Thirty MMC members and guests, including a healthy contingent from the Long Distance Walkers Association, boarded the bus for the somewhat twisty journey to the Linn of Dee.  At Cock Bridge, Joe Glennie decided he’d had enough – so we left him by the side of the road…more of that story later. Next off was Graeme Bartlett, who we dropped off just before Invercauld Bridge.  From there, he traversed through to the Glen More Hayfield via Ben Avon, Beinn a Bhuird North Top and Faindouran Bothy.  It sounds a long way, and it is, but so is the length of Graeme’s stride. Everyone else disembarked at Linn of Dee and…

In excess of 30 MMC members and guests from the LDWA attended this meet, for which the weather was just about perfect – bright, dry and not too hot, with snow on the summits. With only a couple of exceptions everyone followed one of two routes, either through to Morvich or the slightly shorter, but rougher walk to the Cluanie Inn. John Henderson with seven LDWA members, plus Drummond and Ella, Babs, Graham Milton, Graham Bartlett, David Brown and Bill Lindsay walked through to Morvich. Just over 20 miles in 8 hours and 15 minutes. The others, Simon, Lianne, Russell Mounce, Ray, Barbara, Maggie , Katrina, and Aileen took the…

Sunday 21st May 2017 Lairig Ghru Traverse O.S.Map(s): 36 Bus Stop: Glen Affric car park Est. time of arrival: 9.30/9.45am Time of departure: 5.45/6.00pm Leave Elgin: 7.00am We will be tackling the Lairig Ghru from the Linn of Dee to Aviemore. The pick up points will be Elgin (7:00), Forres (7:20) and Grantown on Spey (8:00). The bus should arrive at the Linn of Dee car park around 9.45am. The walk (21 miles) will take around 8 – 9 hrs depending on rest stops along the way.  We will exit the Lairig Ghru at Coylumbridge and then make our way down to Aviemore. Some members may wish to take in a hill or two and so…

Sunday 16th April 2017 Glen Affric – Morvich traverse O.S.Map(s): 33 (and 25) Bus Stop: Glen Affric car park Est. time of arrival: 9.30/9.45am Time of departure: 5.45/6.00pm Leave Elgin: 7.00am This traverse is part of the Affric Kintail Way The bus will be drop of us at the car park in Glen Affric and then makes its way round to Morvich.  On the homeward journey, there will be a refreshment stop at the Cluanie Inn. The likely walks include: Traverse from Glen Affric to Alltbeithe Youth hostel to Morvich Traverse from Glen Affric to Alltbeithe Youth hostel to Cluanie Inn The traverse to the Cluanie Inn could be combined with a hill…

A total of 18 Members and two guests joined the bus at Elgin and Forres leaving the Moray Firth in good weather and high spirits. However, as the bus approached the first drop off at Torr Breac about 3 Km north of Garve, cloud had descended and was being whipped past the hills by a strengthening wind. The bus windscreen wipers going at full chat was another indication the day might not go to plan. Not at all daunted, Graeme Bartlett left the bus to tackle Little Wyvis and its big brother. The next stop was at Loch Droma where 3 “seniors” (Ray Harron, Ray Newell and Dave Galloway) left…

Sunday 19th March 2017 O.S.Map(s): 19, 20 Bus Stop: Loch a’Bhraoin (NH162760) Est. time of arrival: 9.15am Time of departure: 6.00pm Leave Elgin: 7.00am The Fannichs lie between Loch Fannich and the A835 Garve to Ullapool road. With Munros, Corbetts and Grahams in the area there should be plenty of choice for all abilities. There is even the Corrieshalloch Gorge, with the Falls of Measach. The bus will be parked at Loch a’ Bhraoin for the day and drops can be made along the way as usual.  On the homeward journey, there will be a refreshment stop at the Inchbae Lodge Inn. The likely walks include: from Loch a’Bhraoin  Beinn Bheag and Groban…

The first bus meet of the year was to a local destination and the only one of the year to have a formal mountain skills session.  Experienced club members Ray Harron and David “Heavy” Whalley kindly gave their time to pass on their skills to fellow club members.  Luckily, there was sufficient snow for winter skills to be taught and learned.  This has been a particularly lean winter so far for snow lovers. First off the bus in Aviemore, was John and Bob.  They walked to Loch an Eilean, then past the northern reaches of the Lairig Ghru and Loch Morlich to Glenmore for a coffee and cake stop before…

  Sunday 19 February 2017 Departs Elgin: 07.00 Pick-ups in Forres, Nairn and Inverness Estimated time of arrival at the ski centre main car park: 09.30 Time of departure: 16.30 Hopefully there will be plenty of snow about, and this will be an opportunity for you to practice your winter skills in the company of some of the more experienced members of the Club (Ray and Heavy). A number of topics will be covered including the use of ice axe and crampons. If you would like to take advantage of this sharing of knowledge and experience, then please mention this when you book the bus. It is best if you bring your…

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…

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…