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Red and amber were our colours for the weekend.

Firstly the weather came howling, splashing and drifting – moderating our ambitions for mountain activities on Saturday, with driving rain, rivers swollen, roads flooded and avalanche alerts daunting for higher up, and meaning a few travelling from further afield had to think again. Friday eve was spent considering options lower down, blethering and perhaps the odd shandy or two.

Whether the stormy weather or the odd sare heid, Saturday morning some folk heading out carefully (and late.. no alpine starts today) and keeping to the smaller hills. Our waterproofs (strangely but sensibly all orange or red) making us stand out as bright specks amongst the grey haze on the snow-clad hills. We needed to burn some calories trudging through the snow though, because later that night was the feast.

Safely back in our cosy cottage at sundown, the next wave of red and amber flowed forth – in wine, beer and whisky glasses, as we were fed and entertained in the traditions of a Burns night, with music (pipes, singing, fiddles, mandolins..), poetry, tales and banter into the wee hours of the night.

With the weather not abating on the Sunday, most took the opportunity for a leisurely retreat with cooked breakfasts and cafe visits, but a few brave souls headed out for more.

Previous Trip Photos

A great weekend was had at Inverardran. The bunkhouse has excellent facilities and an excellent location for numerous nearby hills. There were 10 of us in total who arrived at different times on Friday afternoon and early evening . Plans were then discussed for Saturday’s adventures. The forecast was not the best but it did not stop us all getting out and about. 
Caroline , David and I went up Munros Sgiath Chuil , Meall Glas and Corbett Beinn nan Imirean. The weather was fine at the start but then visibility dropped while climbing and with soft snow under foot it was a challenging day but a successful one nevertheless. Brian headed down Glen Lochay to bag Meall nan Subh. Jamie and Mark went down to Arrochar for Munros Ben Vane and Ben Ime, Mark doing one of the two. Helen and Joyce went for the Corbett Meall an Fhudair , North of Arrochar. Marj and Joyce decided on a walk to Tyndrum along the West Highland Way. Everyone arrived back in good time safe and well with tales to tell , followed with a great evening of fine food , good crack and of course a few drams. 

After a ferry over to the Mourne Mountains to meet our local rep Martina, we travelled up from the south east corner of Ireland. We stayed in the Belfast Climbing Club hut, Henry’s Cottage, which is rustic and basic at best, but did grow on us over the weekend.

Saturday was soggy, but with a few cars a traverse was possible so we headed on over to Trassey car park where we began the walk in absolute clag and walked through rivers, that in better weather would have been paths. We followed the Mourne Wall along a grand traverse along Slievenaglogh (584m) and Slieve Corragh (641m) before reaching Slieve Comedagh (767m), where we took welcome shelter in a stone tower. Lo and behold, as the team approached the saddle to our escape route, the clouds dared to clear and we got sight of Slieve Donard, the highest mountain in the North, just making Munro status at 925m.

While 2 disappeared to the pub, others made the steep ascent to the top, to be greeted with views of…. the clouds. Alas, rare glimpses of the sea, mountains and Newcastle town were seen on the descent. An evening in Kilkeel for food and beer before returning back to Henry’s cottage for more beer and some card games.

Sundays weather was far more enticing, we took the steeeeeeep ascent up Slieve Binnian (745m). Some scrambling at the top and a spectacular traverse with Mars-like landscapes as we surveyed the granite tors. Lots of steep descent before we took the harsh 300m uphill to Slieve Lamagan (702m). Then we went off-piste in search of a cave, which looked impressive from the outside. Further investigation revealed lots of boulders, and a sky light. Back again to Kilkeel for pints of Guinness before heading home for a Chinese takeaway and pasta in tomato sauce.

All in all, a great weekend. Great walks, lots of peaks bagged, Guinness imbibed and much jokes and laughter.

Skye is never less than awesome, but when you get a cracking spell of weather too..

With sunshine and spectacular views all around, hills tackled on the Friday included Sgurr na Banachdaich, Sgurr a’ Ghreadaigh and Glamaig.

A trio undertook a traverse of the Cuillin ridge, climbing the northern half including Sgurr na Gillian , Am Bastier (complete with its tooth) and Bruach na Frithe on the Friday, then started off early on the Saturday to complete the southern half in a long and arduous day.

Other hills climbed on Saturday included Garth Bheinn and Belig and a traverse of the hills visible from Glen Brittle Hut. Two successfully scaled the In Pinn and Sgurr MhicChoinnich with a guide, while another 2 completed their Skye munros.

On Saturday night all enjoyed a delicious communal meal, with a giant trout caught in loch Quoich being shared too.

On Sunday morning some headed onwards for more adventures whilst others started the journey home. All told, a memorable and epic club weekend.

With a yellow warning of rain, and the tall ships ahoy in Aberdeen, fortunately a few stout and seaworthy pirates disdained the joys of queuing an hour for a 20 quid burger down at the docks and headed off inland for adventure.

Starting off at Glen Tilt car park we passed a race in progress (last man standing multi-day ultra loop thing) then into the drizzle first through woods then out into the open glen. Passing the site of geological discovery (Hutton 1785), an unusual canoe lost in the woods, and a waterfall where the Andor Star Wars series was filmed, the group passed Dun Beag to Glen Tarf, and in heavy rain made their way upstream to the bothy, where they were glad to get the stove kindled and cosy.

The next day they split with one return route in poor visibility over munro Carn a Chlamain, making it back down to the Tilt now in full flow. A meal stop in Blair Atholl then the drive home.

The club spent a fabulous few days in Knoydart in August with some of our members camping high despite the midges! This is a special place with such a friendly and welcoming community.

The club spent last weekend at Galloway Activity Centre near Castle Douglas. A mixture of climbing and Corbett bagging were the main activities. The weather wasn’t the best but it didn’t stop anyone from having fun.

The club spent the weekend amongst the Torridon giants of Beinn Alligin, Liathach, and Beinn Eighe at Mol Mor. It was a weekend of two halves – typical “dreich” Scottish hill days followed by wonderful blue skies and spectacular cloud inversions. As usual we ate like kings on Saturday evening with wonderful food contributions and lots of whisky.

Four happy campers set off on the ferry from Tayvallich to Jura on a scorching hot Friday all set for an attack of the 3 Paps of Jura.

The campsite sits directly in front of the hotel (re-hydration was the order of the weekend) and luckily the Jura hotel bar was our saviour on a number of occasions over the weekend.

Off we headed early on Saturday (the hottest day in Scotland for 2 years) and cycled to the start point of the Paps challenge. Midges were luckily mostly absent but replaced by hoards of skin slicing clegs drawing blood with each hungry bite! 

Superb views were soon being enjoyed with luckily a decent Hebridean breeze high up. The group managed all 3 hills (two Grahams and a Corbett) with plenty of scree/boulder scrambling and “up and dooning” to be had. The elder statesman of the group ended up with a touch of heat exhaustion but the other 3 kept him going with bribes of buying the 1st round at the hotel and they made it back (just) to the campsite for a welcome shower and crawl to the Hotel for some well earned beer and food.

A great weekend was had with the weather starting to change as we arrived back in Tayvallich on the Sunday evening. Photo of the weekend (see below) goes to Lauren who after hearing munching outside her tent managed to take the deer photo below at about 4am.