A total of 18 Members and two guests joined the bus at Elgin and Forres leaving the Moray Firth in good weather and high spirits.

However, as the bus approached the first drop off at Torr Breac about 3 Km north of Garve, cloud had descended and was being whipped past the hills by a strengthening wind. The bus windscreen wipers going at full chat was another indication the day might not go to plan. Not at all daunted, Graeme Bartlett left the bus to tackle Little Wyvis and its big brother.

The next stop was at Loch Droma where 3 “seniors” (Ray Harron, Ray Newell and Dave Galloway) left to head up to the Fannich Ridge by Meall á Chrasgaidhand then down to where the bus would be parked at Loch á Bhraoin. Stewart Evans set off from Corrieshalloch Gorge to climb Beinn Enaiglair (889m)

It needs to be recorded that all these early departees successfully completed their planned routes, though our senior Fannich baggers reported being blown over as they crested the ridge. Sadly, the remaining 15 failed on all counts to achieve theirs!!

Graham Milton and Bill Lindsay had planned to climb Creag Rainich, a number of others thought the Grahams (Groban and Beinn Bheag) would make for a pleasant walk while the remainder planned to walk up the glen to Loch an Nid.

All 15 left the bus at Loch á Bhraoin in good spirits and set off south west along a good lochside track towards Lochivraon Bothy some 6 km distant where they enjoyed a ”Hobbit” second breakfast or early lunch while they took stock. Graham and Bill looked at the clouds sweeping past obscuring the hill and decided an extended bothy-stop or low-level walk was called for. The other 13 set off with good intentions, however, when it became clear that climbing the Grahams would mean crossing a river that was flowing like the Findhorn after a wet weekend, they joined the party walking up the glen. However, after a couple more kilometres crossing streams and bog trotting, all decided to leave the Loch for a better day. Of course, as soon as the decision was made to return to the bus, the sun came out!

So all arrived back at the bus by 15:30 leaving time for an unscheduled stop at Corrieshalloch Gorge which was pretty spectacular thanks to the rain-swollen river. The final stop was at Inchbae Lodge Hotel, now under new management and much improved from previous experience. We were made to feel very welcome and spent a pleasant hour there before heading back to Forres and Elgin.