Meet Report: 16-19 February 2023 at the Braedownie Hut, Glen Clova.

Scotland, what’s the weather doing? Search the forecasts and as usual the heart sinks. One forecast indicated winds reaching 70 mph and it was clear that there was now little or no snow. Travelling up on the Thursday the weather was fine, fish supper, no white pudding, in Kirriemuir then on to the Glen.

The new Braedownie Hut is located at the head of the Glen, at the end of the road in Glen Clova, a long cul-de-sac and is in the possession of Carn Dearg Mountaineering Club. The accommodation has a large combined kitchen, dining and sitting room. The wood burning fire kept the hut cosy and there was ample car parking. The two dorms were very snug which encouraged those of us of a shy disposition to sleep in the living room. The fridge was rather small too. There were many instructions to read, around the hut, to ward off the risk of boredom. The instructions for the shower were extensively detailed which to my simple mind boiled down to ‘wait for the green light’. 

Fifteen places were booked and the meet was fully subscribed. However David Large, Anca Pordea and Ignacio Corradini travelling from Nottingham on the Thursday stopped off overnight at David’s family home after visiting the International Climbing Arena at Ratho (close to Edinburgh Airport) in the afternoon.  The arena is set within a disused quarry with artificial climbing walls of up to 28 m. Current cost per day is £12-50. Sufficiently warmed-up after a few climbs on a top rope, the three did a few lead climbs each on one of the four main walls at grades from 5+ to 7a.

Mike Smith and Tom Spencer took the opportunity to take a diversion on the way up to stretch the legs at a gentle trot above the River Swale, starting and finishing, by a full length, from Richmond’s old Racecourse Common. A brisk pace was maintained due to the echo of tank fire to the south and small arms fire to the north.

Friday morning, bright and very breezy, clouds were scudding quickly but the wind not as fierce in the Glen as anticipated. Mike, Richard Smith, Steve McCain and Tom headed for Mayar and Driesh returning via a slippery Corrie of Farchal. They managed to locate some inclined snow on which to practice their ice axe arrest technique. The ubiquitous deer were spotted and two hares in their winter garb were set running.

Wendy and Steve Richards with Ian Hawkes stepped northwards from the hut finding relative shelter in the glen then headed for Broad Cairn, returning with the wind to their backs along the skyline and dropping down via the Capel Road. Joyfully, ptarmigan, hares and deer were recorded.    

Mick Borroff, Conrad Tetley, Richard Taylor, Mike Gregg and Chris Hilton drove a little way to the Clova Hotel (closed) to wander, in a clockwise direction on the recommendation of Ian, over Green Hill via The Snub and on to The Goet and back along the road. A decapitated hare, a mummified pheasant and the skeletal remains of a sheep decorated their path. Views of Lochnagar and Mount Keen made up for the forlorn fauna.   

The Large group arrived at the hut around one pm to avoid the worst of the weather and wandered up Jock’s Road to just beyond Davie’s Bourach. This is an emergency shelter with a capacious sleeping platform. Vast tracts of fallen trees from a 2022 storm were a sight to behold. This short perambulation occasioned the Large party returning to the Hut before dark, a rare occurrence.

Richard S and Mike, the latter of whom, in a previous life must have been a ferret as nothing misses his inquisitive eye, set out before dinner to locate the Hole of Weems just a short step from the Hut and a little way above the road. This is listed in a 1980 SMC guidebook as ‘rough accommodation’. I’m certain founding members of the YRC would have considered this rocky space luxurious.

Chris provided the catering. Judging the correct volume and variety of comestibles when trying to avoid waste and keep costs down is a fine balance however murmurings in the ranks were voiced from certain curmudgeonly members when they discovered there was no marmalade, insufficient pudding and no cooked breakfast! I would contend that the comprehensive continental breakfast provided would put our neighbouring landmass to shame. As usual many hands made light work of dishing up and cleaning the pots.

Saturday morning dawned to a bright calm sky and 3 to 4 inches of fresh snow in the Glen and considerably more on the tops. The Large party, with Tom, had already planned to drive to Lochnagar, a two and a half hour journey requiring an early start and an early breakfast.

The Smiths headed for Broad Cairn from where their paths diverged. Mike joined up with Steve McC, now heading south-east and retraced the path, now snow covered, taken by the Richards and Ian the day before. Richard S with an excess of youthfulness, continued on to Cairn Bannoch, Tolmount and Tom Buidhe, returning along Jock’s Road in Glen Doll no doubt whistling Jacobean rebel songs.

Ian, along with Mick and Mike, motored south out of Glen Clova with an eye to a traverse of the hills above Glen Uig following the watershed and finishing on Broom Hill.  

The rest set off for Mayar and Driesh. The soft wet snow draped the woodland which created that serene hush. The snow would soon begin to melt but under a blue sky looked very picturesque. On the last shoulder below the top of Mayar a light mist rose obscuring any view and remained for the rest of the day. There were several parties tramping these hills and any number of hungry dogs. The Richards had a desire to continue along the broad ridge beyond Driesh to Cairn Inks then dropping down to the Clova Hotel, so from Mayar they quickly vanished into the thickening mist.  

The Large party traversed the broad boulder strewn corrie of Lochnagar scouting for a route in condition. There was some solid neve under the fresh snow but nothing appealing so the party contented themselves with an ascent of Black Spout following the left-hand branch which led to a precarious cornice. Reaching the summit around 4.00 pm and back to the car by 7.00 pm guaranteed a late arrival at their lodgings. Those of us sitting comfortably in the hut took turns to guess the hour of their return but nobody had guessed after 10.00 pm. The atmosphere was light as the familiar late return was not due to the often bad weather or the severity of the climb. Absent friends!

The day was not without some excitement. On his return Ignacio was sporting a small cut above his left eye, in the style once popular in institutions such as Heidelberg University, and fresh blood was still trickling down his cheek. The injury was sustained while negotiating the cornice. Last laugh to the Old Man.

Sunday dawned and the sun edged the tops of the opposite snowy hillside with a sharp pink line which quickly blurred as the sun rose.

Chores and away down the road. I must thank everyone for their unstinting contribution in cleaning and leaving the Hut in good order. Tasks were underway or completed before I had a chance to ask for volunteers. Wendy thoroughly cleaned, amongst other things the electric fridge in the manner of a March Out Clean. Having lived in the USA, this little fridge was child’s play.

The weather was better than expected and a pleasant time was had by all amongst old and new faces.

Anca Pordea, Chris Hilton (report), Conrad Tetley, David Large, Ian Hawkes, Ignacio Corradini (G), Michael Smith, Mick Borroff, Mike Gregg, Richard Smith, Richard Taylor, Steve McCain (PM), Steve Richards, Tom Spencer, Wendy Richards.