Our annual Lochnagar trip was pushed back by a week due to weather, which meant we could now take the coach along Glen Muick which wouldn’t have been possible on the original date. Even so, there was still plenty of snow waiting to greet the first day trip of the year.
It started off bright and we dared to hope we might dodge the forecast for low visibility and snowfall, but higher up, once we split into three groups – we all disappeared into the grey void.
The classic anti-clockwise route had about 15 of us summit, with 2 smaller groups working their way around the Lochan – one heading up the north-east ridge, and the other up Black Spout gully.
Other small groups spent the day practising winter skills around Conachcraig, one group headed for Meikle Pap, and a visit to the Shieling of Mark would probably have been the cosiest option of all… if it weren’t for our meal upstairs at the Boat Inn on the way home.
A cracking day out and a brilliant way to get 2026 under way.
