Date: 7th/8th November 2015 Venue: Inchnadamph Lodge Location: Inchnadamph Lodge is located in the heart of Assynt – a spectacular parish of mountains, lochs & beaches. The hamlet of Inchnadamph is just 25 miles north of the fishing village of Ullapool, 12 miles east of Lochinver and at the head of Loch Assynt. Facilities: The Lodge is well equipped and offers a great range of facilities. The kitchen was refurbished in 2008 with new stainless steel work benches and sinks, new cookers and larger fridges. The dining room has seating for up to 45 guests, and new armchairs in the comfy lounge. There are two iMacs with full broadband internet access in the lounge. The…

Inverardran Cottage, Crianlarich Date: 3rd/4th October 2015 Venue: Inverardran Cottage, Crianlarich Location: Inverardran Cottage is the whitewashed building situated at the east end of Crianlarich, next to the Ben More restaurant. (OS sheet 50, Grid Ref 392250) on the North side of the A85. The cottage has its own extensive parking area behind the building. Facilities: The Cottage can accommodate 18 people in two dormitories (10 & 8). There are separate male and female toilets, both with a shower. There is also a small drying facility for wet gear. Over the past three years, the cottage has been extensively upgraded to make it perhaps the best-appointed mountaineering club hut in Scotland. WiFi Internet…

The weekend weather forecast showed a large area of high pressure centred over the north Atlantic, but unfortunately Skye was on its eastern edge and would be subject to low cloud, mist and drizzle.  Clag definitely makes for “sub-optimal” conditions for scrambling about on the finest range of hills in Scotland…the legendary Black Cuillin.  However, if you waited for a perfect forecast, you would never go to Skye.  As if by magic, Saturday dawned bright and sunny.  Last night’s drinking debris was cleared away, breakfast was dispensed and gear was sorted.  Then the glens resounded to the stomp of MMC boots heading for the hills. Ray H, Karen F and Malcolm…

A disappointing turnout for the first night of the meet. Car problems, illness, lost wallets and other commitments meant that only four people managed to arrive on the Friday night. However plans were hatched and the weekend saw a variety of activities fit for recording in the ‘book of climbs’. On a bright a breezy morning Captain Brookes set off with Cabin Boy Bob M and First Mate Fiona C to cruise the bountiful waters of Loch Gairloch( an Geàrr Loch) .  This translates as ‘the short loch’ and a quick look at the charts show that at around 6 miles (9.7 km) long by 1.5 miles (2.4 km) wide it certainly is.…

Date: 5th/6th September 2015 Venue: Glenbrittle Hut, Glenbrittle, Skye The Glenbrittle hut is ideally situated for access to the Cuillin Ridge. Literally walk out the door for access to the hills from Sgurr na Banachdich to Sgurr nan Eag. Location: On road approaching from Carbost, about 300 yards short of Glenbrittle House, Glenbrittle (Grid ref: NG412216) Facilities: The hut has recently been refurbished for its 50th anniversary. 18 bunks (sleeping bags required), All electric; all utensils; large drying room; showers; WCs Cost: £10.00 per person per night (usual £5 pppn camper’s charge applies) Nearby Hills: Sgurr nan Gillean, Am Bastier, Bruach na Frithe, Sgurr Mhadaidh, Sgurr Ghreadaidh, Sgurr na Banachdich, Sgurr Dearg (& In Pinn), Sgurr…

Around the highest mountain on this island is the land of Lochaber, containing many high peaks, steep cliffs, raging torrents and wild coastlines. It is justifiably popular, but popular it is. Slightly to the west lie lands that may not be as high, but in some ways excel in their beauty. Across the Corran Narrows, down by Loch Sunart and tucked behind the village of Strontian lies Ariundle. Surrounded by hills, forests and the mines that put the village of Strontian on the Periodic Table, it is a very fine place and is hidden away from the main tourist traps. It is here that the Moray Mountaineering Club went for…

Date: 1st/2nd August 2015 Venue: Kinlochewe Bunkhouse, Kinlochewe Location: Adjoining the Kinlochewe Hotel, Kinlochewe Facilities: Twelve-bed bunkhouse. The bunks are all within a single bunkroom, where covered memory foam mattresses, individual lockers, pillows and pillow cases are provided. You are required to bring your own sleeping bag and towels. If you wish to use the lockers you will also need a padlock. The bathroom area has showers, washbasins and toilets and the drying room contains a very effective dehumidifier to dry any wet clothes. The fully equipped kitchen with large range cooker has everything your need to prepare meals for yourself…  if you prefer not to cook you can eat in the bar next…

Sitting upon a grassy hilltop, beer in hand, watching the sun set behind Suilven. Where else could one possibly want to be? So began the weekend for a handful of people who walked up Cnoc Breac, the wee hill behind the lovely hut in Elphin belonging to Grampian Speleological Group. The forecast for the weekend wasn’t ideal for the tops but Friday night was gorgeous and too good to miss. The grass, grazed short by sheep and underlaid by porous limestone gave an unusually pleasant surface on which to walk. No thigh high heather and knee deep bog here, more like a walk in the park surrounded by some of…

The venue was about as far as you can get from Moray without falling off the edge of the world and the weather forecast just about stopped short of mentioning plagues of locusts. The lambing snows had fallen heavy on the hills and was lingering, promising deep wet slush for when the temperature rose for the Bank Holiday weekend. It wasn’t looking good. So imagine the surprise when a total of 27 people turned up to this year’s May Day Island weekend on Arran. Saturday and Sunday weren’t the best weather-wise but luckily Friday and Monday were lovely. Two people who managed to get to Arran early were John and…

Date: 4th/5th July 2015 Venue: Ariundle Bunkhouse Location: Facilities: There are two bunk bed rooms upstairs each with their own private facilities. Linen is supplied with the exception of towels. Breakfast can be provided in the tea room or kitchen facilities are available in the Bunkhouse. The bar in the restaurant is always available for accommodation users regardless of table bookings. Cost: £18 pppn Nearby hills: No Munros but plenty of quality Corbetts, Grahams and Marilyns in Ardgour, Sunart, Moidart, Morvern and Ardnamuchan. If you are desperate for a Munro tick, you could drive the short distance to Lochaline and take the ferry across to Mull to ascend Ben More. Nearby Corbetts include…