February’s meet was based at Corran Bunkhouse. Right in the middle of the mountains, ridges and cliffs of Lochaber and Glen Coe and on the doorstep of Ardgour. With a lifetime’s worth of walking and climbing within easy reach of the bunkhouse a group of Moray Mountaineers did the obvious thing. They went to Mull. Andy L, David W, Donnie and Malcolm take up the story:

“The plan was hatched over a couple of drinks on the Friday evening ‘Let’s go to Mull and climb Ben More taking a circular route up the A’Chioch ridge, over the top and down by the Tourist Route’. It meant catching the first Corran ferry and getting to Lochaline in time to get the first ferry of the day to Mull! Remarkably they did it and set off on a calm misty morning in good heart and time to spare before the last ferry back. Unfortunately, at about 700m the 25 -30mph wind became a howling gale and discretion got the better part of valour and the team backtracked down about 200m to contour round to the “Tourist Path”.

Actually, that plan worked, though the final climb to the summit sapped Malcolm’s energy. The clouds parted at the summit, pictures were taken, then a rapid descent back to the car.

Despite the two hour commute each way from Corran, this group was one of the first back – perhaps because of the pressure of meeting the last ferry “encouraged” a fast trot!

An excellent day with a stunning sunset to enjoy.” Recently completed Munroist Penny The Wonder Dog, unsatisfied at her achievements so far and intent on bagging more lists of hills, dragged poor Graeme up yet another hill. Penny’s faithful friend was seen trotting after her as she strode purposefully up Tom Meadhoin and Beinn Na Gulaig to bag these two hills which will henceforth be known as “Grahams” in honour of Penny’s long-suffering companion, and testament to the spelling skills of dogs. The walk passed some waterfalls, a bit of history in the shape of Wade’s road that once linked An Gearasdan to the south, then some bush-whacking through the forest before the ridge was gained and soft snow made the going difficult. Clear weather made for stunning views of Ben Nevis and the Mamores and a grand day out.

Speaking of the Mamores, this was the destination chosen by Dan, Jenny and David T: “We headed up Na Gruagaichean from Allt Coire Na Ba. Having done a lot of summer hill walking, this was David’s first day in the hills in winter. He had borrowed a dodgy pair of crampons… which worked to an extent, but proved troublesome.”

Perhaps a useful lesson there for us all – dodgy kit from a dodgy person could prove to be a very dangerous thing. And these crampons were certainly from a dodgy source but for now I will do the honour of protecting his / her anonymity… on with the story…

“A day better than the forecast suggested. Lovely soft hazy light and views way off into the distance for miles around. Crampons on and off all day. Walked out and back to Binnein Mor then eastwards down the gentlest slopes we could find. Dan and David bum-slid down a steep slope. Jenny got halfway down and got too scared of the steepness and firmness of the snow so kicked steps all the way down to Dan and David. Back on the landrover track we sat on a granite seat and savoured the stunning ever-changing sunset in front of us across Loch Leven.”

It was not only the Mull Brigade who started their morning on the Corran Ferry. A total of ten others headed in the same direction, in four different groups. Sue, Joe and Sheila opted for a walk through the woods of Ardgour House and up Glen Gour. Early riser Sue was already in Ardgour before Joe and Sheila had got out of their beds. Sue found the going difficult in places due to the ice and snow but was rewarded with wildlife and interesting geology. The return journey proved easier due to the higher temperatures melting the snow and ice. The other two wandered up the glen, meeting Sue near an old ruined house by the name of Tigh na Gabhar and enjoying a game of curling on Loch na Gabhar which Sheila won. The wander back through the woods was pleasant, with much greenery for the time of year, and many strange species of trees and rhodedendrons that the estate must have planted many years ago in its days of grandeur.

Graeme G and Maggie, after a lie in and wholesome cooked breakfast caught the same ferry as Joe and Sheila and cycled up Cona Glen, taking the left fork up by the River Scaddle with Sol bounding behind.

Another group consisting of Alan, Jake, Fiona, Ella and Drummond climbed Beinne na Cille, Fuarr Bheinn and Creach Bheinn with good snow conditions and gradually improving weather as the day progressed. Unsurprisingly, given the constituents of the group (two Beatties, Ella is keen to point out, not three, and one Jake who is more accustomed to spending his mornings in a goonie with a pot of coffee than in the ridiculous pursuit of early summits), darkness fell while they were still high on the ridge. But not to worry, the sunset was worth it! Sunday dawned not quite as bright as Saturday and people went their separate ways. The Saturday Mamore Trio went skiing on Aonach Mor and the Glen Gour Trio took a walk up Glen Roy, where the snowfall and subsequent melt picked out the “parallel roads” beautifully These long flat terraces that occur at distinct intervals on the sides of the glen have a variety of theories as to how they came about. The best one so far is that they were created by the Celtic giant Fingal who drove along the sides of the glen in his chariot while hunting, leaving his trace for evermore. Moray man Sir Thomas Dick Lauder and his acquaintance Charles Darwin weren’t quite so sure about this explanation however, but the latter was quoted as saying “It is far the most remarkable area I ever examined… I can assure you Glen Roy has astonished me.”

Next month we will graduate from the wild and west Lochaber to the wilder and wester Knoydart. Up through Ardgour and Moidart, through na Garbh Chriochan, or the Rough Bounds and to the village of Inverie, the “mainland island” which has more in common with its neighbours of Rum, Eigg and Canna than with other coastal villages that dot the west coast of Scotland. Living the dream.

Author: Joe Photos: Andy, David T, Dave W, Dan