The Moray Mountaineering Club’s Hogmanay meet was held at Carn Dearg Mountaineering Club’s Breadownie Hut in Glen Clova. The hut was opened in 2016, after ten years of planning, fundraising and hard-graft. It certainly ticks all the relevant boxes for facilities, space and location. The only downside is that it takes hours and hours and hours to get there.
The meet was spread over three days, with most folk arriving on Tuesday 31 December. Tuesday was a glorious warm sunny day and various parties made the most of the weather. Alan and Fiona Duncan called in at Strath Isla and climbed Monamenach. Evelyne walked from Glen Clova Hotel to Loch Brandy and then continued up to Green Hill. Back at the car park she met Sheena and Daniel , who were just setting off to catch the last rays of sun light at Loch Brandy.
Julie completed a triathlon: cycle up the track from Spittal of Glenshee; walk to Loch Nan Eun; go for a swim. She then carried on up to the summit of Glas Tulaichan before descending back to her bike, to find that the gears were now frozen. Fortunately, it was downhill to the car.
L to R: Andy, Alan, Evelyne, Fiona, Carol, Dianne, Sheena
There was a lovely three-course communal meal on Hogmanay, including chicken curry, steak pie (thanks to the absent Heavy) and cheese, all washed down with a few drinks. Braedownie is a long way from any street lights, there was no moon and the sky was clear, all of which made for some great stargazing. Julie ably assisted with identification of the various star constellations, whilst Dan relied on technology to locate the Triangulum Galaxy.
The forecast for Wednesday 1st January 2020 was not great, but not quite bad enough to keep folk in their beds. Dianne, Alan, Debbie, Sheena and Daniel all ascended Mayar and Driesh via Corrie Fee. “Left the club house and walked up Corrie Fee, beautiful walk through the trees and up to the waterfall. Once over the top we headed for the 1st munro, Mayar. It was quite windy and we were in cloud when we got to Mayar but just went off the top to find shelter and have lunch. The sun suddenly came out and so we ran back to the top and found Debbie had carried on [we thought she had turned back with Evelyne]. As we walked from Mayar to Driesh the cloud kept lifting which gave us the views. When we got to the Black Skellies the wind was strong and gusty and Driesh was in cloud, but nonetheless we decided to proceed. It was decided to descend via The Scorrie. A path was expected, but none appeared. It was a very steep descent which I would not recommend and the better option would have been to return back to Shank of Drumfollow and go down the path. Good day out especially as the wind wasn’t as bad as expected and we got some amazing views, including a Brocken Spectre.”
Corrie Fee. Dianne, Alan, Daniel, Sheena, Debbie and Evelyne (L to R)
Evelyne and Fiona set off with the preceding party (see above) to walk into Corrie Fee. “Beautiful walk through the woods which then opened up to the amphitheater of Corrie Fee.” They ascended to the rim of the corrie, but turned back to avoid the wind.
Andy had “a gentle stroll up the Kilbo Path, with thoughts of Driesh and Mayar. But the wind got up to “difficult” and clag disguised the tops, so I turned back.”
Carol arrived on the evening of the 1st and declared that she had signed up to “dry January” shortly before tucking into a glass of mulled wine and perusing the weather forecast for Thursday – pissing with rain. Nonetheless, she was up early and set off for Driesh and Mayar. Carol records in the BRB: “So I decided to tackle it anyway on the 2nd Jan, despite the windy forecast. I went up Corrie Fee and was amazed at the amphitheater of beauty as I came out of the forest. The clag set in towards the top of the corrie and didn’t leave. Minimal faff or hanging around on Mayar and a ten minute lunch stop in the shelter of the cairn on Driesh before heading down the Shank of Drumfollow. The 50-70mph forecast was correct, making for difficult walking conditions, but the cobwebs were well and truly swept away.”
Dianne had a plan that included Green Hill and the Goet. “Steep climb up to Loch Brandy and that’s when the gusts of wind hit, but decided to carry on up the Broom Shank to the top of Green Hill. …As I made my way over to White Hill the wind was too strong so decided to turn back. Very frustrated and disappointed as the climb was done, but felt better to be safe than sorry.”
Andy had another gentle stroll up to the edge of the forest at Corrie Fee.
Evelyne, Sheena and Daniel walked up Jock’s Road to Davey’s Bourach, which is marked as a “shelter” on the OS map. Jock’s Road passes through lovely woods before reaching open terrain with great views of the glen surrounded by crags and steep slopes. The weather was dry(ish) most of the way to the Bourach, but there was a strong gusty wind. Davey’s Bourach was re-roofed in summer 2019 and now also includes a basic sleeping platform. It provided a good spot for elevenses. Evelyne turned back at this point, whilst Sheena and Dan continued northeast to Bachnagairn. By now it was pretty wet and windy and the walk back to the hut turned into a bit of a trudge.
Alan and Fiona also walked up Jock’s Road towards Davey’s Bourach, but retreated from just short of this to escape the gusty wind.
Alan’s new favourite drink
Fiona plays a lullaby
The forecast for 3rd January was better: colder and still windy, but with little precipitation. Dianne and Carol successfully ascended Mount Keen from Glen Esk. Dan and Sheena ascended Creag Leacach and Glas Maol from the Devil’s Elbow on the Glenshee road. Mount Keen was clearly visible from these summits, but alas, even with binoculars, it was not possible to make out the summiteers. Alan and Fiona went to the Moulin Pub in Pitlochry, and claim to have also ascended Ben Vrackie (before or after tea and cakes?).