Christmas Bothy Trip, Polmood Bothy, Tweedsmuir: 3rd December 2016

Five members enjoyed a very sociable evening at Polmood bothy.

Thanks to Joe for organizing and providing transport.

Shalloch on Minnoch - KMC midweek mountaineers 

A wee day out for the midweek mountaineers section of the Kyle Mountain Club.
With some snow on the hills we headed o the Galloways and walked up Shalloch on Minnoch. 

Kyle Mountain Club Annual Dinner Meet 2016

The KMC held its annual dinner meet in Pitlochry.

On the Friday evening Jackie Magill organised an evening to the Festival theatre where members enjoyed a production of Para Handy, here talented actors and actresses showed off their musical and thespian talents, amusing us with a series of short sketches and songs based around the prop in the shape of the “Vital Spark”

During daylight hours with good weather, different members undertook a variety of walks, some venturing up Schiehallion with its improved path and snowy summit, while others went to Beinn Vrackie and a variety of lower level walks.

In the evening a bus took the group to the Pitlochry Golf club where the caterers provided an excellent meal. 

The highlight of the evening was the awarding of the Quaich to Frank Jones for his services to the club and the passing round of the Quaich from which to toast him.

On the Sunday a walk was organised to the Hermitage at Dunkeld . A good choice as the trees looked splendid in their autumn colours.

Len's Last Corbett: 2nd Nov 2016

With the company of some friends I climbed the Corbett Ben Vrackie at Pitlochry in good weather today.

That completes the list of all the 222 Corbetts. Many thanks to all that have helped or accompanied me on my quest. 

Having completed my hillwalking, I had to find something to do with my boots!

Len Foreman

Coppermines Valley, Coniston, LakeDistrict: 21st - 23rd October

The weekend saw 14 members of the Kyle Mountain Club heading to the Lake District. 

 Our base was the Barrow Mountaineering Club Cottage in the Coppermines Valley, Coniston. Our comfortable accommodation had been the former mine manager’s house with what had been the stables now the kitchen.

The area had been extensively mined for copper, possibly back to Roman times, but most extensively in the mid nineteenth century.

Both on Saturday and Sunday we were blessed with glorious weather. On Saturday the majority of the group did a circuit of the Coniston Fells including the Old Man of Coniston, Swirl How and Wetherlam – quite a big day. The extensive remains of the old workings, some reaching up to 700m height, did not detract from the walk and made us appreciate what a difficult and dangerous life the miners must have had. We had great views of most of the major Lakeland Peaks and could see as far south as Morecambe Bay. Cameras were much in use.

Saturday evening was spent at the cottage when a splendid communal meal was enjoyed by all.

Sunday was spent by visiting the likes of Ambleside and Keswick and also admiring the wonderful autumn colours of the surrounding area.

Strawberry Cottage; 16th - 23rd Oct

7 members of the club were at Strawberry Cottage in Glen Affric over the weekend of 16-19 September.

We all met in the carpark at the end of the Glen Affric road and transferred into 2 vehicles for the drive up to the bridge just before the hut and, after a few quick shuttle runs, we were soon happily ensconced with enough provisions to last out a siege. With the water sorted and the fire going we soon had the hut toasty. 

Up bright and breezy on the Saturday we all headed out to our various objectives; the Corbetts Carn a’Choire Garbh and Aonach Shasuinn (on the south side of Loch Affric), Sgurr Gaorsaic (at the western end of the glen beyond Alltbeithe); and the ridge walk along the north side of the Glen over Stob Coire na Cloiche and onto the Munro Sgurr nan Ceathramhnan. Good weather gave stunning views as the respective parties reached their targets and returned to the bothy to enjoy a communal meal.

Sunday dawned fine but the good weather did not last with the cloud level soon dropping down to about the 750m level. One of us had to leave to get back for work on Monday one hardy soul opted for the Corbetts on the south side of Loch Affric while the majority decided that a low level walk was the order of the day and headed up Gleann na Ciche. Two members of this group went as far as the bealach overlooking Loch Claunie to see what they could see but of course saw hee-haw. Back to base where another excellent meal and an evening of games brought our final day to a close.

Knoydart, 18-22 August 2016

Fine weather was pre-booked for the club outing to Knoydart where we stayed at the Knoydart Foundation Bunkhouse at Inverie.

Corbetts, Munros, coastal walks, & a bit of deep sea paddling (well up to the ankles at least) were all accomplished by the 6 members present, plus an additional cruise to Mallaig & back to check that the car had actually been locked - it had!

Mother nature decided that fine weather Thurs - Sat was ample and so it was damp outings on Sunday and a damp return on Monday, but considering how we fared on our last trip anything short of a monsoon was a definite bonus. As usual the midge battalions were out in force thus ensuring that the morning getaway was a quick route march to gain some height where a welcome breeze kept the blighters at bay.

Day walk Rhinns of Kells - 14 Aug 2016

5 members of the club (+ Jaffa) enjoyed a good day out along the Rhinns. Meeting at Forrest Lodge we headed up onto Corserine the over Millfie & Milldown and on to Meikle Millea before descending down over Meikle Lump and back to the forest track and the carpark.

40th Anniversary B-B-Q

Corrie, Arran: 24^th - 26^th June

The celebration BBQ was based at Corrie & Sannox Village Hall on the Island of Arran.  

The Kyle Club is an Ayrshire based mountaineering club so Arran was the obvious choice for this event.  The Club has a long history and attachment to this fantastic Island well known as "Scotland in miniature". There certainly is something there for everyone.   

The Village hall also has been used by the club on many occasions over the years so again a reason to return.

Early morning breakfast in the sun

Everyone had a great time and activities ranged from climbing the many peaks on the Island, coastal walks, circumnavigating the Island on bike and even one member decided to cycle to Campbeltown and back utilising the Lochranza to Claonaig Ferry.  

We were blessed with fantastic weather over the weekend and the midges even decided to stay away on the Saturday evening for the BBQ.

Everyone returned home with a suntan and fond memories of a great weekend.  

 It was a time to reflect and celebrate 40 glorious years of the club.