Last updated: 19/12/23

Club Activities

For current and forthcoming meets, see Meets Calendar.

For Meet Organiser Guidance Sheets, see sections below.

Route Safety Sheet (revised January 2023).

Incident Guidelines (revised May 2023)

Meet Risk List (revised October 2023)

The Cairngorm Club and Mountaineering Scotland recognise that climbing and mountaineering are activities with risks of personal injury or death. Participants in these activities should be aware of and accept these risks, and be responsible for their own actions and involvement. Members and others participate in Club activities at their own risk; the Club accepts no liability.

Mountaineering Scotland Safety and Liability Guidance
 

Winter Gear

You must be properly equipped for winter conditions – which are determined by the presence of snow and ice rather than calendar date.

Safe ascent and descent may depend on the use of ice axe and crampons (worn with stiff-soled winter boots), along with the associated mountaineering skills.

Winter gear can be expensive, but some local outdoor shops offer equipment hire at reasonable prices, and a Meet Organiser may be able to arrange a loan from fellow-member.

The Club has purchased a 6-person mountain shelter, two snow shovels and a snow probe. These should be taken on appropriate Club meets.

Useful links:

Winter Mountaineering

Which Boots for Winter

Winter Boot Hire

Mountain Rescue - Calling for Help

Day Meets

The Club arranges one-day meets, known as Day Meets (though a few are “Overnighters”!), roughly every fourth weekend throughout the year. They are usually advertised by reference to a particular mountain or walking route, but not everyone need tackle that particular objective, and there is no question of Day Meet participants going there in one large group. Destinations are as varied as possible, going farthest afield in the longer daylight hours of summer.

Suitable transportation (coach, mini-bus or car-sharing) depends on the destination, proposed routes, and the likely number of participants. A stop is often made on the return journey for a pre-arranged high tea, or for a pub meal, or fish and chips.
 

The Club accepts no responsibility for arranging parties, and members are left to decide where and with whom they will walk. However, the Meet Organiser ensures that an experienced member goes with a group, called the President's Party (though usually without the President!), which gives newer members a chance to get to know other members. It is vital that everyone returns to the transport at the hour arranged; it may not wait more than a short time!
 

Members themselves must ensure that they are adequately equipped (see Equipment Checklist) for what they plan to undertake, to choose objectives in keeping with their capabilities, and generally to be responsible for their own safety. Even when walking with others, it is essential that each member carries his or her own map, compass and whistle, and in winter an ice axe and/or crampons (see Winter Essentials). Other necessities are proper boots, adequate warm and waterproof clothing, and ample food and liquid.

Bookings for Day Meets should be made with the Meet Organiser for the particular meet  (see Meets Calendar),
usually by email or telephone in the first instance to check seat availability. Confirmation is by payment only.

Day Meet Organiser Guidance Sheet.

For general information, please contact the Day Meets Secretary, at day@cairngormclub.org.uk
 

Another important activity is Weekend Meets. These are whole weekends away, with transport by private cars, once a month throughout the year, based on camping, club huts, hostels or hotels. Weekend Meets tend to be held further afield than Day Meets, and thus allow a greater variety of more-distant hills to be climbed.

The Club accepts no responsibility for arranging parties, and members are left to decide where and with whom they will walk. Weekend Meets do not include a President's Party, although no-one will be left to walk alone unless they wish to do so. It is vital that everyone completes a route sheet with their plans, and returns to base at the time estimated.

Trad and sport climbing are actively pursued within the Club, as well as opportunities for ad hoc winter climbing for those interested.

Weekly Club climbing meets include Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, and Saturday mornings. See Meets Calendar for winter and summer dates.

From spring until autumn the Tuesday night meets are at a variety of crags in the Aberdeenshire and Angus region. In mid-Summer with the lighter evenings, we tend to move further afield either in-land to locations such as Clachnaben and the Pass of Ballater or south to Angus sports venues (Arbroath, Legaston, etc) or up north to the sea cliffs south of Peterhead. We always try to include a BBQ at a few of our Tuesday night meets too! In winter the Tuesday nights move indoors, normally rotating between the walls at RGU and Transition for a bit of variety.

The Saturday morning session is at Transition in the winter, apart from the last Saturday in every month when we visit an Angus sports climbing venue (such as Kirrie Hill, with the Avertical World wall in Dundee as a back-up in case of bad weather). During the summer, the Saturday mornings move outside to the local Aberdeen sea cliffs.

There are also weekends away throughout the year. Some shared with the walking section of the club, others aimed purely for climbers (e.g. the Reiff meet in May).

Beginners are welcome, though the ability to tie-in and belay safely is a pre-requisite for attending club meets.

A guide (2007) to North East climbs is available here.

Climbing meet contact: climb@cairngormclub.org.uk
 

Square Face, Beinn a'Bhuird


Winter Meet at Kirriehill
 


 

These are less strenuous (and sometimes low-level, e.g. coastal) walks, popular with those who have time off mid-week. They are usually held on the last Thursday of every month, within an hour’s drive from Aberdeen. Participants meet at a central location to share cars, or at the starting point. There is a stop for a sandwich lunch, and often a visit to a local café for tea afterwards.

The meeting point is detailed below: On some occasions arrangements will change, so please contact one of the co-ordinators if you are in doubt or need further information (see Meets Calendar ).

Kingswells Park & Ride lower level (Grid ref 868063)

Mid-week Walk contact:
(mww@cairngormclub.org.uk)
 

Indoor Meets usually take the form of a visual presentation, and are held about 6 times a year between October and March.
 

All members, and guests, are welcome to come along. Indoor meets are an ideal event to meet Club members if you are interested in finding out more about the Club or other Club events.
 

One Indoor meet in the year is usually a Members night when everyone is invited to bring along some digital photos or slides and share experiences or simply some good views with the rest of the Club. 

 
These Meets will take place, from October 2023, in the Garden Room at Fountainhall Church at the Cross (formerly Queens Cross Church). There is ample on street parking around the building. Please have regard to parking restrictions/charges in place.
Talks will start at 7.30 pm. Those attending will be charged £3.00 for tea/coffee and biscuits.

The Club usually has a BBQ in the summer and the Club Dinner is usually held in mid-November.
 

Indoor (Social) Meet contact: social@cairngormclub.org.uk

Photo wanted