Last updated: 15/10/10

Strawberry Cottage Weekend
25/28 Sept 2009

The September holiday weekend saw 11 members of the Club arrive on bikes, by foot and by car to gather on Friday afternoon/evening for the weekend at Strawberry Cottage, the An Teallach Mountaineering Club hut at Athnamulloch in Glen Affric. In this very well appointed and equipped hut a comfortable weekend was enjoyed by all.

Strawberry Cottage

Due to stalking activities around the glen most of the group undertook the same hills over the 2 days.

On Saturday on a warm but windy day all but one spent the day enjoying a visit to one of the most remote Munros, Beinn Fhionnlaidh, after crossing over Mam Sodhail with its massive hollow circular cairn, within which a couple of members enjoyed lunch out of the strong wind. Also on the way, Carn Eighe was ‘bagged’ by everyone along with various ‘tops’ and over long ridges on ascent and descent.

Deer watchers bothy on Mam Sodhail

Satej on top of the world

An early lunch at the Mam Sodhail Cairn

Ben Fionnlaidh from Carn Eighe


Beinn Fionnlaidh summit


Carn Eighe (left) and Mam Sodhail (middle) from Beinn Fionnlaidh

and again

Loch Mullardoch from Beinn Fionnlaidh

The other member of the party enjoyed visiting Coire Leachavie and Coire Coulavie where he observed the stags vying for position for the upcoming rut.

Corie Coualvie


Sunday saw a change in the weather for the worse with heavy showers and high winds restricting the group to undertaking less ambitious routes than planned the night before.

Seven, in various groupings, made the summit of An Socach with the youngest member of the weekend party also ascending into the cloud to bag Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan, a fine effort. Others enjoyed (as much as they could given the weather) walks to the Alltbeithe Youth Hostel, into Coire na Cloiche and to Camban Bothy under Beinn Fhada to ’inspect’ the success of the recent upgrade works.

Walking towards Alltbeithe


906m top from An Socach summit

Three of the party left for home on Sunday afternoon with the rest enjoying a late night with a few drinks and plenty of banter.

Monday dawned another dreich day and after all the ‘tidying’ chores were completed all were happy to head out during the morning, A fine weekend and hopefully it won't be too long before the Club again stays at this great cottage.