The March Weekend Meet was to “the far side” of the Cairngorms. An excellent venue that promises excellent walking, mountain biking and skiing at this time of year, and despite some mixed weather, didn’t disappoint.

On Saturday, after much discussion about plans A, B and C, Dan and Sheena “undertook a circular walk from Muir Cottage via Glen Quoich, Clais Fhearnaig and Glen Lui. The first surprise was seeing a pair of Sea Eagles fly up from the banks of the River Dee. They were initially quite close, but circled rapidly skywards and disappeared into the mist. These birds are now quite a familiar sight on the west coast, but this is the first time we’ve seen then in the east. The estate bridge below Linn of Quoich is now re-built, albeit a few hundred metres upstream, and the track up the right bank of Glen Quoich, which was washed away several years ago, has now been re-routed at a higher level. “Fortunately”, it is possible to by-pass the excellent new track by bashing through bog, heather and boulders along the line of the old route. We left the shelter of the trees and entered Clais Fhearnaig, a melt water channel formed during the last ice age, which provided a convenient low-level link from Glen Quoich to Glen Lui. A few miles later and we were back at Muir Cottage in time for afternoon tea.”

On a beautiful sunny winter’s Friday, Evelyne walked along the Lochnagar path to the col where she turned right up the hill to the top of Conacraig. The views were amazing of the snow covered Cairngorms. On the way up she bumped into three guys pulling sledges behind them planning to stay in a bothy overnight.

On Saturday the weather was drizzly and windy so Susan and Evelyne set off for a walk along Glen Quoich. It was lovely to walk among the Scots Pine. And the following day Evelyne walked the circular trail around the Morone Birkwood in Braemar in beautiful sunshine and great views before heading home.

Adrian had his new electric bike and took it out for a spin on both days testing its range and capabilities. Sadly minus Millie, the dog, who was at home recuperating from an operation.

Susan “had a great plod up Glen Quoich. Still a bit of snow on the track. Had the entire glen to ourselves until, on the way back, we met a large primary school party with parents and teachers. A bit of track next to river which got washed away in heavy floods in Storm Frank a few years ago. It hasn’t been repaired but you can get round okay on the landrover track which has been improved. It was great to see a lot of baby Scots pines really thriving due to heavy deer culling, but didn’t see much wildlife, only a solitary buzzard. The road bridge at the bottom of the glen which got washed away in the floods has been rebuilt and looks a lot sturdier!! We managed to stay dry, although it seemed to be raining all around us!!

Alan and Fiona “drove across to Ballater on Friday afternoon and climbed through the native woodlands to the summit of the Marilyn “ Craigendarroch Hill”. A fine and scenic hill with great views to Lochnagar. As you would expect we followed this with coffee and cake in Ballater.

Saturday – Cycled from Muir Cottage to Linn of Dee, Derry Lodge and 2km up Glen Derry. Started to climb towards the clag and Beinn Bhreac. We began to toil in the soft snow and as the wind was also picking up we made a hasty retreat to the bikes and an excellent cycle back to the hut.

Sunday – A much better day. Drove to Loch Muick and climbed the Corbett “Conachcraig”. Great views from the summit to the cliffs of Lochnagar. Mostly sunny with the occasional rain and snow shower. Bit breezy on top.

Joe, with strange premonitions of imminent lockdown (not really, just taking advantage of a good weather forecast), got some cheeky skiing on en route on Thursday afternoon. It was warm and sunny and the skiing was good. The Lecht could have been the Alps and if there was cold beer served up to people sitting in sun loungers Joe may well have been one of those indulging. Instead, he merely indulged in the luxury of mechanical uplift and downhill skiing in the sunshine.

Friday – A wonderful day out. Two of the most remote hills in Scotland climbed from Muir Cottage with almost no walking. Joe cycled until the snow started and then skied into the wilderness, skinning west towards the River Feshie and then up the north flank of Carn an Fhidhleir in the sunshine. The cloud rolled in as he approached the summit and the descent to the bealach was made amidst an eerie mist. He then skinned up to the summit of An Sgarsoch and enjoyed a lovely long descent to Geldie Lodge before skinning, and cycling back to Muir Cottage.

On Saturday Simon and Joe drove separately towards Glen Shee, leaving one car low on the Braemar side and setting off from the other at the ski centre. The weather was truly awful but that didn’t deter the downhill skiers, so why should it deter them?

At least they could warm up by skinning up the hill. We set off towards Glas Maol but stopped before reaching the summit plateau. Rain, with a strong gusty southerly wind forced them down and north, where unpisted ‘piste’ lead to navigating their way down across burns and through bogs but skiing all the way to the car. Simon later developed a cough that evening but reassured everyone with “it’s alright, I’ve has this since Christmas!”

After their short and wet excursion on Saturday, Sunday dawned rather brighter and drier than forecast and Joe and Simon decided another attempt at something on the white stuff was called for. Carol had warmed up and dried off after her adventures [“What adventures?” I hear you say… I think we will need to hear about these adventures in next month’s newsletter! – Ed] and also decided that skiing might be preferable to potholing in the crusty snow. Luckily the sun was still shining by the time Joe had eventually loaded numerous rucksacks, skis, passengers, bike, left over beer etc into his tardis and driven to the ski centre.

Skins fitted they climbed rapidly through the ski area, leaving the queues behind as they found a small hole in the snow fence to escape into the white wilderness. A short descent was followed by a climb towards Carn nan Stac.

Half way up they decided that skiing down would be more fun so it was skins off and a run down towards the loch. Skins back on and they began the long steady climb towards the summit of Carn a Gheoidh, stopping for lunch about half way up. The mist came down and it was nearly a whiteout briefly in the snow-shower but our heroes plodded on resolutely into the stiffening breeze. Then at the summit it all changed – the mist lifted and it was bright sunshine for the rest of the day. Skins off and they enjoyed a magnificent two mile continuous schuss with the wind at their backs to Loch Vrotachain on almost perfect snow. Ski touring doesn’t get much better than this. A quick climb back to the ridge, a run down the piste and off for hot chocolate in Braemar.

After a bit of faff on Saturday morning Ben, Wendy, Katie and Drummond set off to climb Ben Bhreac from the Lin of Dee car park. After being passed by Alan and Fiona on the bikes (several times!) the going was good through shallow snow and the party continued in good spirits. The weather turned somewhat at the summit and after a shivery lunch (expecting to see Alan and Fiona at the summit!) and a nip from Katie’s hip flask the group descended to warmer lower ground and a pleasant walk out along the valley bottom.

Sunday saw Ben, Wendy and Katie get off to another slow start with the intention of nipping up Carn an Tuirc. After giving the cottage a thorough clean, the intrepid three set off with Ben at the wheel and a distinct lack of enthusiasm in the passenger and rear seats. This culminated in a humming and hawing once the car park was reached in a flurry of sleet and cloud. It was decided by the passengers that a low level trip to see some waterfalls would be a nicer prospect so Ben turned the car back down hill and headed off. A lovely walk followed around Ballochbuie Forest to the Falls of Garbh Allt. During the drive through Braemar Katie realised she had lost her purse and proceeded to turn her luggage inside out. It was then decided that it must be back at the cottage so a quick jaunt back and it was retrieved to the relief of all.

On Friday, Andy Lawson ascended Glas Maol with Ann-Marie. This was Andy’s twelfth ascent of this hill, and he got some fine photos of mountain hares and enjoyed the sunshine before the clouds rolled in during the day.

On Saturday, he went for a low-level walk along Glen Ey and on Sunday, Andy walked round Loch Kinord looking for adders.

Words by Ben Watson. Photos by Joe, Andy and others.