Meet Report: 27 February – 2 March 2025

Held at the Ochils Mountaineering Club’s Inverardran Cottage.

This was Tom Spencer’s first meet as leader. He performed his duties admirably with the help of Jonathan Bird to cook the haggis. In spite of several trolley loads of food in ASDA the usual three courses were dispensed with for lentil curry on Friday and the traditional haggis augmented by a vegetarian version on Saturday. In the evenings we were joined by a member of the OMC who shared stories of snowboarding over whisky. The hut was warm and comfortable and Tom was an excellent host. However, the author took note of advice not to volunteer for the meet with the activities you most want to participate in as she has unwisely with already volunteered for the July meet at the Roaches.

After Tom Spencer and Johnny Bird, Michael Smith started next earliest of the group with a continuation of his county top quest on Tuesday: West Lomond Hill, the historic county top of Fife. Wednesday: Braeriach 1296m in the Cairngorms.

The group proper started to assemble on Thursday. Michael visited Carn a Ghille Chearr 710m the historic county top of Morayshire (north of Boat of Garten) with reindeer, a slog through heather.

Having rendez-vous’d at Glasgow airport and dropped bags at the hut, Fiona and Toby went to Glencoe where they scrambled up Pink Rib (in summer conditions) to the summit of Beinn a’ Chrùlaiste (in snow). The top afforded a decent view of the conditions on the lower sides of both Buachailles and on Creise, with the summits obscured by clouds.

Mick and Conrad travelled up from the Borders, breaking the journey on the way to climb Ben Venue (729m), one of the rockiest hills in the Trossachs.  They started from Loch Ard and ascended the partially wooded Ledard Glen crossing some boggy areas, then some occasional mild scrambling to the snow-free summit which afforded great views of Ben Lomond, Loch Katrine, Ben Lawers and other snow-capped mountains in the Southern Highlands. They returned the same way.

James Smart, Andrew Jarman and Imogen Campion met at Ingleton Community Centre before heading to Crainlarich. The four-hour drive went smoothly, arriving in good time to join the team.

Friday

Ramblers woke to clear skies and after fueling with caffeine, pastries and hot cross buns were eager for the day ahead. Despite Tom Spencer’s description of a ‘small’ walk, the day turned into quite an adventure for Imogen Campion, Jack Turner, James Smart, Johnny Bird, and Tom. The route took them from the Three Sisters Viewpoint up to Stob Coire Nan Lochan via the Lost Valley. They completed 6.32 miles with 3,543ft of ascent. What was labelled as “short and easy” actually took seven hours, though favourable conditions allowed for good practice with crampons and ice axes.

Fiona and Toby’s initial plan to climb at Cam Chreag was scuppered by poor conditions on the crag, so they decided to switch plans and go for a traverse of the Tarmachan Ridge. As they were setting off, Andrew, Conrad and Mick arrived in the car park so they paused and made a team of five.

Mick was keen to do a repeat traverse of the Tarmachan Ridge with Conrad and Andrew. As he didn’t have any stiff boots, crampons or axe, Andrew borrowed boots from Conrad and hardware from Ian, who was planning to stay below the snowline. He was then persuaded to take some time learning how to securely strap-on the crampons in the comfort of the kitchen before having to do it on the hill. At the Ben Lawers NNR car park they joined Fiona and Toby. They had a very pleasant day with good views and some blue skies once the cloud had lifted. There was plenty of soft snow and lots of mountain hare tracks but sadly, they didn’t see any. Meall Tarmachan was soon underfoot, and they made swift progress along the crest to Meall Garbh and then down to the narrowest part of the ridge. They descended to the top of the Grade 1 scramble which was partially covered with soft snow and ice, but not enough to benefit from getting the axes out. However, crampons were needed and Andrew’s practicing paid dividends. With the crux safely passed, Beinn nan Eachan was soon underfoot and a return made via the old quarry track.

Michael decided to join Ian on a walk up Beinn Donachain in Glen Orchy. The start was familiar.  They drove to Dalmally, before turning up the glen towards the curiously named Catnish to start the walk. They stopped to locate a bridge crossing to start the walk – it was shown on the 1:50000 scale OS map but not the 1:25000 scale and more crucially the bridge itself had gone, with a wide and deep section of the River Orchy confronting them.  After a brief shuffling of maps, apps and minds, they got back into the car and drove another 2 km up the road to a car park by Eas Urchaidh (waterfall) and to much relief, an impressive new iron bridge across the river.

They followed a hill path up through trees, passing warning signs for tree felling (ongoing on opposite side of burn) that led them to Lochan Coire Thoraidh, beyond which they found a firebreak taking them to open hillside. They had a close encounter with two ravens as they were caught in the wind above them, next passing the aptly named Heart Loch, before reaching a deer fence and gate in a NW direction, then SW to the summit. 

They enjoyed views of Beinn Challuim, Lui and Ben Cruachan, before sheltering from the chilly wind for lunch.  Next, they followed the ascent route without detour back to the car, with views towards the Bridge of Orchy Munros.

Anca and David Large wandered up two Munros on North side of Glen Dochart, Meall Glas and Sgiath Chuil. The ground was swampy low down, but there were good views and decent snow on tops. A scattering of ravens kept them amused and they enjoyed great views to Campsie Fells and further. A traditional return in dark was much commented on over dinner met with the wry reply that it wouldn’t be a proper day out otherwise. Solvig arrived to help with lighting grills and ovens on Friday after finishing teaching duties at Leeds Uni. The evening meal was welcome by all and everyone discussed Saturday’s plans over dinner.

Saturday

The alarm buzzed Jack Turner and Imogen awake first at 6am. They had planned to tackle the Aonach Eagach Ridge, however, Imi’s Garmin watch, ever the faithful health monitor, displayed a gentle warning: after just six hours of poor sleep, it suggested taking a rest day. Scotland’s second longest ridge suddenly seemed a bit ambitious. They opted instead for the more welcoming Pap of Glencoe, a distinctive peak overlooking Glen Coe. This proved to be the perfect choice – a thoroughly enjoyable day that reminded us sometimes the gentler option is the wiser one.

With rumours that Stob Coire nan Lochan was in condition, Fiona and Toby headed north west. While the rain stopped, the forecasted drop in the freezing level didn’t materialise and the snow at higher levels was softer than ideal. Upon arrival at the corrie lochs, Toby’s rucksack suffered a shoulder strap failure. Combined with the marginal conditions underfoot this was enough to have Fiona and Toby beat a retreat to the Clachaig for coffee and cake, before walking 500m to the mound where Hagrid’s Hut once stood in the Harry Potter films.

An ascent of the Aonach Eagach ridge on Stob Ghabhar was tackled by Mick, Conrad, Andrew, and Johnny. Leaving the car at Victoria Bridge, they followed the track to the tiny Clashgour Hut (a former schoolhouse) and on up the stalkers path. Happily the cloud lifted just in time to pick out the easiest line from Coire Toaig onto the eastern end of the ridge. All enjoyed the long snowy ascent over mixed terrain to the narrow crest and onto Stob Ghabhar’s summit.  They descended the SE ridge passing the superb waterfalls tumbling down Creag an Steallaire.

Ian and James decided to walk on a hill near to Crianlarich. They took the obvious route up Beinn Damhain, along a track from Glen Falloch and up Lairig Arnan. The track ascended steeply in a series of zigzags beneath the eastern slopes of Troisgeach. They paused at numerous hydro catchment concrete constructions, leaving the track and heading below the east ridge towards Lochan Beinn Damhan then east via knolls and rock outcrops which made the ascent absorbing.  A good deer track took them past what looked initially to be the top, before a final short steep section to the main summit.  Ben Vorlich to their south and the Crianlarich Munros dominated their views.  They descended by the same route, searching for signs of animal life, seeing only animal tracks and ptarmigan and deer droppings.

Anca, David, Tom and Matt intended doing West Buttress III on Beinn an Dothaidh. It depended on either good ice/snow or frozen turf to take axe placements.  What we found was unfrozen wet turf, slushy snow, and falling icicles. This is a terrible combination, neither summer or winter and insecure. The saturated turf offers little or no resistance, axe placements slice through. The previous day would have been better with freezing level at 900m.

Solvig and Michael went to explore the Lost Valley. The going was good and crampons unnecessary until just below the Lost Valley Buttress. The followed the Left-Hand Gulley for Solvig’s first grade 1 winter ascent. After the views over Glen Etive to Bens Starav and Cruachan a curve right (northeast) along the ridge lined them up to head for the col with Stob Coire nan Lochan. The steepening descent of the narrow blocky ridge required care to reach the col at 1000m. Stepping off the col of Bidean Nam Bian onto the steep wet snow to face in and kick into existing steps, axe shaft planted and a hand jabbed into the snow, required faith that footholds would compact and hold. Thankfully they did, though snow cover in some places was less than a boot-length. After 20m faster progress was made southeast down the gully by facing out.  The angle lessened as they joined a stream line of snow over gravel and small outcrops under Lost Valley Buttress. Only as they joined the ascent path did the snow clear.

Sunday

Mick and Conrad drove home via the Ochils for a short walk and ascended Dumyat from Pendreich Forest car park. This is a deservedly popular outing and the summit is a splendid viewpoint over Stirling, Wallace’s Monument and the Central Belt with several Bens in the distance.

Before dropping Fiona off at Glasgow airport, the Smiths continued Michael’s quest for county tops and stone circles with a walk up the 4000yr old burial mound Cairnpapple Hill, the historic county top of West Lothian, 312m. They continued on to The Knock (outcrop and two faux stone circles dating from 1998), and Bathgate Hills where they searched for crinoid fossils, on Ian’s advice.

Attendees

Jonathan Bird (PM), Mick Borroff, Imogen Campion, Solvig Choi, Matt Clark (G), Toby Dickinson, Ian Hawkes, Andrew Jarman, David Large, Anca Pordea, James Smart (PM), Fiona Smith, Michael Smith, Tom Spencer, Conrad Tetley, Jack Turner (G).