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…

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…

Sunday 16 October 2016 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…

Sunday, 20 Sep 2015 O.S.Map(s): 33 Est. time of arrival: 09.30 Time of departure: 17.30 Leave Elgin: 07.00 The bus will be leaving Elgin at 7:00, with the normal en-route stops at Forres, Nairn and Inverness and should arrive at Loch Cluanie by 9:30. There are plenty of drop off and pick up points for this area. However, you may wish to take into account that the planned pub stop will be at the Cluanie Inn. We will need to leave Cluanie Inn by 19:00.  This means that the latest pick up time from the north west end of Glen Shiel would be 18:00. There are just so many Munros, Corbetts, Grahams and…

Special welcomes to a new member, Stewart Evans, a returning member, Dave Galloway, and, of course, the LDWA members. This brought the total to 23 members on the bus for the clubs’ first traverse from Dalwhinnie to Laggan. First stop was at the road leading down to Dalwhinnie Station. We were supposed to pick up another member, Debra, at the station for the traverse – but my apologies for missing Debra at Dalwhinnie.  So, John H, Dave G, Pete M, Susan, Maggie, Ailleen, Stewart, David, Tom, Peter G and Joe set off on the traverse. After a short while, Joe had to be reminded to get a move on as…

Sunday, 21st August 2016 O.S.Map(s): 42 Est. time of arrival: 09.00 Time of departure: 17.30 Leave Elgin: 7.00 am This is a ”new” traverse for the club. The bus will leave Elgin at 7:00, with the usual pick-up times of 7:20 at Forres and 8:00 at Inverness. This should allow us to arrive at Dalwhinnie Station at about 9:00. The Bus will then continue round to the Laggan road and park up for the day at one of the laybys at Luiblea. This is the normal parking area for going in to do the Munros of Creag Pitridh and Geal Charn. Options for the day include: 1, A walk straight through, without doing any hills, which…

Please note that the private car meet on Sunday 17th July will be to Bennachie. Please contact Gordon Eccleston before 18:00 on Saturday 16th July if you are interested.

Sunday, 19th June 2016 O.S.Map(s): 43/44 Est. time of arrival: 09.45 Time of departure: 17.30 Leave Elgin: 7.00 am NB: The bus will pick up in Elgin (7.00), Forres (7.20). Members from Inverness wishing to attend this meet should join the bus at one of the above points. The next bus meet is the Glen Shee to Loch Muick traverse. The bus will go as far south as the Glen Shee Ski Centre where people can be dropped off. Additionally, people can be dropped off anywhere along the A93, at Auchallater, Braemar, Invercauld Bridge or Balmoral, or at the Spittal of Glen Muick carpark where the bus will wait for the day (NGR…

]The Bus meet venue this month was to the wonderfully scenic area of Achnashellach and Torridon.  A traverse allows a variety of high and low walking options, but the weather in the end dictated most of the action.  There was also another good turnout of 33 people for this meet despite the gloomy weather predictions of strong winds and constant rain. We also had another joint meet with the LDWA and 6 of their members enjoyed the chance to experience another spectacular part of the Highlands. The first drop off point for the traverse was at Achnashellach Station, where the majority of people started their walk.  This included Andy B,…

Sunday 15th May 2016 O.S.Map(s): 19/20 Est. time of arrival: 09.40 Time of departure: 18.00 Leave Elgin: 07.00 Another popular venue in the Northwest Highlands. The big objective here is An Teallach, comprised of two Munros, Bidean a’ Ghlas Thuill and Sgurr Fiona (and lots of Munro tops). There are several routes of ascent: One directly from Dundonnell and another from Corrie Hallie up to Ghlas Thuill are straightforward; a longer route from Corrie Hallie via Sail Liath offers enjoyable but exposed scrambling. Worthwhile alternatives to An Teallach in the Dundonell area are Sail Mhor, an ascent of Beinn nam Ban (Marilyn) or a low-ish level walk into Shenavall bothy and back. Various hills…