of arrival: 09.45 Time of departure: 17.00 Leave Elgin: 07.00 Assynt has an impressive array of outstanding mountains: Ben More Assynt, Conival, Canisp, Quinag, Cul Mor, Cul Beag, Breabag, Suilven, Stac Pollaidh ……. The rock in this area is predominantly gneiss, on top of which sandstone hills have weathered to create some of the weird and magnificent shapes typical of this region and on a clear day, this is an area where you like to linger as long as possible. In addition to the excellent hillwalking in this area, there is some good scrambling on Quinag (Sail Gharbh, East Buttress – Grade 3), Conival…
September 2015 Bus Meet Report: Kintail
The last meet to this venue was on a glorious day in June 2014, when there were 23 people on the bus. This time there were also 23 people on the bus, but amazingly only myself and Graeme M were on both trips? Kintail offers many possibilities with its big ridges and variety of hills, and for many, is the finest hill walking area in the Western Highlands. The weather was also very good despite forecasts of rain sweeping across the area in early afternoon, and only the late, late party returning from the South Cluanie Ridge had a welcome (?) rain shower to cool them down on the long…