A dry day with some low cloud on the Munro tops saw 18 members, 2 new members, 1 guest and 6 LDWA members set off for Loch Laggan. So a big warm welcome to our new members Sean and Sarah. First off the bus at Kingussie was the LDWA group (Rikki, Mick, Bea, Sally, Carrie, Jenni) and John. Their objective for the day was an 18 mile traverse of the Badenoch Way and Speyside Way from Kingussie to Aviemore. They managed to fit in a tour of Ruthven Barracks before enjoying a coffee and cake stop at Loch Insh Café. Some speedy walking ensured that they were back in Aviemore…
October 2017 Bus Meet to Achnasheen / Glen Carron
Date: 15th October 2017 O.S. Map(s): 24, 25 Estimated time of arrival: 09.15 Time of departure: 17.15 Leave Elgin: 07.00 The bus will go past the Achnasheen junction and travel down the A896 to park up for the day at Coulags (OS 25, GR962452). The refreshment stop will be at the Ledgowan Lodge. The main drop off points are Achnasheen, Glen Carron, Craig, Achnashellach and Coulags. Routes from Achnasheen: 1a. Fionn Bheinn (Munro) approx. 4 hours 1b. Fionn Bhein + Meall a’Chaorainn (Graham) approx. 5 hours Routes from Glen Carron: Moruisg (Munro) + Sgurr nan Ceannaichean (ex Munro) approx. 5 hours Carn Breac (Graham) + Beinn na Feusaige (Graham) approx. 5 hours…
September 2017, Weekend Meet Report, Dundonnell
A small group of ten eventually assembled at the cosy and characterful Smiddy on Friday evening though several had already spent a day on the hills, enjoying the somewhat unusual ‘heavy persistent sunshine’. The Smiddy… full of character(s) [Faye, Simon and Ray] Evelyn enjoyed a low level walk along the Gruinard river watching the fishermen and fisherwomen trying their luck with the elusive salmon and the native woodlands. Adrian had spent the day on Slioch while, Robert Ross had flown up from London on Thursday and spent the day, I think, on Beinn Dearg. On Saturday An Teallach by various routes was the unanimous choice. Jan and Dan drove down…
Bus Meet October 2017: Laggan
When: Sunday 17 September 2017 Where: Creag Meaghaidh / Loch Laggan (Bus will park at Laggan Dam) Leave Elgin: 7.00am Est. time of arrival: 9.45am Time of departure: 17.00pm Cost: £15 The bus will park at the Laggan Dam for the day but can go on to Fersit if required in order to access the circuit of Stob Coire Sgriodain and Chno Dearg. To the north of the dam lies Beinn Teallach and Beinn a’ Chaorainn. Getting off the bus at Aberarder for Creag Meagaidh is always a popular choice on this meet, it can be climbed via the path going up to the “window” or as part of a…
October 2017 Weekend Meet: Glenbrittle, Skye
Date: Nights of Fri 6 and Sat 7 September 2017 Venue: Glenbrittle Memorial Hut, Glenbrittle, Skye Location: Glenbrittle, Skye. Grid ref: NG412216, Google StreetView Facilities: The hut has recently been refurbished for its 50th anniversary. 18 bunks (sleeping bags required), All electric; all utensils; large drying room; showers; WCs Cost: £10.00 per person per night (usual £5 pppn camper’s charge applies) Things to do: The Glenbrittle hut is ideally situated for access to the Cuillin Ridge. Literally walk out the door for access to the hills from Sgurr na Banachdich to Sgurr nan Eag. Nearby Hills: Sgurr nan Gillean, Am Bastier, Bruach na Frithe, Sgurr Mhadaidh, Sgurr Ghreadaidh, Sgurr na…
August 2017, Bus Meet Report, Clachnaben and Mount Battock
First of all, a warm welcome to some new members on this meet- Dianne Watters and Rob and Annika Acheson. This venue was a first for a bus meet – Glen Dye, with the intention of tackling Clachnaben and Mount Battock. 21 members on the bus, with various pick up points – Inverness, Forres, Elgin, Lhanbryde, Keith and Huntly (is this another first for the club?). Despite the mid-week weather forecast of a hurricane storm hitting Scotland on Sunday – a last minute change to the weather forecast on Friday meant that we had glorious sunshine all day! After a long bus drive, along some winding country roads, most of…
September 2017, Weekend Meet, Dundonnell
When: Nights of Fri 1 and Sat 2 September 2017 Where: The Smiddy, Dundonnell, OS Grid Ref NH 095 877 Cost: £8.00/person/night; £1 coin meter for power Facilities: Accommodation for 10 on alpine-style sleeping platforms with mattresses. Electric lighting, heating, water heater and cooking; microwave oven; fridge; all utensils supplied; open fire (coal supplied); running water; WC Things to do: The Smiddy is at the foot of An Teallach and handy for the northern Fannichs and the Fisherfield Munros. Gruinard crag close by has good climbing and the loch offers kayaking. What is not to like? To book: Contact Simon Jacyna to book your place (even if you are one of the OATs –…
August 2017 Bus Meet – Clachnaben and Mount Battock
Date: Sunday 20 August 2017 Map(s): Ordnance Survey 1:50k maps 44 & 45 or 1:25k OL54 Est. time of arrival: 10:00 Time of departure: 17:00 Leave Inverness: 7:00 The first pick up point is Inverness at 7:00, followed by Nairn at 7:20, Forres at 7:40 and then Elgin at 8:00. The bus should arrive at the Bridge of Dye car park at 10:00 and will park there for the day. You need Ordnance Survey 1:50k maps 44 and 45 to cover the start and summits. Alternatively, the 1:25k map OL 54 covers all the routes. There aren’t many options for alternative hills – so the routes are either Clachnaben, or Clachnaben plus Mount Battock,…
August 2017, Weekend Meet Report, Strontian
Strontian, a small village in a remote corner of a remote region on the remote west of Scotland, is mostly known for its ancient oak woodlands (prime example of temperate rainforest), craggy mountains and midges. In times-gone-by, minerals and mining played a much bigger part. Sir Alexander Murray discovered galena in the hills the region in 1722 and a mine was opened in 1725, in partnership with Thomas Howard, 8th Duke of Norfolk and General Wade. Various materials were mined, including lead and strontianite, which contains the element named after the village, Strontium (Sr). Strontium, lurks on the left hand side of the period table of elements, below Calcium and Magnesium.…
August 2017 Weekend Meet: Strontian (Ariundle Bunkhouse)
When: Nights of Friday 4th and Saturday 5th August Where: Ariundle Bunkhouse, Strontian. Grid Reference NM 821 631 Facilities: There are two bunk bed rooms upstairs each with their own private facilities. Linen is supplied with the exception of towels. There is a restaurant at the adjacent Ariundle Centre. Cost: To be confirmed by meets organiser What to do: Plenty of quality Corbetts, Grahams and Marilyns in Ardgour, Sunart, Moidart, Morvern and Ardnamuchan. If you are desperate for a Munro tick, you could drive the short distance to Lochaline and take the ferry across to Mull to ascend Ben More. Nearby Corbetts include Garbh Bheinn, Beinn Resipol, Sgurr Dhomhnuill and Carn…