Inchnadamph and November go hand in hand, like whisky and cake, or beer and crisps. The indescribably beautiful part of Scotland that is Assynt, glorious in the sunshine and perhaps a tad more gorgeous when dark and brooding, when clouds sweep off the Atlantic to batter each of the oh so distinctive hills and cling to their craggy forms. In November there is a good chance of “changeable” weather, and an equally good chance of not being attacked by the billions of midgies that inhabit this wet and wild land. The previous two November Inchnadamph meets had coincided with bonfire night so fireworks had been taken to celebrate. Last year…

Date: 7th/8th February 2015 Venue: Corran Bunkhouse, Corran Location: The Corran Bunkhouse is located 8 miles South of Fort William on the A82 trunk road. Turn off left onto the A861 down the slip road to the Corran/Ardgour ferry. The Bunkhouse is on the left. Facilities: This four star bunkhouse accommodation consists of en-suite rooms sleeping two, three or four. There is a fully-equipped kitchen with dining area (this is the communal area, no separate lounge). Nearby Hills: Too many to list. Glen Nevis range, Mamores and Glen Coe hills all just a short drive away. Ardgour is only five minutes away via the Corran/Ardgour ferry (which is free for…

Climbing the Munros, ticking off those summits that make it into the hallowed Tables, is a very popular pastime, especially with members of the Moray Mountaineering Club. Having a weekend meet largely focused around the completion of the list is not unheard of. But this was different. This was Penny The Wonder Dog’s Munro Completion Party. It also happened to be the completion of Graeme Morrison’s third round but he was under no illusions about who the star of the show was. A third Munro Round may be a laudable achievement but Graeme, much like Tintin, Shaggy and Charlie Brown, was destined to play second fiddle to the canine antics…

Kintail Outdoor Centre Date: 6th/7th December 2014 Venue: Kintail Outdoor Centre Location: Kintail Outdoor Centre is situated on the banks of the River Croe between the Fives Sisters Ridge and Ben Attow. (Grid ref: NG967211) Facilities: Kintail Outdoor Centre offers excellent bunkhouse accommodation. The centre comprises of two wings both sleeping ten people. Facilities include a fully equipped kitchen, common room/dining room, drying room and laundry facilities. Cost: TBC Nearby Hills: (Munros) Beinn Fhada, A’Ghlas-bheinn, Sgurr nan Ceathramhnan, Sgurr Fhuaran, Sgurr na Carnach, Sgurr na Ciste Duibhe, The Saddle, Sgurr na Sgine, etc. (Corbetts) Sgurr an Airgid, Sgurr Gaorsaic, Sgurr Mhic Bharraich, Sgurr a’Bhac Chaolais (Grahams) Carnan Cruithneachd, Carn na Breabaig. Please contact Joe Glennie to book a place on this meet.

The Gowk. He lay, drifting in and out of consciousness, at the foot of the cliff. Blood was spurting out of the gash in his wrist and congealing in a dark sticky pool all around him. He was starting to feel a chill and the darkness was closing in. It was only now that he regretted trying to steal the eggs. Earlier, Alan, Graeme, Drummond, Donnie, FionaD, Sheena, Dan and Penny TWD had set out for Bruach na Frithe and Am Bastier. Sheena and Fiona accompanied the party as far as the first slopes. Sheena (wisely) had no intention of spending the day fumbling about in the mist and bailed…

Date: 1st/2nd November 2014 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.…

Inverardran Cottage, Crianlarich Date: 11th/12th October 2014 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…

Applecross, the intriguing little peninsula with no Munros and not an awful lot of hillwalking either. But what it may lack in these areas it more than makes up for in just about every other way one could think of. The Cioch Nose is an amazing piece of rock, beautiful to look at but better to climb. The climb is described in the great classic of climbing literature, “Classic Rock”, as “a route up the almost vertical nose of A’Chioch, where, by the normal laws of Torridonian Sandstone, none should exist, unless of great difficulty.” It boasts superb climbing with spectacularly steep surroundings. If mind-numbing exposure’s not your thing then…

Date: 6th/7th September 2014 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: 18 bunks (sleeping bags required), All electric; all utensils; large drying room; showers; WCs Cost: £7.00 per person per night Nearby Hills: Sgurr nan Gillean, Am Bastier, Bruach na Frithe, Sgurr Mhadaidh, Sgurr Ghreadaidh, Sgurr na Banachdich, Sgurr Dearg (& In Pinn), Sgurr Mhic Choinnich, Sgurr Alasdair, Sgurr Dubh Mor and Sgurr nan Eag or all of these…

“Don’t kill!” “Aye, that’s one, and I’m sure there’s something about coveting asses…” Saturday night conversation in Strawberry Cottage had turned to matters theological, and the assembled group was trying to remember what the Ten Commandments were. Given that the group was out of reach of not only the required literature but also the ubiquitous internet, this conundrum took a surprisingly long time. Tucked away in this lovely remote spot, even the owners of smart phones were unable to turn to the guru that is google and the eventual score was 8/10. As the various club members struggled to either recall or guess the other two a decision was made…