Journal 2011
Burns Supper Meet, Crianlarich, 28-30 January 2011
Fifteen people descended on the Ochils Mountaineering Club hut at Inverardran, Crianlarich to celebrate the poet Burns and do some walking besides! The Saturday dawned bright and dry and so most people got up a hill - 12 man-Munros were climbed in spite of deer stalking plus 6 man-Corbetts. Some of the Munro baggers did not return until after the soup course, keeping up the FMC tradition! The haggis was piped in and addressed by a bonnie lassie and we all ate our fill. There then followed an evening of poetry, wine and song, accompanied by fiddle and whistle. Only 8 man-Grahams were achieved on the Sunday, possibly a reflection on the weather which had become rather damp and cold!
Nethybridge, 4-6 March 2011
This was a popular meet, due in part to the promise of a communal meal cooked by Neil on the Saturday night, which fully lived up to expectations! First we had to do some exercise to make room for the food so 6 man-Munros, 5 man-Corbetts, 2 man-Grahams and some rounds of golf were achieved on the Saturday. Mullach Clach a’ Bhlair was traversed on skis, the Monadh Liath traversed on foot, the Corbetters were rewarded by magnificent views of the Cairngorms and a herd of reindeer was met on the Cromdale Hills. And everyone made it back in time for dinner! More rounds of golf were played on the Sunday while others climbed a Corbett and (whisper it) a Marilyn! The weather was fair, the food good and the company excellent - what more could one ask for?
Milehouse, Kincraig, 25-27 March 2011
Ten intrepid mountaineers went to Milehouse at the end of March. Five of them went for a LONGish ski tour on the Great Moss, taking in Carn Ban Mor, Tom Dubh and Monadh Mor. Unfortunately the Moss was the only thing that was great – the weather and snow conditions were not and so no photos of this expedition! They had to do a lot of navigating in clag, but enjoyed it nonetheless. Two went for a forest walk in Inshriach Forest on Saturday. One went birdwatching, one went for a bike ride to Loch an Eilean and one drove over to Glenlivet and climbed “The Bochel” - a fine wee Marilyn.
On the Sunday, after an extremely relaxed and convivial breakfast, two climbed Creag Dubh and one did more birdwatching. Two headed off to Dun Coillich (a wee Marilyn near Schiehallion) and two went for a walk on the Inch Marshes bird reserve.
The Smiddy, Dundonnell, Easter Meet, 22-26 April 2011
A total of eight people attended the Easter Meet to The Smiddy, Dundonnell at some point over the long weekend however there were never more than six sleeping in the hut thanks to the webmaster opting to sleep in her car. (Useful things, Mondeo estates - 50mpg and the ability to turn it into a campervan. Given the number of club members who have owned one, perhaps we should rename the club the Ferranti Mondeo Club.)
The weather steadily improved over the weekend allowing lots of hills to be climbed, although an early start on the Sunday was not the best idea if one wanted to avoid a soaking! The roll call was as follows: Sgurr Mor, Beinn Liath Mhor Fannaich, An Teallach, Sgorr Ruadh, A’ Chailleach, Sgurr Breac, Am Faochagach, Fionn Bheinn, 14 Grahams (Charlie on an extended break) and 2 Marilyns. Two canoeists went out paddling on the Sunday round Gruinard Bay and three visited Inverewe Gardens, although the £9 entrance fee for non-NTS members acted as a deterrent on one who went on a free forest walk instead!
Conversation around the octagonal dining table was lively as always, although a slight note of envy of the club’s RENKLIs could be detected coming from the wage-slaves! (RENKLI=retired early, no kids, loving it!) In the interests of fairness it should be pointed out that it was not a pensioner who arrived at the meet in a brand-new Ford Mondeo Titanium estate! (Ed: Are Ford sponsoring this website?)
The webmaster completely failed to convince the others present of the merit of using Facebook to promote the club and will henceforth avoid using the F-word if others will avoid using the M-word. Otherwise the club will be renamed the Ferranti Marilyn Club and a Facebook page of the same name will be created!
Lots of wildlife was spotted, including otters, an eagle, great northern diver, black-throated diver, wheatears, ravens, goats, puffins, lizards (on the hill as well as the ones sunning themselves on the end wall of the hut of an evening) and, that rare and endangered species, a person with a final-salary pension!
By the Monday night we were down to three, which was a pity as Tuesday was the best day of the lot. Only one person managed to make full use of it by climbing Fionn Bheinn before heading home. (The advantages of being part-time and self-employed!)
It was agreed that this had been one of the best meets to Dundonnell in a long time, helped in no small part by the unseasonal weather. Long may it continue!
Ferranti Caravanning Club Inaugural Meet, July 2011
Only one person attended this meet, however it is hoped that in future more members will be persuaded of the advantages of caravanning, and will not be put off by the report which follows!
Saturday 16 July Set off from Aberdeen in dull but dry weather and had a good drive until I got lost up the back of Nairn looking for Culloden campsite and the caravan had a close encounter with a high stone wall, leaving it somewhat the worse for wear! Finally arrived at the site just as the heavens opened. Found a pitch and reversed on to it perfectly. Unhitched the caravan only to find that the pitch was sloping and I couldn’t level the caravan. Hitched up again (in the pouring rain) and tried to drive it to another pitch. Did a sweeping turn only to find myself looking at my caravan, nose down in a flower tub, in front of me! (Memo to self - ALWAYS make sure you are hitched on properly!) At this point the warden decided to come and help me, before I demolished his campsite! Went to sleep later to the sound of drumming rain.
Sunday 17 July A lovely sunny day, if a little squelchy underfoot. Got the table and chairs up outside and was able to inspect the damage left by the wall - scratched side panel, broken window and broken battery cover hinge. Fortunately not so bad that I couldn’t continue the holiday, with the help of some duct tape. (Postscript - the repair bill is estimated to be £2000!)
Monday 18 July Left Culloden and drove up to John O’ Groats. Managed to successfully negotiate the hairpin bends of Berridale Braes - phew! Stopped at Tescos in Wick to get groceries and fill the tank. It cost over £55 in diesel to go from Aberdeen to Wick - 30mpg average. Ouch!
Tuesday 19 July, Wednesday 20 July Pitched at my cousin’s farm at Groats.
Thursday 21 July Had a good drive down to Inverness, then things started going downhill again….when an old boy in Morrison’s carpark noticed a large puddle of coolant underneath the car! However the friendly breakdown man from Spean Bridge took me and the caravan to Morvich campsite and the car on to a garage at Kyle of Lochalsh. Had to spend the night in the late arrivals area just inside the gate but it was better than being back in Dunfermline!
Friday 22 July Caravan towed on to a pitch by the warden with his mini tractor. Fantastic view of Beinn Fhada from the windows! Garage said the car wouldn’t be fixed until Monday so decided to climb Sgurr an Airgid above the campsite. Was more than halfway up when I got a phone call to say the car was fixed! Arranged to collect car on Saturday and finished the climb - I’d already failed to get to the summit of this hill once before and was determined to make it this time! Rewarded with fantastic views.
Saturday 23 July Walked out to the Jacobite Restaurant and got the bus to Kyle - 8 quid! Highway robbery! Got a few bits and pieces for the caravan in the Marine Stores, Kyle and then sat in the sun with a 99. Pure bliss!
Sunday 24 July Another hot, sunny day. Headed off to Arnisdale and Beinn Sgritheall. Couldn’t find the start of the path up to the west ridge so went up from Arnisdale. Lost the path higher up and had some scary moments on some very loose boulders however it was a good climb and I managed to find the path on the way down! Wonderful views from the summit. A good hill!
Monday 25 July Went to look at the brochs in Gleann Beag then spent the afternoon on the beach at Glenelg - even went for a dip!
Tuesday 26 July Yet another hot, sunny day - shame I had to pack up and go home! Stopped in Laggan for an ice cream on the way back and had a wander round the churchyard where some of my ancestors are buried. Seemed a pity to get home too early! Rosemary
The Cabin, Laggan, October 2011
Nine people attended this meet - almost a full house!
On the Saturday morning eight people left to climb Carn Eilrig but were turned back due to stalking so they went up Creag a’ Chalamain instead. They got a view from the summit in spite of 35-40mph winds. A beautiful walk through Rothiemurchus Forest with lovely autumn colours. Rosemary went to Ralia, tempted equally by the lemon drizzle cake and the free wifi, and then visited an old friend in Newtonmore.
On the Saturday evening we celebrated Andy and Audrey’s 1st wedding anniversary - quote from Andy - “A year with me is the equivalent of 20 with anyone else”! A crack team finished the Times Cryptic Crossword, the last clue being “travelling with an unknown couple, lots ready for foreign trip” - answer “zlotys”.
Sunday dawned bright and fair however none of us were up that early to see it! The wind was still stiff and the west was cloudy however that did not deter Tony and Graeme who went up Binnein Shuas at Loch Laggan. Rosemary went for a walk above Dowally en route home, after pancakes and latte in Dowally Craft Centre. Everyone else just headed home.
Annual Dinner Meet, Killin, November 2011
Twelve folk congregated in the bar of the Killin Hotel on Friday 4th November, and were joined by a visitor who had contacts with the FMC in the early days. He came with various old photos and a menu for the Annual Dinner in 1958!
Saturday started cold and foggy in the glens - a typical temperature inversion. Rosemary opted to cycle in to Creag Mhor along the higher track - a good choice given the conditions in the valley below! The sun soon came out and the day was fine with just a couple of light showers and some cloud brushing the tops. James and Amanda climbed Ben Challum and were rewarded with views of the Lomonds in Fife. Simon and Ruth added Beinn Nan Oighreag to their list of Corbetts. Tony and Fiona climbed Ben Lawers and Beinn Ghlas. Hillary and Rhona cycled from Killin to Balquidder via the cycle track and Glen Ogle railway. Unfortunately the Golden Larches coffee shop was closed! Audrey and Andy had a good day in the Tarmachans. Neil, Clare, Gavin and Douglas drove to the Lawers Inn and did An Stuc, Meall Greigh and Meall Garbh, followed by a drink back at the Inn. Tony and Andrea cycled from the Lawers car park down to Glen Lyon and back to the hotel by Loch Tay, recovering their car later. All in all 21 man-Munros and 2 man-Corbetts were bagged - not a bad haul.
On Saturday night 25 sat down for an excellent dinner, followed by a short speech from the President and another from the Past-President.
Sunday started cold and misty but soon became an even better day than Saturday. Rosemary gave a guided tour of her caravan to interested parties, in the hope of increasing the caravanning section of the club! Simon, Ruth and Rosemary then did Meall nan Subh - an easy Corbett (especially if you brave the potholes of the old hydro road) with great views all round. Tony and Douglas climbed Meall a’ Mhuic in Glen Lyon while Fiona and Heather went for a low-level walk in the Glen. Hillary and Rhona cycled around the Killin area, including along to the lochside on the old railway track bed and James and Amanda set off to do Meall Glas and Beinn Imirean.
Christmas Dinner Meet, Muir of Inverey, 9-11 December 2011
Seven hardy souls managed to get to Muir on the Friday night - Pete and Helen, Tony and Keith with Rosemary, Douglas and James - passing lots of suicidal mountain hares en route and noticing that the Perthshire side of the Glenshee road was much clearer than the Aberdeenshire side.
Saturday dawned clear and cold with a dusting of fresh snow. Pete and Helen got away first to do Beinn Bhreac and got a lift out from Derry Lodge courtesy of Aberdeen MRT. Douglas and James with Rosemary had a superb day on Creag nan Gabhar but unfortunately, only one photo was taken due to a frozen camera battery! Tony and Keith did Carn Aosda on skis and went over the back to Loch Vrotachan. Neil, Clare and Gavin climbed Monamenach on the way up to the meet and were able to try out their new snow socks for the car in the slippy Glen Isla car park. Calum and Heather went sledging at Glenshee and Andy and Audrey did Carn Aosda and the Cairnwell on foot. Brian and Anne went for a walk round Braemar.
Back at the hut much effort was spent in doing a jigsaw of a map of the Cairngorms while Gavin and Heather showed their budding capitalist streaks at Monopoly.
The menu for the Saturday evening was as follows:
Mulled wine and mince pies
Tomato and Basil soup
Venison stew with port and mushrooms Squash, mini-aubergines and peppers in antipasto
Carrots and parsnips with Rosemary
Roast potatoes with Rosemary
Mustard-basted ham with cumberland sauce
Christmas Pudding with brandy butter
Trifle
This was followed by the traditional walk along to Linn of Dee, in moonlight this year.
The weather on Sunday was less inspiring with some showers and wind on the summits however Douglas and James climbed Morrone, as did the Williams family and Andy, Audrey, Tony and Keith climbed Creag Choinnich above Braemar with Rosemary - a fine wee hill with good views.