Christmas Bothy Trip, Polmood - 13th December 2018

Meet cancelled due to the funeral of a members wife.

Robertson Lamb Hut, Great Langdale, Lake District: 19th - 21th October.

The club October meet was based in the Wayfarers' Club hut, Great Langdale, Lake District

Bad weather conditions, low clag and light to heavy drizzle, kept the walking low-level.

Len, Bob, Ian and Jackie with Barney the dog did a 10 mile round trip from hut to Little Langdale, Elterwater and Chapel Stile.

Frank and John walked from hut to Old Dungeon Ghyll hotel going along Cumbria Way to waypost for Esk hause / Stake pass and returning in reverse. Jim returned home to decorate rather than getting soaked. 

         

       

The hut was shared with some Red Rope club members and Wayfarers members, giving around 25 people. This made the cooking cosy but we all managed the kitchen ok. Thanks to June Foreman for providing Sticky toffee and Apple bake puddings for dessert after our main courses.

                               

 

After trying out the Old Dungeon Ghyll some chat and good humoured banter with Red Rope members was had. Some of us shared a few libations, some non-alcohol wine as well for some due to sober October. 

The Sunday weather was disappointing, and the plan to walk to Bowfell and Crinkle Crags was hit on the head.

Eigg 21st - 24th September 2018

6 people made the journey to Eigg.

After a night in the Mission Bunkhouse at Mallaig, we discovered that the Cal Mac Ferry to Muck Eigg, Rum and Canna was in dry dock for repairs and had been replaced by the small boat that usually does Tours to Staffa. This small boat rose and fell with the waves, making some of the passengers turn green and then visit the washroom.

A short stop at Muck gave some brief respite. 

Upon arrival on Eigg, we discovered that the goods ordered by the club had travelled on the boat with us and were delivered to the community store. These along with our bags were taken to Glebe Barn Bunkhouse in a car by the bunkhouse owner, while we walked.

In the afternoon some of the party walked round the bay while some visited the massacre and cathedral caves. In 1577around 400 islanders from Clan MacDonald (almost all of the island’s population) were burned and suffocated alive by members of Clan MacLeod from Skye while hiding in Massacre cave.

A convivial evening was spent with a communal meal in the spacious Glebe Barn.

The following day three of the group ascended the Sgurr, while others visited the caves and beyond. The Sgurr walk was extended along the ridge to afford views over the island and over some lochs to Rum. When parallel to the deserted village of Grulin Lochdraich, a descent was made near some spectacular basalt rock formations. There were a number of enclosure walls and remains of houses where some 150 people had lived before the clearances.

On day 3 the whole group headed north to Cleadale 3 heading up the cliff face while the others visited the village and its beaches. A walk along the top of the escarpment gave stunning views of Rum, and a surprise waterfall, where the wind was blowing the cascading water back up stream. After lunching at the trig point the summit party found their way down a tricky slope aid by a faint Zig Zag path.

A walk down to the singing sands was disappointing as they only sing when dry, but there were some interesting sandstone rock formations and caves to explore.

On the walk back from Cleadale a war memorial was examined, to find that it honoured all those who had taken part in the wars, not just those who perished.

A disused shop on the road has been turned into a museum, while the Church is still intact but unused.

As the ferry was not due to collect us until 16.25 on the final day and the weather was good more walks were undertaken to the east coast, old ruined church and cemetery before returning by the watermill to the community cafe and pub to await the ferry.

More and more people arrived at the pier including, a baby with buggy, three dogs and two bicycles and so we were fearful that all would not fit on the small boat.

A head count by the staff found that there were 80 people and the maximum allowed was 84. So by tying the bikes on the railings along with some that had been loaded at Rum we were all squashed on board. Fortunately the weight made the boat lower in the water and very stable, so there was less sea sickness.

Docking back at Mallaig gave us an 18.00 hour departure for the drive back to Ayr just before the planned Loch Lomond road closure and so arriving home at 23.00 hours.

Len Foreman

Mid Summer  Meet

Cairngorms 21st June 2018

Frank and I had a wee nearly-mid-summer trip to the Cairngorms. We did a high level walk round Loch A'an (Loch Avon). Camping on the plateau onFriday night and the Fords of A'an on Saturday.

Mid-week mountaineers head to Glen Trool 10 April 2018

Three of the MWM took to the Galloway hills for a wee walk

The plan was to head along the Rig o Jarkness onto Craiglee and back along the Southern Upland Way

Weather was a wee bit blustery

Burns Supper, Ochils MC Hut, Crianlarich

26^th– 27^thJanuary 2018

Great weekend at the latest Kyle Mountain Club meet. Our last meet was based in the Ochils Mountaineering Club cottage in Crianlarich. 

The Uphill-ski section of the club started the weekend at Aonach Mor. Good cold day. 

 

Saturday saw the wind and rain but being roughty-tufty mountaineers we headed out. One team to the Cobbler, another less ambitious team followed the West Highland Way to Tyndrum.

Our evening meal consisted of a wee Burns Supper, courtesy of Joe Cassidy. Maurice did a great address, while Maggie Durning entertained us with song and poetry.

All in all a great weekend.