Baddoch to Inverey via The Wind Tunnel
- Sun 17th August
Despite the MWIS forecast one persistent female and twelve gentlemen
participated in the August walk. Gusty winds up the tops, mist and periods
of heavy rain were all expected. One Stocket even took a pocket radio to
keep in touch with Radio Scotland's prayers. We had to detour through
Torphins because of a serious accident. This resulted in us tailgaiting
another coach, which contained Lairig Ghru walkers from the Telephones Club.
After a brief stop in Braemar and chat with the other club we were ready to
start.
Badoch was soon attained and here we met a small pack of Army Cadets who
appeared quite bedraggled and unfamiliar with kissing gates. The rain made a
serious entrance here and only got lighter when Steve caught us up at
GrouseGrit.com corner. Here the luxury landrover track was left in pursuit
of Loch nan Eun. Pockets of sunshine could be seen when looking at the peaks
but it was always elsewhere. After lunch at the loch the party split into
Baggers and Toppers. Peter, Dave Wood and Liz pursued the Bheag top while
the rest went for the full Mhor ascent. We al had to endure blasting winds
and pockets of persistent mist. But we were gratefully for the respite of
the summit cairn. The summit ridge gave us occasional views but the wind
made our eyes water. The wet ground and string weather made the descent a
little unpleasant but we were soon safely down on the flat and marching
towards the ruined lodge at Altanour. A final short break here was followed
by the walk out along Glen Ey, where Nick and I gained some female company.
We reached Inverey's car park about 7 hours after starting and were dry
thanks to the tumble drying up top. However one Stocket retreated to the
nearby phone booth for a costume change. Basically Clark Kent left and
Gordon Stalker appeared 10 minutes later. After a short discussion the Inver
was braved for the second time. Just don't ask them about chips as freedom
fries can't be shared. After two slow pints we made our way back to
Aberdeen, heard the Presidential Address and fell asleep. Despite the
interesting weather the 400m start and gradual ascents resulted in a lack of
dogtiredness. But where were the female Stockets?
The Gray Puffy Hands on
Macdui - Saturday 16th July 08
Was it the thought of the
Derry Road, the holiday season or the international meet that obliterated
attendance? Eight attended this walk, including one newbie with a comedy
slot at the Edinburgh festival. The bus had a DVD playing for half the
journey which featured Scottish hills, a husky voiceover, copter fly
throughts and an irritating ambient soundtrack. This killed conversation and
allowed Gordon to reduce his sleep deficit.
We departed Linn of Dee around 0915 and made steady progress to Derry Lodge,
but the beasts kept us moving for another mile or so. The famous Ghru road
was busy and not exactly "remote". We soon split into easy and "not so easy
parties". Ou ascent of Carn a Mhaim was on a steep but well made path and
the muggy conditions soon created soggy t shirts. The top was attained by
1.30 and luckily the early mist lifted. We had great views of the Western
Ghru corridor as a well as an encounter with a minimal hillman. Our ridge
was delightful and ended sooner than we wanted. The slog up to the Ben was a
fair grind due to the boulders but we eventually found some grass and a
plateau. Near to the summit cairn Alan's beard appeared along with Kirsty
and Anna. After a photo session we joined up with the trio for the return
leg. The group had a reindeer viewing and lovely weather for the descent. We
washed feet and faces at Derry and eventually got the bus.
Following a rigged vote the man with the puffy hands decided the Inver was
the best pub. After 10 hours of wonderful walking we had plenty to talk
about. However Jason and I spent more time re-hydrating than gabbing.
Hillwalking - a day out or a metaphysical act that changes lives? Only Irish
anthropologists have the answer. The Inver lacked real ales and a little
gas, but was welcoming and a fair alternative to the Fife Arms.
Midnight Walk: Plockton
or Poolewe? Fri 20th -Sat 21st June 08
Not sleeping well, busy at work, a bit hung-over or feeling a little unwell?
Well a solution exists in the form of the infamous midnight walk. A sexually
unbalanced group of 13 gathered at The Atholl for a liquid sleeping tablet
or two.
The late hour and incomplete darkness made for an interesting drive.
Hammerhouse clouds, wandering deer, Stalker's empty Tesco basket, the odd
pocket of mist and hill outlines kept me awake. We arrived at Incheril car
park at 3am and were soon moving to keep warm. The light was strong enough
to dissuade head torches but most folks are still a little less spatially
aware when sleep deprived. Slioch loomed large above us while the
Torridonian peaks S of Maree kept us mesmerized for the first half of the
walk. The route to Letterewe was not that easy to follow and we ended up
closer to the Loch than was required. From Furnace the route and paths were
much easier to follow, but this may have been correlated to our breakfast
intake. Our ascent away from the Loch brought us closer to the Corbetts,
free campers and Fisherfields. It also reminded us that the common cuckoo
likes ladies with poles, and one of the wild (albeit groomed) horses liked
SMHU's Gordon. We stopped every 2 hours or so to consume more breakfast,
admire dead fish, sunbathe and wonder who the leader was. But eventually we
reached the yappy croft of Kernsary and limped along to Poolewe around 9
hours after starting.
Us ramblers arrived weary but relaxed in the village. So relaxed that it
took a fair while for anyone to even lift the BBQ gubbins from the bus. The
cooking capacity and heat were both limited so we bodged through and
complaints were restricted to one flask drinker. We livened up the place for
a few hours before Gordon and his luxury coach dropped us home 20 hours
after departing. Going to the NW of Scotland when it's warmish, midge free,
dry and clear is a rare but fine occasion.
Ben A'an - Bed of the
Yellow Stag - Sunday 11 May 08
With Gordon's new boots, a week of Aberdeen sunshine and luxury bus, a
little thing like locked toilets wasn't going to spoil our day. The group
decided upon two routes. Steve led the full mountain day while Jim took the
"easy" 17 miler. We started around 9am and soon split into factions. Our
first stop came at the ruin a couple of muggy hours after starting. The high
tops were shrouded in mist but the Bhuird cliffs and the odd tor came into
view. Lunch was served at the Sneck and not too soon for fly Doug.
After refreshments we were soon up on the summit tor, amazed by the warmth
and strong sun. Views came and went but Spiderman Steve seemed happy
scrambling. Sunscreen was applied and we meandered across the undulation
A'an plateau. Thick mist, snow underfoot and some amazing tors made for a
lovely traverse. All good things come to an end and the descent down to the
Linn on Avon was jarring but uneventful. After the excitement and challenges
of the Munro the march across landrover tracks to Corgarff never seemed to
end. However Steve shephered Nick and myself into arriving first.
After a quick change our thirsts were satisfied by three pints from the
Cairngorm Brewery Company. Liz was too polite to name it fully but the ovine
ale was most pleasant. The Builig crew had been emptying Jim's wallet for an
hour before we wandered in. Maybe it's best not to mention Alexis' street
doctor routine in the pub. It may just get us banned. We didn't quite have
four seasons in one day but it was great to have the contrasts of Deeside,
the most Easterly Cairngorm peak, sun blindness and the moorland and tarmac
of Donside. The coach driver and his lady got us safely through the Donside
underbelly afore reaching Liz's drop off at 8.15. Maybe next time The
Stockets are in the area they'll test out the pee-shed theory for the Dee
and Don, pursuade Doug to get a smaller flask and get everyone up the main
tor.
Lochnagar - White
Mounth White -
Saturday 12th of April 08
The
first early start of the year reduced numbers but we were soon fumbling for
twenty pences on a string at Ballater's facilities. Our slow drive up to
Loch Muick was heightened by the posturing deer on the roadside. We left
around 9am deciding upon two walks. The weather put play to out Glas Allt
ascent so the main Lochnagar path was taken by all. At around 700m and after
a tea break the group slipt into Corbett and Munro baggers.
The
Lochnagar party was led by Steve with able assistance from GPS Jim and
Michael. The snow made for slow progress and the 50 yard visibility didn't
help. With Sylvie back to mid-season form and careful avoidance of the
cliffs we eventually encircled a calm Cac Carn Beag at 1.30 pm. Prudence
dictated a return to our split point, thus avoiding group use of Steve's ice
axe. Despite the visibility issues a fair number of ptarmigan were spotted
and heard.
The
skies became clear again below 800m which made for an open walk to Crathie
car park. Apart from distractions such as the Landrover Safari and Bear
Gryllis low-flying a plane Deeside West we had trudged to the coach by 6pm.
It turned out that the Corbeteers had been there for two hours plus without
an alcoholic beverage.
The
Prince of Wales was visited by our sunburnt cheeks for only half an hour,
although the strupag deficit resulted in Tracey getting attention from two
bodachs in another hostelry. Special mention should go to Felix who
completed his first Munro, the climbers we met en route, Steve's effective
pilotage and Liz for having a full pint in the POW.
The
Fungle - Sunday 16th March 08
Today's turnout was encouraging with eight guests leaving on two spaces on
the bus. The bus or over inflated school taxi was not exaclty designed for
hillfolk and associated luggage. Nevertheless our quiet driver got us to
Tarfside and almost forgot to stop.
Despite our somewhat queasy journey the throng were soon following the
roadsigns and heading into the wind. Elevensies overlooked Cainy Hill with
West Wirrell and West Knock on the horizon. The optimistic applied sunscreen
and the rest admired Sylvie's liquid. After reaching the Col we slowly
descended to the crossroads where lunch was taken. The shower started after
the Birse castle detour and only desisted when Nick and Charlie donned
waterproof troos at the lodge. Could this be a future Xmas venue? The
delightful but trippy forest path was then followed to The Guard before we
met again at the Boat Inn.
The Rangers' public bar was forsaken in favour of the trainspotter paradise
next door. The Doug n Dave roadshow was in fine fettle as was Captain
Scarlett. Our route up Lochnagar, chicken bones, privacy signs and The
Fungle were all chewed over two pints. Who needs peak bagging when hill
tracks need to be traversed?
Pannanich Hills -
Saturday 17th February 08
The short day and
unpredictable winter conditions didn't affect attendance. The manual
spreadsheeters found twenty one on the bus, including five guests.
The Stockets left the warm bus at Deecastle into a
chilled air. The air temperature was soon forgotten as we heather bashed up
Slai na Gour. After a spot of sunbathing we were soon bagging along the
ridge. The strong sun made the Mounth a splendid sight. Our pull up Knockie
Branar was the most rewarding. We had an amazing view of the Cairngorm
platter. It was snow covered and other-worldly. One Stocket, Gordon,
wondered what they were. The answer lay on his jacket. Lochnagar and Mt Keen
looked very tempting but were sadly a step too far. During a Pedro
discussion it was concluded that GPS is incompatible with caving. After
displacing a large herd of deer we wandered for a few miles before
displacing the same herd. Our final break was on Pannanich Hill, where final
snaps were taken and views absorbed. Tracy then got an electric shock after
Steve and I nearly demolished a fence atop dyke. The peace of our descent
was only interrupted by Ian's revering bass.
We were back in Ballater and supping our first drinks by half four in the
Prince of Wales. Liam won the best beamer award, but sadly no prize was
forthcoming. Now where are those sunglasses?
Tap O' Noth -
20th January 2008
Depending on who is consulted we had between 18 and 21
souls for the first walk of the new year. A comfort break at Asda's Huntly
branch had us debating the effectiveness and efficiency of a £15 suit. The
walk started about 20 minutes later at a farm a couple of squares North of
map 37.
It was easy walking until the patchy ice became more permafrosty. The
correct forest turnings were engaged and we soon coasted over the bridge
towards the dilapadated Old Meldrum steading. We then went off-piste towards
the base of the Tap. This was fun and involved Derek and Bob forest blazing.
Eventually the sensible landrover track to the summit was located but two
thirds up it seemed more apt to clamber up the foliage (to avoid the ice).
The windy summit, although modest in height is interesting and panoramic. As
we all assembled for lunch Derek shared is eye mayo sandwich receipe, which
involved the obvious ingredients with a pinch of curry powder. Said members
moist cake larder was also commented upon. The early lunchers were soon
striding down the ice free hillside and through a field or two towards
Newseat, afore reaching the ghost town of Rhynie for 2pm.
Our walk host Sylvie had already arrived and sampled the "atmosphere". The
Gordon Arms was awakened by our presence despite Bob's ill-advised foray
into Aussie lager. After a couple of drinks and a discussion of field
imprisonment for joy riders Sylvie was soon directing us to the bus. But
sadly we never found out if joy-riders wear cheap suits.
Brown Cow Hill -
The Hogmanay Walk
2007
After a brief discussion of potential hills and associated hostelries
Strathdon's Brown Cow Hill was decided upon, despite the initial lack of
Aviemore maps. Corgarff Castle was agreed as the rendezvous point.
Six vehicles, eleven engaitered humans and a
couple of bespoke "girls" called Megan and Lola came along for the trek. We
started around ten in the ground of said bright castle, before joining the
land rover track that ascends Carn Oighreag. Sadly the icy track was left
and we skitted through the frozen peat hags before reaching the cold and
misty summit plateau. After finding the true summit cairn and a cold snap
lunch we descended down to Meoir Veannaich and forward to Inchmore. The
drizzle got a little heavier and the tarmac access road back to the cars was
taken, where another discussion ensued.
The discussants favoured Ian's invitation, as long as the Treasurer could
get some beer and soup. Our convoy took the dreich road back to Ballater
before arriving at an easterly Aboyne home. Said house has the sort of view
that Colin Baxter would hanker after. This was more dramatic given the
haunted Deeside corridor with its perforated forest. We were expertly fed
and watered before departing for Aberdeen's fog lights, eight hours afore
2008.
Christmas Walk and
Party - 8th December 2007
Despite the cold bus trip and
relatively late start the Stockets were in fine form.
Morrone's dusted ascent warmed folk up before the chilled lunch stop
reminded us of Winter proper. The meander along the ridge was hampered
slightly by driving snow showers. The group then split into the keen beans
who tacked another hillock, and the others who joined the path for home. On
the road home two nubiles were keen to accost Dave and Liam but were
unsuccessful.
Most walkers returned by 4.30 or so and perchanced a shower and changed. No
coal fires were found but a number of rooms were investigated including the
drawing room which proved an excellent Mar Lodge meeting space. The G&Ts
were savoured and fancy dress donned before the camera marathon started. Has
no-one heard of file sharing?
Into the function room we wandered for our alcoholic three courses. Before
the dancing penny whistles were played, speeches made and The Apprentice
displayed. Tracy fell early in the dancing and Peter provided ribbed
assistance. We stayed warm by gyrating to popular
beat combos as well a Jimmy Shand session. A very wet road home resulted in
a home time approaching 3am.
The fancy dress? Just ask the seven foot school girl with the Alice Cooper
uniform....
Glen Esk to Glen Clova - 11th
November 2007
Another stagecoach populated with more than
twenty members departed at 7am on a
crisp November day. Sylvester, the driver
of
choice, got us calmly to Glen Esk without direction or prompting from one
G Stalker. The air temperature was slightly lower at Loch
Lee, and Steve calmly reassured us that the wind would be at our backs.
The clouds darkened and snow started to perforate the warmest of fleeces.
Despite the wintry conditions the pace was only
halted for two minutes of Remembrance,
and Dave Cook's stunt man fall near a stream. After sightings of mountain
hares and deer we eventually heathered it up the Corbett, Ben Tirren.
Despite the wind-chill freezing a water bottle or two lunch was gobbled
before the final ascent and welcome descent to the Glen
Clova Hotel where a number of folks had conflabs about the Elie Chain
Walk, the strength of the local real ale and the gentrification of the
Climbers Bar. Did we mention the Christmas party?
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