The minibus will be leaving Aberdeen at 7am, and can pick up on route through Deeside to Braemar. Starting at Auchallater, there are options for both long and short hikes. There’s an easy track to the bothy beside Loch Callater, and from there it’s not far to the Corbett, Creag nan Gabhar. The main target for those looking for a longer outing will be munro Tolmount, along Jock’s Road to the head of Glen Callater. If conditions are “in”, there may be the possibility to do a gully ascent from Loch Kander. Of course, you may wish to take it easier and just chill at the bothy, with a great view over the loch.

Our previous outing to Tolmount was in February 2017, where we had a very wintery day out. Download Trip Report.

Our next day meet is on Saturday 7th February and will be a west to east traverse of Moray’s finest peak, Ben Rinnes.

We have decided to run a 19 seater coach for our day meets between now and May. This is a trial to gauge if members prefer the comparative luxury of coach travel over the minibuses we’ve previously been using. All meets from February to May will cost members £22 for a place on the bus, and we’re hoping they prove popular.

On the 7th February the coach will leave St. Margarets in Aberdeen at 8.00am and head north on the A96 towards Huntly, then Dufftown. Pick ups en-route can be arranged.

The traverse will start at Marionburgh Farm (part of the Ballindalloch Castle estate), then head up through forestry and onto the hill on the west side of Ben Rinnes. Before reaching the summit we will detour and visit two of the mountain’s impressive granite tors (Scurran of Morinsh and Scurran of Well). At the summit we’ll get to see the work done to the OS trig point. Last year the original pillar (which was suffering from the elements) had a shiny steel casing fitted over it. A new granite base and inscribed granite disc on top were also installed, transforming it into probably the snazziest trig point in Scotland. We’ll then descend by the ‘tourist’ path, finishing at the car park at the east of the hill. The map below shows the route of the traverse.

If anyone fancies a shorter route, for instance climbing Ben Rinnes by the tourist path, this is also possible, just indicate this when booking.

The main walk is around 13km, with an ascent of 720 metres, and won’t be an overly long day (approx. 5 or 6 hours walking). Ben Rinnes is a Corbett (height 840m) and at this time of year we should expect the winter conditions experienced at this height. Those attending will need to be equipped for these conditions. We should be finishing the walk at approximately 4.00pm, and after a pub stop in Dufftown the coach will return to Aberdeen around 7.00 – 7.30pm. There isn’t a meal planned for this meet.

Please email / message Craig if you would like to book a place on this walk, and to secure your space on the coach please pay £22 asap by bank transfer, giving ‘Ben Rinnes’ as a reference.

Our last visit was November 2022 – trip report

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.

The ‘Coloured’ Hills of Alford. With an 8am start for our minibus from St Margarets, this polychromatic meet includes the Green, White, Red and Black Hills south-east of Alford. Starting at a farm track off a back road to the south, we go past Ewens Croft, and ascend Green Hill on a mix of track and footpath, then descend NNE to White Hill (some heather; trig point). Then NW over open grassland to the abandoned farmstead of Culthibert, then a twisty landrover track back up to a col below Green Hill before heading SW up to Corrennie Moor and Red Hill. From here, down past a stone circle to Forkins, for a short stretch of road/track before a short diversion over lowly Black Hill (which we might do first) near the starting point. The almost figure-of-eight route would allow short cuts to omit White Hill and/or Red Hill. To book, contact Ken Thomson.

The minibus will leave St Margaret’s at 8am and will park at Finzean Sawmill. The first part of the walk will follow the path west, on the south side of the Feugh until we reach the path along the Glaspits Burn. The route from there is pathless until we get to the track at Cock Hill which will lead to the summit of Mount Battock. The President’s Party will return by the same route. Alternative descents are via higher ground. over Baudnacauner and Glaspits, or the Water of Avon.

Image “Fading Light” by Addy, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

After a few pickups on route, our full minibus arrived at Loch Turret to drop off the main party who would traverse the munro, with the second party doing a loop from Invergeldie.

On a pleasant still day, Loch Turret provided a fine surface for autumnal reflections. The upper lochan was more Ordha (golden) than Uaine (green) but nonethless provided a view for 1st lunch, with the crags of Ben Chonzie towering dark and near – for certain a more interesting approach than the shorter route from the west.

A short steep scrabble up a rocky (unmapped) path brought us to the rolling plateau, and we soon mingled with the masses who’d ascended on the Walkhighlands trade route.

After a brief viewless stop in the mist, we followed a line of posts then turned south-west and passed our “loop party” heading for the top; we decided to push on to the bouldery outcrop of Carn Chois where we had a 2nd lunch while enjoying the views of the rocky ridge of Creag a h-Iolaire due west.

After an speculative “shortcut” turned into a thrash through deep heather we rejoined the track to Carroglen to head downwards. A sortie to investigate a waterfall in a gorge of the Carroglen burn was abandoned as hazardous. Further down and uncertain of a bridge across the Lurg Burn, we headed onwards, surrounded by pleasant autumn scenes and finding a good footbridge across the River Lednock to make the road and await pickup from the “loop” party.

We had finished in good time so first drove to Crieff where we had an extended refreshment break before the long drive home.

Sunday saw a minibus trip to Blair Atholl, with the 3 munros of Beinn a Ghlo as our target. With high wind and heavy rain at times, we only got the occasional dramatic peek through a gap in clouds at the scenery around these mountains. Well done everybody in completing a challenging day out – in particular a new member who ticked off their first 3 munros in tough conditions – a baptism of fire (or water!). The sun came out while descending and was most welcome for the last hour (and a visit to the Atholl Arms beer garden).

Our day meet from Glen Esk to Glen Clova was briefly scenic heading past Loch Lee and up beyond the Falls of Unich, before we entered a dreich grey void higher up. Even on a bleak, low visibility day there’s something of interest to find off the beaten path – in this case an old air crash wreck. We also passed the footbridge above the Falls of Damff, which the club was instrumental in refurbishing. The Colour and heat made a welcome return in the snug at the Clova Hotel.

Our Ben Macdui trip saw high winds hinder progress, with the group heading for the top deciding to turn back from Cairn Lochan, head past Lurcher’s Crag and finally get a sheltered break in the Chalamain Gap. A second group made it over and down Coire Raibert to the Shelter Stone, then back via Coire Domhain. All back in time despite the tough conditions so a nice break at the pub in Aviemore before the coach headed back to Aberdeen.

Despite high wind, Sunday saw most of the high and low route variations used on our Beinn a Bhuird day trip: a wee scramble up A’Chioch, Carn na Criche and Carn na Drochaide, and traversal of Glens Slugain and Quoich. On route visits were made to a secret place, an old air crash site and a scramble amongst some rocky outcrops.

While chilly with bursts of rain and hailstones higher up, after heading down to check out the new Quoich path, it was sufficiently warm to encourage some paddling at the Linn while waiting for the parties to regroup at the picnic house (and the beer garden in Ballater on the way back).

After a grey week it was great to set off under blue skies up through Ballochbuie Forest.  Three split off from the main group to traverse to Glen Callater via the Meall an t-Slugain gap and Loch Phadruig, the main party continuing out of the forest and across the river (this time without any drama other than a reluctant dog requiring a lift). Approaching our main target Carn an t-Sagairt Mor we headed into the snow, with 3 heading through a gully to practise their snowcraft, and 2 powering on ahead to the addition of Carn an t-Sagairt Beag where a hare survey was carried out successfully. Although clear with good visibility there was biting wind-chill on top so the reassembled group headed down, spotting a patrolling eagle en route before arriving at the Callater bothy for a coffee break before heading out to Auchallater and onwards to Ballater for refreshments.

The club had a very successful mid week walk up Bennachie in nice weather. The route started at Rowantree and followed the Turnpike trail taking in a visit to the Fog house and then the Colony trail to Gordon way and up to Mither Tap with some going on to Craigshannoch.

A total of 17 members attended this Day Meet to the Ladder Hills. We travelled to Strathdon by minibus and car and assembled in Glen Nochty to begin our hike to the Corbett, Carn Mor.

After a walk of several miles up the glen we emerged from the forest at the ruined settlement of Duffdefiance. From here we started uphill on the old Ladder Road, which crosses the hills from Glen Nochty to Glenlivet. By the time we reached the cairn that marks the highest point of the path, we were in the mist and wind. Our route then took us over the top, Dun Muir, and then through the peat hags before rising for the final kilometer towards the summit of Carn Mor. The peat hags provided shelter from the wind for a lunch stop before the final ascent.

We didn’t linger for long at the trig point, just enough time to check the maps and get a few photos before heading downhill in a SE direction that quickly got us out of the wind and below the mist. Once down in the glen we followed Allt an t-Sluichd Mhoir then the Waters of Nochty which meander down through the hills, and eventually after several tricky river crossings we arrived back at Duffdefiance. The rain started as we walked back down Glen Nochty, but we were glad the day had been mostly dry for this enjoyable circuit in the Ladder Hills.

A fine supper was had in the Haughton in Alford on the way home.

After a few years of this January trip being smashed by high wind, all turned out great this time and a cracking day was enjoyed with better than expected wind and visibility. The snow was great quality and there was just the right amount.

After summitting and enjoying some mulled wine, we had an unexpected stop beside the Glas Allt falls, which having frozen across at the base due to an extended cold spell, allowed for an unusual group photo standing directly below.

We stopped briefly at the Glas Allt bothy for a break, with the wind only beginning to bite once we reached the exposed end of Loch Muick. We regrouped with another party who had headed up Conachcraig, then our coach headed to the Boat Inn at Aboyne for “high tea” (may have included a beer or two).