September 2024 – Scotland – Hut meet

Sunday 8th to Sunday 15th September 2024

A week of unsettled, windy weather which limited the mountaineering options but a lot of fun was had staying at the excellent SMC Raeburn hut near Newtonmore – the best hut shower in the organiser’s experience.

Sunday
Peter and Neal started early in the midges at Glencoe and climbed North Face Route (S – 6 pitches) on Buchaille Etive Mor to add to their Classic Rock ticklist, finishing with Curved Ridge (2). Kent, Simon and Andy arrived that day at the hut and went for a walk up to Loch Caoldair. Dan and Kent arrived that evening.

Monday
Andy, Kent, Dave and Dan summitted the 4 munros on the W side of the Drumochter pass in a big day whilst Neal and Peter picked Tom up from the sleeper train at 7 am and spent the day climbing at Craig a Barns near Dunkeld – completing Terminal Buttress (a sandbag at HS 4c); Cuticle Crack and Kestrel Crack (both S 4a) with a stop at the Motogrill in Ballinluig for coffee and cake on the way back. Simon valiantly cooked an excellent roast Turkey dinner for just about everyone in the slightly unreliable hut oven (a replacement is coming).

Tuesday
Some quite windy and wet weather – Peter and Tom went for an off track walk near the hut getting up to Creag na Doire Dubh at 574m where they started getting blown sideways. Neal communed with some stone circles near Aberfeldy and had fun using his new GPS watch. Kent, Andy, Simon, Dan and Dave followed the Wildcat trail around Newtonmore – sadly no wildcats.

Wednesday
Another windy and showery day although less than Tuesday. Peter and Neal walked up Meall a Chuaich – an easy Munro (starting at 400m) with fine views into all the nearby ranges and a great shelter cairn. Unfortunately Neal left his phone at the shooting bothy and so walked an extra 8km on his day to go and get it back! Dan, Kent, Andy, Tom, Simon and Dave hiked the Blackwood Trail near Laggan.

Thursday
Peter picked Kathy up from the sleeper at 7am and after brekky at the hut they walked the East Ridge of Benn a’ Chaorainn (easy Grade 1 scramble) followed by the circuit around Beinn Teallach at 20km and 1100m of ascent and a super boggy descent. Andy, Dan, Kent and Dave climbed the Munro Geal Charn via Beinn Sgieth from Garva bridge – at the other end of Creag Meagaidh. For everyone a wet and windy “4 seasons in one day” day out including snow showers that made good use of the drying room! Neal and Tom returned to Craig a Barns in sunshine to climb Bollard Buttress and Holly Tree Grooves with a stop at the Motogrill again :-).

Friday
Finally some decent weather and everyone except Dave, Simon and Andy headed to the Cairngorms for some fast big boot scrambling and pitched climbing on the excellent Twin Ribs (1); Fiacaill Ridge (1 or 2) and Afterthought Arete (Mod 250m). Snow on the plateau and some of the routes made for an early start to winter. A good end to the week for the group.
Dave, Andy and Simon headed to Creag na Sanais at 529m in the fine weather near the hut then took a trip to Aviemore.

Saturday
Dave, Dan, Andy, Simon, Kent headed home. Peter, Kathy, Neal and Tom went to Huntly’s cave near Grantown which was mostly dry (!) thanks to the overhanging roof. Routes were Slot Direct (S 4a); Step over (VD); Right-Hand Groove (VD) and the superb Diagonal (VS 4c/5a) which left Neal a bit wide-eyed. Great coffee and cake at The Squirrel’s Nuts in Grantown. Leftovers dinner at the hut and pushing hot chocolate on the other guests due to a milk mountain. Neal left for the long drive home.

Sunday
On the way to dropping Tom at Perth station for his sleeper train home Peter, Tom and Kathy climbed Schiehallion in generally fine sunshine (except for the top which was cloudy). Tom’s first Munro and a nice end to the week.