Milehouse Cottage is located just round the corner from Loch Insh watersports centre and is owned by the Ladies Scottish Climbing Club.
Friday 6th February
Justin Cullen, Barry Steele, Evelyn Droege and Annika Acheson walked up Glenmore to Ryvoan Bothy and returned via Loch Morlich, where they spotted signs of recent beaver activity. Tim Spencer went up Meall a’ Bhuachaille via Ryvoan Bothy and described conditions as “pleasant enough walking in the same direction as the wind”.
Saturday 7th February
Evelyn Droege, Justin Cullen and Barry Steele did a circular walk from the hut, taking in Feshie Bridge, the Uath Lochans and Loch Insh. “Through woodlands along Glenfeshie, where we came across four highland cows. Up a small hill with great views over the Uath lochans and the snow covered Feshie hills in the distance…then back along Loch Insh to the hut.”
Tim Spencer, Annika Acheson, Helen Moore, Damian Cockerill set off for Carn Ban More and Sgor Gaoith from Auchlean. Conditions were described as “Snow, wind and a wee smidgeon of whiteout… slightly interesting navigation”. They found a snow hole somewhere near the highpoint of the ascent path that was big enough for them all to get in and have lunch. Tim and Damian reached Carn Ban Mor and continued to Sgor Gaoith, and descended via Meall Buidhe and Meal Tionail.
The President (Sheena Forsyth) and her entourage (Bob MacDonald, Phil Coppin and Daniel Moysey) went skiing in the gullies of the Allt Fheanagan in Glenfeshie. “It was a fair slog up from Auchlean, until far beyond the tree line.” They skinned up / skied down the central gully a few times on nice snow (apart from near the bottom where it was suddenly like skiing through treacle) and in good visibility (keeping just below the clag level).
David Treagus has spent the last few years brewing beer and neglecting his Corbett list. So this weekend was all about adding some ticks and reducing beer supplies. With this in mind he went up Leathad an Taobhain and Carn Dearg Mor, two Corbetts at the head of Glenfeshie. “Fantastic cycle from Auchlean. Last time I was down there was 2012. Nice to see the rewilding of the glen.” Just as well that the cycle in was good because the rest of his day is described as whiteout. Finished off the day with a beer.
Sunday 8th February
The weather forecast for the hills was poor, but at low-level it turned out fine. Helen, Bob and Annika repeated Evelyn’s Saturday circular walk. Dan and Sheena did a circular cycle route from the hut taking in the Uath lochans and Glen Feshie. “We planned to take in Loch an Eilein, but after leaping a burn, thrashing through bushes and riding through tussocks we finally gave up at the prospect of a wading waist-deep through a swamp.” The paths shown on the OS map from Glenfeshie landing strip to Loch an Eilein are a myth! And finally, Barry took his grandson to the football.
Milehouse Cottage was a new venue for me, and probably for the MMC, at least in recent times. It’s a nice hut in a good location, so I’m sure we will be back in the not-to-distant-future.