John Henderson’s 700th Marilyn – Beinn Reidh
Our journey to Assynt took a wee bitty longer than usual due to road conditions, with snow lying on untreated roads. Sunshine, calm, wind, warmth, cold and the obligatory snow – we got the lot.
According to the diary, Rob Murray was first off the bus at Inverlael, heading north over ‘the hill’ – I can only assume this was over spot height 665. He must then have headed for the ford at East Rhidorroch Lodge, following the track beside Rhidorroch River and making his way passed Loch Achall, before hitting the road just north of Ullapool.
George Herraghty escaped from the bus at Drumrunie and legged it over Beinn an Eoin, eventually being recaptured at the Ferryman in Ullapool.
Making a bolt for the door (before opening it) were Heavy Whalley, Brent Craig, Drummond Beattie and Bob Vincent, who set off for the dizzying heights of Canisp from the head of Loch Awe. Their route back took them via Lochan Fada to the Elphin Hut for tea & tiffin.
Head of the escape committee was John Henderson, along with Andy Lawson and Bob Weeks. They broke out at Inchnadamph and headed for John’s “Norma Jean”, Beinn Reidh. A long slow approach was taken before rounding the top and then tumbling down to the River Loanan. There followed a rather damp river crossing to finish their day.
The Chain Gang, comprising Dave Whitelock, Greg Muir, Illona Morrice, Jenny Smith, Andy Brooks, Maggie Duncan, Ros Wright, Kath Taylor, Jake Williams and June Simpson, tunnelled their way out at Inchnadamph and headed for the open country. Stopping for lunch at Loch Fleodach Coire they sat in the snow, bathed in glorious sunshine. Striking on up to the bealach they turned west and up the nose of Glas Bheinn, to be greeted by wintry weather. Taking time for a spot of navigation along the northwest ridge, they then dropped down to the bus at Quinag car park.
Our last bunch of escapees, Graeme Bartlett, Roger Boston, Bill Lindsey, Graham Milton, Craig Coull, Ray Harron, Natacha Mihajlovic, Fiona Cuninghame and Bob MacDonald, clambered up Quinag. They managed to take in Spidean Coinich and Sail Gharbh before reversing back to the Bealach a Chornaidh, down to the Lochan and back to the bus.
All prisoners were eventually rounded up and detained at Her Majesty’s Pleasure, the Ferryman’s Pub in Ullapool, from where they were all eventually deported.
No human rights were considered in the reporting of this bus meet.
David Whitelock