2023 Awards Nominations for President’s Award and Golden Boot

New for 2023, we have introduced the ability to enter a nomination for the President’s Award and Golden Boot all year round. The winners will be announced at the AGM and awards presented at the Christmas Meet. You are welcome to nominate as many times as you wish up until the closing date (date TBC). Every year, the Club presents awards and recognises the achievements of our members. As mountaineers, we know that reaching the summit of a peak is not the only measure of success. We also recognize the importance of community, safety, and stewardship in our sport. That is why we have created this awards section to recognise…

Book Club. The Ascent Of Rum Doodle, W. E. Bowman

The Ascent of Rum Doodle is a satirical novel by W. E. Bowman, first published in 1956. The book is a parody of the classic mountaineering literature of the early 20th century, particularly the works of W. H. Murray and Eric Shipton. The story follows the exploits of the fictitious mountaineer, Binder, as he leads a team of amateur climbers on an expedition to climb the mythical mountain, Rum Doodle. The team encounters a series of hilarious mishaps and obstacles on their journey, including getting lost, battling altitude sickness, and dealing with eccentric team members. The book is known for its comedic and absurd style, and has become a cult…

2022 J. Alister Sword Mountain Photography Competition

This year’s J. Alister Sword Mountain Photography Competition is underway! There are two separate competitions – Scottish and Non-Scottish. The competition is open to members of the Moray Mountaineering Club. Members may submit up to two photos to each category. If a photo contains people please ask their permission before submitting it. Photos submitted to the Scottish competition will be automatically considered for the 2023 MMC calendar. Winners of each competition receive a beautiful trophy made by local sculptor and former MMC President Illona Morrice to keep for the year and engraved with their name. To enter the competition please submit photos, with a caption to moraymountaineeringclub@gmail.com by Wednesday 21st September.  Photos will…

Member’s Achievements 2021

Despite a global pandemic and a lockdown where we couldn’t leave county boundaries, several MMC members still made the most of the year and completed various rounds of the Scottish hills. Congratulations to Sheena Forsyth, Alistair Jeffs, Gavin Scott, and David Treagus for completing (their first round of) the Munros! Big congratulations to Corbitteer, Fiona Duncan for completing the rugged challenge of the Corbetts. Here’s a link to the club’s Hall of Fame. It showcases not only Scottish achievements but adventures and peaks climbed worldwide. For those new to hill bagging, with Walk Highlands you can start your munro map here. For inspiration for hill days, it’s worth having a…

2022 Events

202215 January. Indoor Climbing Meet – Transition Aberdeen16 January. Car Meet – Location to be determined in week leading up to Sunday. 22 January. Night Navigation Training – Cabrach. 4 & 5 (nights of) Feb.  MMC Weekend Meet.  Ballachulish, Alex Macintyre Memorial Hut.  Details to follow 13 Feb. Car Meet – Location to be determined in week leading up to Sunday. 19 & 20 Feb.  Winter Skills, Cairngorms.  Details to follow. 4 & 5 (nights of) March. MMC Weekend Meet.  Strawberry Cottage.  Details to follow.20 March. Car Meet – Location to be determined in week leading up to Sunday.  1 & 2 (nights of) April.  MMC Weekend Meet.  Dundonnell, The Smiddy. Details to follow.24 April. Car Meet –…

22 Jan – Night Navigation Dufftown and Cabrach

There will be a night navigation training event on Sat 22 Jan.  Start at 1pm and finish around 8pm. There will be some theory (and tea and cake) at my house in Dufftown.  This will be followed by some group practice on the Cabrach Moor as it gets dark (and darker).  Bonus is a great night sky out there usually. No previous experience necessary.  No cost.  On the day you will need normal hill gear and map case and compass.  We will supply the map. If you have any questions or wish to attend please let me know by email ajeffs23@yahoo.co.uk Thanks Alistair

85th Annual General Meeting and 90th Anniversary Dinner

Date: Saturday 20 November 2021Time: AGM – 5:30pm for a prompt 6pm start. Dinner – 7:00pm for 7:30pm served.Venue: Sunninghill Hotel, ElginCost: £35.00 for dinner. The AGM is free. “At a meeting of mountain lovers held at Richmond Lodge on 15th November 1931 a club was formed to be known as the Moray Mountaineering Club…” This is the first line from the hand-written minutes of the inaugural meeting of the club, the original of which is in the club’s archives, with a copy available online. On 15 November 2021 the Moray Mountaineering Club will be NINETY YEARS OLD. To celebrate, the committee is organising a dinner at the Sunninghill Hotel in Elgin. The…

Night Navigation, 27 November 2021

Date: Saturday 27 November 2021, from 2pmLocation: Cabrach and DufftownCost: £nil Night Navigation Training session led by Sandy Muray and Alistair Jeffs. Meet at Alistair’s house in Dufftown at 2pm for an hour of so of navigation theory (and may be some tea and cake!), before heading off to the Cabrach before dusk.  Do some night-navigation practice on the moor, aiming to finish around 8pm. The event is open to all Club Members.  A map of the area will be supplied. Contact Alistair Jeffs to book your place and/or if you have any questions. 

Geology Walk, Cairngorms, 25 July 2021

What: Geology focused walk in the CairngormsWhen: 25 July 2021. Time TBCWhere: Northern Corries, CairngormsCost: £nil The Club is organising a Geology Walk around the Plateau above the Northern Corries. It will be a full day and be about 18km round. It will be led by the Club’s very own “amateur geologist”, Alistair Jeffs. Make your own transport arrangements. Contact Alistair Jeffs if you wish to attend. Full details will be sent to attendees nearer the time.

Climbing Workshop, 22 & 23 May 2021

What: Climbing WorkshopWhen: 22 and 23 May 2021. Time TBCWhere: Kingussie (venue TBC)Cost: £15 per person per day Climbing Workshop led by Ben Gibson from Mountaineering Scotland. This will be a great opportunity to get into climbing, practice safe techniques, learn new skills and techniques. It will be tailored to participants needs, experience and skill levels. You can be an absolute beginner, intermediate or advanced. As far as possible, people with similar skill levels and aspirations will be kept together together. All equipment can be provided, or you can bring your own (The club also has some equipment that members may borrow). Places are limited to 4 participants per day.…