Saturday, 21st June 2008, from 13.00

This year’s summer barbecue will be in Cummingston, but to make access and lugging the gear easier, will be on the section of shoreline directly below the car park next to the children’s playground. (See map below for details.)

This is basically an afternoon affair; we’ll supply the grill and charcoal, you bring the victuals and hooch of your choice. Suitable for the whole family: Caves, easy rock climbing, good company. See you there!

View Larger Map

3-5 May, 2008

May Bank Holiday weekends, by past experience, are a time when there is standing room only on Alasdair and a long queue for the In Pinn. Well! We beat the crowds, in fact we almost had the place to ourselves. Sixteen members and two guests turned up at the campsite by the Sligachan Hotel on the Isle of Skye.

Jake Lee and Joe Glennie arrived on Friday afternoon to do the In Pinn. With an evening start, they where inspired by the sunset, which turned Harris a stunning shade of pink as the sun sank towards the Outer Hebrides and the horizon. The light created an Alpine hue as the sun sank out of sight in a pinkish haze. After a successful climb they where so in touch with their feminine side, they made a lovely entry in the diary.

Saturday dawned with the expected rain and strong winds, however the tops of the Red Cuillin where clear, with just the Black Cuillin in the clag. Dave and Oliver Galloway along with Andy Williams changed their plans and set off for Glamaig, over Beinn Dearg Mhor and Beinn Dearg Mheadhonach. The assent of Glamaig was unrelentingly steep with lots of scree in wet and windy conditions. By the summit, the rain had stopped and the cloud base was rising, giving classic views before a fast descent on good scree to Bealach na Sgairde. Andy paid heed to his knees and dropped into Coire Sgairde and out to the Slig. Dave and Oliver continued around, descending via Druim na Ruaige. They met only one other group in their six hour day, but clearly didn’t take the hint.

Joe Glennie set off in the early afternoon, by which time the cloud had lifted and the sun had come out. He climbed up Sgurr a Bhasteir to the ridge, on to Bruach na Frithe and down the west ridge. Being in the lee most of the day he managed to avoid the worst of the S.E. wind.

With the inclement conditions, Jake Lee and Janice Taylor explored Talisker Bay, while Illona Morrice, Ali Erginsoy, Andy Brooks and Dave Binney visited Fran Knowles’ superb exhibition of bird drawings at the Gallery Eilenn Larmain on the Sleat peninsula before a walk out to the point.

Bob Macdonald, Graeme Gunn, Drummond Beattie, Margaret Paterson and Sybille Brinz also took advantage of the bad weather to chill out and do tourist things. They visited the Storr, Kilt Rock, a nearby jetty and the Lookout Bothy (G/R NG413763), about as far north as you can go on Skye. Stopping in Portree on the return for a curry, they arrived back as the bar was closing.

On Sunday Dave G, Oliver and Andy W set out for Bruach na Frithe, but this was binned at the car park due to high winds. The Clach Glas traverse was also binned by Illona, Ali, Andy B, and Dave B, who instead visited the Spar Cave at Elgol; nice, but a careful watch on the tide times was needed.

Alan and Fiona Duncan arrived on Sunday afternoon. as Fiona was playing in Ullapool the night before. They set off up Glamaig at 3.30pm but where rewarded with a beautiful evening as the weather changed.

Clach Glas was also binned by Margaret, Graeme and Drummond in favour of a coffee at Elgol before collecting Graeme’s inflatable boat from Armadale. They launched it at Ord and headed for Camusunary to spend the night. The three bags of logs, red wine and whisky made for a convivial evening, where Margaret discovered that eggs do not travel well in a boat. On Monday morning they sailed over to Soay and an old shark fishing station. They explored the island before cheese and biscuits, waiting for the tide to rise so they could leave. From there over to Kilmoray Bay on Rum, then onto Canna where they made an impromptu rubbish collection before returning home.

Alan and Fiona ascended Sgurr a Mhadaidh but called it a day on top as Fiona’s back is not fully better.

Martin Collins made the summit of Am Basteir with some friends as Illona, Ali and Dave B could hear him as they made their way up Naismith’s route. Andy and Bob meanwhile ascended via the Lota Coire route before returning to the Slig for a pint and home.

In conclusion, on a wet weekend on Skye anyone can be miserable, but the club showed tenacity and had a really good time.

Dave Galloway

For more photos from this meet, click here.

Sat 7th - Sun 8th June 2008
O.S.Map(s): 56
Accommodation: Cairndow Village Hall
Cost: TBC, but very reasonable
Facilities: Showers, toilets, fully equipped kitchen. Bring mats and sleeping bags. Pub 100 m down the road.

Cairndow is a great base to explore some of the southern hills we northern types don’t normally get to, as well as being an excellent venue for climbers.

Some of the mountains only a few miles away are Beinn Ime, Ben Vane, Beinn an Lochain, Beinn Bhuidhe and The Cobbler.

It is the latter that is the great attraction for rock climbers, with 40 trad routes ranging from MS-E8, ten of which merit a 3-star rating, including the classic Punster’s Crack and Whither Wether, reportedly “the finest VS pitch in Scotland”.

Bookings to Dave Galloway please.

For more information about the hills in this area, click here.

Sunday, 18 May 2008
O.S.Map(s): 44
Est. time of arrival: 9.30 am
Time of departure: 18.00 pm
Leave Elgin: 7.00 am

NB: This meet will be picking up in Elgin and Forres only, then onto Grantown, Tomintoul and Braemar.

Going East for a change! Lochnagar is a superb location, offering the opportunity to bag 5 Munros in one go in the circuit of Lochnagar, Carn a’ Choire Bhaldheach, Carn an Sagairt Mor, Cairn Bannoch and Broad Cairn. (Or you could do just a couple.) A good low-level alternative is a walk around the atmospheric Loch Muick.

Bookings to Natacha Mihajlovic please.

For further information about the Lochnagar hills click here.

20 April 2008

2008 is granting us with an exceptionally good start: our bus meets have so far been blessed with dry weather conditions. The Sunday of this meet was the perfect spring day. A total of 34 members and guests turned up for this meet despite an earlier 6.00am start. All groups enjoyed a fantastic day in what can only be described as one of the most beautiful areas in Scotland. Walkers started off from either Achnashellach station or Coulags.

From Achnashellach:

Caroline Chaplin, Ian and Paul Gerragthy, John Henderson, Lee Madden and David Strathdee first walked through the forest and followed the river to the start of Beinn Liath Mhor ridge. Sgorr Ruadh was then climbed by the group which had to back track using crampons. They then circled round the back of Meall Dearg and took a well earned tea break at Loch an Eion before returning to the bus.

Dave MacLean and Margaret Paterson also chose to climb Beinn Liath Mhor and took plenty of photos. They had time to enjoy the amazing views while having lunch at the summit. This was washed down with some homemade sloe gin to celebrate Maggie’s 21st Birthday (again)! Moira Baptie, Morven Bridges and Manja Hannon also had a brilliant day on the same hill. All returned at their own pace to the Ling Hut or to the foot of Liathach where the coach was parked for the day.

Swapping walking partners all day, Peter Jones managed to achieve his objective: two pints in his belly and a munro under his belt.

Fuar Tholl and Sgurr Ruadh were another popular choice. Graeme Morrison, Natacha Mihajlovic, Dan Moysey and Simon Willatts climbed up one of the north facing corries leading to the summit. Filled with good solid snow, it allowed for good progress. They came off the ridge down a steep and snowy gully which Simon later described as “rather fun”. Graham Milton, who was on the same hill that day with Drummond Beattie, thought it “terrifying” (he still turns pale at the mention of this), while Natacha’s descent was punctuated by a few well chosen French expletives. They all carried on north to Sgurr Ruadh at different speeds using snow patches whenever possible. Following this, the party disintegrated: Graeme carried on to Bealach Coire Lair to climb Sgorr nan Lochain Uaine and Sgurr Dubh and was down at the Ling Hut in very good time. Simon went up Beinn Liath Mhor and descended in a north-westerly fashion to pick up the path to the Ling Hut. He also had time to stop for a quick swim at a waterfall. Dan and Natacha walked over to Bealach Ban, Bealach na Lice and past Loch an Eion to the bus. Drummond and Graham finished the day at a leisurely pace, spotting dozens of frogs in the pools they passed. Back on the bus, more of Maggie’s birthday cake was had.

From Coulags:

Moray Anderson and Bob MacDonald walked past the bothy on their way to An Ruadh Stac which they ascended by the east ridge. They went down the north-west shoulder to catch the path leading to Loch an Eion where they stopped to eat and enjoy a snooze in the sun. They were back at the bus for 4.55pm. Almost in trouble!

Rob Murray followed up the track along the Fionn-abhainn river to Loch Coire Fionnraich. From there, he climbed the east side of Maol Chean-dearg and came down backwards a gully filled with snow. He also spotted some wildlife (two lizards) on the way back to the bus.

Also up Maol Chean-dearg, Anne Carter, Lydia Davis, Becky Wells and Sarah White had excellent views to the snowy Cuillins and Torridon hills. There was plenty of time for numerous stops to enjoy the sunshine in great company. A great sunny day was had by all and also a memorable one for a member of this party who climbed her first munro and will be back for more!

Finally, Malcolm and Lesley Leiper had a pleasant trek from Coulags to Torridon interspersed with splendid views of Beinn Damh, Beinn Alligin and Liathach. They spotted a young eagle, lizards, some frog spawns as well as a party of retired people from Boat of Garten, the latter being a rare and possibly endangered species.

Natacha Mihajlovic

For more photos from this meet click here

The outdoor climbing season is underway again at Cummingston. We meet up after work on Wednesday evenings to climb and boulder on the excellent sandstone cliffs there, before repairing to a local hostelry for a spot of mild alcoholic libation. Any and all welcome.

Contact Illona Morrice for more information

Sat 3rd - Mon 5th May 2008
O.S.Map(s): 32
Accommodation: The Sligachan campsite
Cost: £5 pppn
Facilities: Showers, toilets, shop. Pub and restaurant across the road.

Yippee, its May and we’re going to Skye again! Not, however, to Coruisk as originally advertised in the syllabus, as the hut had been booked to another club, but to the Sligachan campsite instead.

For anyone who has never been or is unfamiliar with Skye, the big draw here is the Black Cuillins, the magnificent range you can see behind the campsite. These offer some of the best scrambling, climbing and hillwalking anywhere in Scotland… no scratch that, the world. If the weather is bad, Skye still has a lot to offer, from low level walks along sea cliffs to the strange rock formations of the Trotternish peninsula.

Totally unmissable.

Bookings to Dave Galloway please.

For information about the Skye Munros, click here

Fifteen MMC members took advantage of some windy wintry weather conditions on the Knoydart peninsula, using the Whitehouse at Barisdale as their base. Making two trips from Arnisdale, Billy Mackenzie, the local ferryman took twelve people in his powerboat across the four mile stretch in fifteen minutes to the Barisdale boathouse to start their two and a half km walk in to the bunkhouse.

On arrival it was unlocked, but no electricity, so Dave Galloway and David Brown Douglas returned to the caretaker’s house to get their brief. The lady showed them how to start the generator and provided keys; she also informed them that the club was to vacate by 10am on Sunday.

Before arriving, David BD had taken in Sgurr a’ Mhaoraich (peak of the shellfish) and then walked in from Kinloch Hourn. He stayed in the bothy with a party of Dutchmen. Bob Macdonald and

Graeme Gunn came kayaking in from Corran to complete our party. This they did arriving in the dark and ended up paddling up the wrong stream and having to abandon their kayaks until daylight.

With a late start planned for Saturday, alcohol flowed and out came the fiddle; Bob and Chrissy danced to the small hours. The following morning after breakfast, an excursion to the Forge Inn at Inverie was planned for Jake Lee, Janice Taylor, Margaret Patterson, Fiona Duncan, Graeme G and Bob. A four hour trek for a pint and a bowl of soup, but blessed with the sight of an eagle soaring high above the Mam Barrisdale Bealach. In the pub, Janice tried to organise transport back by asking everyone in the bar for a lift, but no offers, so home after dark to complete an eight hour trek.

Paul Chapel, Jo Cross, David BD, Caroline Chapman and Ray Harron set off by 9 am to do Luinne Bheinn via the Mam Barisdale. Having spotted a raven from the summit, they traversed along the ridge, where they had to wear goggles against spindrift. Ray cut steps down to the bealach below Meall Coire na Gaoithe n-Ear (means “peak above the coire of the east wind”-only 90 degrees out). Kicking steps as required along to Meall Buidhe, they managed to avoid the use of crampons. They completed their horseshoe route down to the Barisdale-Inverie footpath. A long slog up over the Bealach, past the grazing stags by the roadside and home to complete a nine hour day.

Graeme Morrison, who is close to completing his Munros for the second time, was away for 8 am to complete Meall Buidhe, Luinne Bheinn and Ladhar Bheinn. Losing height to 235m from 946m, before ascending Ladhar Bheinn at 1020m was his low point, but the three Knoydart Munros in 8.40 hrs in bad weather made the evening drams taste sweeter.

Chrissy McKay, Evylene Doege and Dave G did Ladhar Bheinn coming in over the Druim a’Choire Odhair. Finding the ridge in good winter conditions above five hundred meters and with the wind ibehind them, they enjoyed the scramble up Stob a Choire Odhair and then the pyramid-shaped summit of Ladhar Bheinn. From there, in strong crosswinds, they turned east along the ridge to the bealach below Stob Choire a’ Chearcaill, then down to the Mam Barisdale before home to end a successful nine hour day.

Saturday evening saw the celebration of the day’s events in traditional style, with Mr Jameson and Mr Guinness as principal guests. About 10pm two Landrovers pulled up outside. Dave G answered the door to find a group of of soldiers enquiring after David BD, as the Dutchmen he’d shared the bothy with had not seen him return from the hill and reported him missing. The Army lads, who were bivvying in an outhouse behind the farm, where alerted by the lady caretaker and immediately started to help. Taking into account the inclement weather, it was a very considerate gesture. Dave thanked them very much for their reaction and response.

Sunday dawned to high winds, rain, and snow showers. Plans for the day were postponed for another day. However, come 8.30am the weather cleared up, so Dave G, Graeme M, and Chrissy set of to Sgurr a’ Choire Bheithe. They made the summit just as the weather turned, but were able to drop below the bad weather and made the ferry landing by 1.30pm. Meantime David B.D set off up the Druim a’ Choire Odhair to do Ladhar Bheinn, returning by the same route. David then collected his gear and walked out to his car while six caught a 1pm ferry. Bob and Graeme G paddled out, while the final six had to wait until 4pm to catch the last ferry.

In conclusion, there is something for everyone in Knoydart, even in bad weather.

Dave Galloway

For photos from this meet click here

Sunday, 16 March 2008

A perfect winter day rewarded all 24 members and guests who attended this bus meet.

Ken Ross headed off for the east end of Glen Quoich via Mam na Selig and enjoyed a great day spotting lots of wildlife.

Alan and Fiona Duncan ascended Corbett Geal Carn from Loch Garry. The plentiful amount of deep, soft snow was deemed a nuisance but they still had a fantastic day with excellent views. Alan recommends climbing the hill from Loch Arkaig rather than from the north, as it took over four hours to reach the summit!  Graeme Morrison went up the same Corbett and continued to Meall na h-eilde. Fiona thought she would spice up the day by “misplacing” her crampons: It is still unclear whether she has lost them or if they are still hiding at the bottom of her rucksack.

Further west, John Henderson and Graham Milton set off at breakneck speed via the track on the south side of Gairich to do the Corbett Sgurr an Fhuarain. After a long pull up to the top in soft snow, they were also greeted with spectacular views of the rugged hills of Knoydart, which inspired our club bards to pen the following “rhyme”:

“I must go down to the sea again
To the lonely sea and sky
I left my towel and trunks there
And I wonder if they are dry”

Simon Willatts also set off from the dam and reached the summit of Gairich in good time. He continued west to descend and returned via the south side of the hill along a decent track through the glen. He encountered a lot of frogs.

Drummond Beattie and Val Kemp also enjoyed an excellent day on Gairich with amazing views in all directions.

Graeme Bartlett completed a traverse from the east ridge of Spidean Mialach over to Gleouraich and descended via the hill’s south shoulder. David Brown Douglas, Graeme Gunn, Ray Harron, Bob Macdonald, Lee Madden, Natacha Mihajlovic, Rob Murray and guest David Strathdee followed the same route taking in some amazing winter views and unnecessary risks for the best cornice picture.

Sgurr na Mhaoracih was the hill Corinne Ferguson, Simon Fildes, Illona Morrice and Maggie Paterson chose to climb. They enjoyed fantastic views of Knoydart, Rum, Eigg and Skye on their way up. They headed down over the Am Bathaich ridge and had to put their crampons on as it was quite icy. Back at the loch side, they headed south and were back at the bus in a timely fashion.

Moira Baptie and Morven Bridges also had a good day out around the west end of Loch Quoich.

Natacha Mihajlovic

See more pictures from this meet on the Flickr page

Sunday, 20 April 2008
O.S.Map(s): 24, 25
Est. time of arrival: 8.15 am
Time of departure: 18.00 pm
Leave Elgin: 6.00 am*

Photo: Ray Newell

It has been some time since the Club has undertaken this classic traverse, one of the most spectacular anywhere in the Highlands.

There are myriad routes that can be done. One option starts at the layby on the A890 opposite the private road to Achnashellach train station and continues on into Coire Lair. From here, there are several options: For a high level traverse, you can either climb FuarTholl (Corbett) and Sgorr Ruadh (Munro) (also possible to miss out Fuar Tholl if desired) to the left of the coire, or Beinn Liath Mhor (Munro) to the right. Both funnel into a bealach into Coire Grannda. A low level option is to follow the path up Coire Lair directly to Coire Grannda.

From here, there are again a number of options. One is to head due north, ending up at the car park on the A896 main Torridon road just north of the Ling Hut. Another possibility is to head northeast from Coire Grannda to Coulin Lodge and Loch Clair, ending at a small layby on the A896 at NH002581. Another low-level alternative would be to bear east at the foot of Beinn Liath Mhor, and passing some superb waterfalls, follow the path to Coulin, Loch Coulin and Loch Clair to the same layby.

A different traverse altogether can be started further west along the A890 at Coulags, taking in Maol Chean Dearg (Munro) along the route if desired, and ending at the Countryside Centre on the A896 at NH 905557.

Whatever you decide to do, an excellent day is guaranteed!

Bookings to Natacha Mihajlovic

The President

* Note earlier start time!