Fiona Duncan, Ella Grant, Drummond Beattie, Ray Harron, Evelyn Droege Heavy Whalley, Bob MacDonald, Brian Jones, Fiona Cuninghame, Joe Glennie, Sheila Patel, Adrian Marsay, Carol Jack, Cate Bulmer, Brad Doswell, Bea Chater, Ben Watson, Al Dennis, Miriam Duncan, Jake Lee The above revellers and miscreants travelled to the Blackwater Outdoor Centre for the annual and wonderfully conceived Hogmanay meet. I only half apologise if any names have been left out, as folk don’t write in the Book of Climbs and some of this happened last year for goodness sake! For such a great gathering there is also scant record of what went on, and this befuddled author is the very…
December 2016 Bus Meet Report: Aberlour
Numbers on the Christmas bus meet are difficult to break down but, 41 members and 1 guest on the bus, and 2 by car doing the walk. There were a further 5 members and 2 guests attending the meal. This was by far the largest attendance of members on a bus meet in 2016. I hope that this is a good sign of an increase in bus numbers for 2017. First of all, a warm welcome to our new member, Teresa. The bus started off from Inverness, at 8:00, and then continued to Forres. At Forres, there was slight delay, since one of our members (Jake) was now getting on…
October 2016 Bus Meet Report: Assynt
17 members were on the bus for what was expected to be a good weather day on the Assynt hills. First of all, a warm welcome to our new member Caroline. First off the bus, at Inverael, were George and Derrik. Their plans were to tackle the Beinn Bhreac and then walk through the glen and meet up with the rest of us at the pub stop, Ferry Boat Inn, in Ullapool. Well, we all met up in the Ferry Boat Inn, but it would appear that their trip to the Ullapool involved a little hitchhiking! Next of the bus, near Knockanrock, was Bill, with the aim of tackling Cul…
August 2016 Bus Meet Report – Kintail
20 members, including Grampian LWDA members, were on the bus for what was expected to be a “damp” day on the hills around Kintail. First of all, a big welcome to Dottie who joined the club today and a big thank you to the LWDA members who made the numbers possible for this bus meet to proceed. First off the bus, just before the Cluanie Inn, were Dave and Andy. Andy had intentions of wandering up the glen to the Alltbeithe Youth Hostel and Dave was going to tackle Am Bathach and Ciste Dhubh. Andy was surprisingly disappointed that the rain was not as bad as forecast. Dave thought he…
December 2016 Weekend Meet Report – Ballachulish
December’s weekend meet was to a new venue for the club. The Alex MacIntyre Memorial Hut between Ballachulish and Onich is very well situated for the hills, with some of this country’s finest close by, in all directions. Some arrived early, others after dark when the hut, though right beside the road, can be difficult to locate, and one adventurer arrived properly late. Jane showed devotion to the club by coming on the meet despite working a full day on Friday and Monday in Ireland. She raced to the evening Belfast to Cairnryan ferry after work on Friday and made it to the hut just before 2am. Thankfully a couple…
November 2016 Weekend Meet Report – Inchnadamph
Once again this proved to be the most popular meet of the year [so far] with 28 members and guests heading north for a weekend of hills and hilarity. Once again Dave Treagus and Alistair Jeffs got off to an early start and climbed An Faochagach on their way up on Friday. They got wet from the rain, river crossings and long grass and put a tick in their books. Saturday dawned with the weather somewhat better than forecast and groups headed off in all directions. Greig, Ben, Brad, Al Dennis and Jenny Smith went bouldering at Reiff in the rain and wind and ‘established’ a new problem. Setting the…
December 2016 Christmas Bus Meet: Ben Rinnes
Sunday 18 December 2016 O.S.Map(s): 28 Est. time of arrival: 09.45 Time of departure: 17.30 Leave Elgin: 09.00 The bus will pick up members from Inverness (8:00), Nairn (8:20), Forres (8:40) and Elgin (9:00). The original location for the walk was The Ladder Hills (at the Lecht Ski Centre). However, given that we have to be back at the Aberlour Hotel for 15:30, then there wouldn’t be much time to complete the walk. So, it may be more prudent to consider walks around Aberlour. The most likely routes are the Speyside Way from Dufftown to Aberlour, Ben Rinnes traverse, Little Conval and/or Meikle Conval. We will be having our Christmas lunch at Aberlour Hotel followed…
Hogmanay 2016 Meet: Glenshee
Date: 30th December 2016 – 1st January 2017 (3 nights) Venue: Blackwater Outdoor Centre Cost: £50, paid in advance Location: Just over 1km North of the A93/B950 junction. Facilities: Three rooms (sleep 4 each), one room (Sleeps 3) with en suite disabled toilet & shower, one room (sleeps 2). Two large shower and toilet rooms (male and female) are located on the ground floor. The Kitchen is equipped with electric cookers, refrigerator/freezer, washing machine, cooking utensils and kitchen accessories. Crockery, cutlery, bed linen (duvets, sheets and pillowcases) are provided but groups must supply their own food, washing up liquid and tea towels. A dining room next the kitchen seats 20. The centre has a…
December 2016 Weekend Meet: Ballachulish
Fri 2nd – Sun 4th December 2016 O.S.Map(s): 41/50 Accommodation: Alex MacIntyre Memorial Hut Cost: £10.00 pppn Facilities: Fully equipped kitchen, showers etc., but bring sleeping bags and pillows Ballachulish is ideally located on the main A82 midway between Fort William and Glen Coe and is therefore a convenient base to explore the scores of hills in the Lochaber area, often dubbed Scotland’s Outdoor Capital. The nearest hills are the duo of Beinn a’Bheithir and Sgorr Dhonuil, aka the Ballachulish Horsehoe, a great day out. Climbers will also be keeping their fingers crossed that something will come into nick, as this area is winter climbing heaven. Please note that this meet…
MMC Outdoor Film Night
Thursday 17 November 2016 Location: Glen Moray Visitor Centre Time: 19.30 The nights are drawing in, the air is getting a chill – what better excuse is needed to attend the inaugural Moray Mountaineering Club Outdoor Film Night? We will be screening a variety of outdoor films to amuse, amaze, and inspire future adventures. Whatever your outdoor passion is there will be a film for you; surfing, mountain biking, climbing, hiking and skiing. Drinks and snacks will be available to buy from the visitors centre. No MMC social would be complete without a raffle, so please bring along something to donate. The event is free however a suggested donation of £3 would be appreciated to…