For the annual Cairngorm winter meet, we were hoping to provide the opportunity to practice and develop the skills of walking safely on snow and ice and using ice axes and crampons. Alternatively others were hoping to get up onto the Cairngorm plateau for a walk around the Northern Corries or maybe Ben Macdui. Unfortunately the weather had other ideas! As we headed up the road to the Ski Centre car park, the large neon sign indicated that the road was closed and snow clearing was in progress. We came to a standstill in the long queue of cars at Loch Morlich and as there was no knowing how long…

The venue for this year’s Christmas meet was Achnashellach which is always an excellent location for hill walking, but again, like last year’s Christmas meet, there was heavy rain for most of the day. Despite the awful weather forecast, thirty-nine members and one guest braved the conditions and were determined to enjoy the day. The Christmas meal was held at the nearby Ledgowan Hotel which is a typical old-style highland hotel and perfect for this type of function. The heavy rain and predicted high winds restricted the walking options but George’s gang of Graham M, Graeme M, Alan, Fiona, Jake, Drummond, Dan, Colin, Bill, Steve, Denise and Brent got off…

Sunday 18th January 2015 OS Map: 36 Bus Stop: Coire Cas car park Arrival Time: 09:30 Departure Time: 17:00 Leave Elgin: 07:00 We are heading back to Cairngorm again this January and Ray and Steve have kindly offered to provide some winter skills transfer with those who wish to take part. A number of topics will be covered including the use of ice axe and crampons. Ice axe, crampons and helmet will be required as well as your usual Winter walking gear. The Ptarmigan restaurant may be visited, so bring along some money for tea and cake. If you would like to take part in Winter skills, please contact Ray…

2013 Christmas Meal Sunday 21st December 2014 O.S. Map(s): 24, 25 Est. time of arrival: 09.15 Time of departure: 15.30 (Don’t be late!) 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). On the way members can be dropped off at Achnasheen for an ascent of Fionn Bheinn, in Glen Carron for an ascent of Moruisg and/or Sgurr nan Ceannaichean. At Craig for ascents of Sgurr na Feartaig. At Achnashellach for ascents of Fuar Tholl. At Coulags for ascents of An Ruadh-stac and/or Maol Chean Dearg … and various other possibilities. Just remember…

Reaching for the Remote! Whether it was the promise of good weather or the need to clear the mind after the exhaustion of the referendum (many minds were not that full anyway!), there was a terrific turnout of 31 members and guests for this meet.  This is a superb remote corner of Assynt with steep sandstone cliffs, narrow ridges and grand corries.  There are also magnificent views of the impressive hills of Stac Pollaidh and Suilven on one side and the Summer Isles out to the west on the other.  The weather was dry and hazy but unfortunately a lack of blue skies prevented a viewing of this area at…

OCTOBER BUS MEET CANCELLED DUE TO INSUFFICIENT BOOKINGS  

This Bus meet should have been one of the classic trips of the season, to one of the best walking areas in Scotland, but the weather decided otherwise! High winds and constant heavy rain made for an impossible days walking and despite the dire warnings, 23 people (including 6 guests), turned up for this meet (or forgot to cancel!). The original plan was for a traverse from the Beinn Eighe car park northwards to the Green barn (which used to be red!), but with prior knowledge of the terrain to cross it was easy to decide this would be a non-starter. There are not many easy, sheltered walks in this…

View from prow of Sgurr an Fhidhleir Sunday, 21 September 2014 O.S.Map(s): 15 Est. time of arrival: 09:30 Time of departure: 17:30 Leave Elgin: 07.00 This traverse has not been undertaken on a Bus meet for a number of years. This meet will provide the opportunity to undertake a traverse through Coigach finishing at Achiltibuie. The bus will drop members off near Strathcanaird allowing a traverse over Ben More Coigach and Sgurr an Fhidhleir – two outstanding Grahams. Members also have the option of being dropped off to undertake ascents of Cul Beag (Corbett) or Stac Pollaidh (Graham). Stac Pollaidh has numerous climbing routes on weathered Torridonian sandstone. Various drop-offs en-route to Coigach…

Sunday 20th July saw seven members and three guests head in convoy for Strathfarrar, arriving in good time for the Le Mans type start when the gate is opened at 09:00 sharp! All ten opted to tackle the “Strathfarrar Six (4 Munros and 2 tops) so eight were dropped at the east end of the ridge and promptly set off at speed towards the slopes of Sgurr na Ruaidhe leaving Bob and Malcolm to preposition a car at the west end of the ridge and return to catch up with the group. The task of chasing them was made easier because, without the pressure of catching a bus, David, Fiona…

Baosbheinn Sunday, 17 August 2014O.S.Map(s): 19/24/25Est. time of arrival: 09.30Time of departure: 17.30Leave Elgin: 07.00 Update – owing to forecast of persistent heavy rain, the Beinn Eighe to Loch Maree traverse will not take place as some of the burn crossings beyond Beinn Eighe will be difficult if not impossible. Instead the bus will park up for the day at the Red Barn. Members can be dropped off at Kinlochewe or anywhere along the Loch Maree road. This traverse has not been undertaken on a Bus meet for a number of years. This meet will provide the opportunity to undertake a traverse through Torridon and Flowerdale. The bus will drop off members (and…