Red Rope Manchester

Scottish Winter Trip February 2008

2008-04-12T19:05:00.002+01:00

This was based at the very comfortable Raeburn hut between Lagaan and Dalwhinnie - just off the A9. 6 of us travelled up on Thursday evening arriving just before midnight. We awoke to strong winds and torrential rain and after a late breakfast decided on a valley walk. We were encouraged by a rainbow as we left the hut and our walk down the valley from Newtonmore was sunny but very windy. Other members of the group arrived Friday evening.

Saturday we divided up. Richard, Dominic and Karl set off to climb a gully on Creag Meagaidh, Chis and Joe went to climb at Aviemore. Debbie and Ann led a walk along the valley in Creag Meagaidh, while Julia, Anne from Bristol, Paul and myself led by Simon headed for the summit of Creag Meagaidh. After lunch in a snowhole which we'd found we eventually found the summit in the mist. Stopping for a break at about 4pm we got our first view of a Loch Laggan in the gloom and the route down. Then the fun began - Julia lost a bag of spare hats and gloves etc to the wind but fortunately not her Mars Bar. We slid through snow and saw a solitary mountain hare before climbing down heather strewn rocks to two streams in the valley. Having crossed these it was now completely dark so head torches on we walked straight across the open moor to the main road and walked back along it, getting to the car park after 7pm.

Sunday we again divided into two groups valley and mountain. The mountain group did Geal Charn (Mondadh Liath) - again mainly in wet snow and mist. However on the way down there was one of those wonderful moments which makes walking in the mountains so worthwhile, the sun broke through the clouds and backlit the mountains in the valley and a solitary pine tree by the side of a loch looked like a ship in full sail. Again we had a long walk back on the road as darkness fell and returned to the hut to find the Man City supporters celebrating the win over United at Old Trafford much to the group from Bristol who had joined us and chagrin of Paul the only United supporter.

Monday we awoke to bright sunshine and a heavy frost. After tiding up the hut we left the cars by the A9 and headed towards Meall Chuaich, first along a track and then a very long slog up grassy slopes. However our efforts were rewarded by great views of the whole area from the summit. A great end to a great weekend.

Hello

2007-12-10T12:13:00.000Z

First time I've done this blogging business.

Aileen's Archive 1.

2007-12-06T20:16:00.000Z

January 2005 We stayed in a well appointed hut in Crainlarich and divided into two groups on the Saturday. The First left at dawn to do 3 Munros while the 'B' party settled for spectacular views of half of Southern Scotland from the summit of Ben Vorlich.

June 2006 We stayed at Foulriggs Hut in the Lake District - most of us camping which was very midgy!! However a walk along part of High Street and back along the shore of Ullswater which ended in the pub was well worth it.

November 2005 Bonfire Night weekend we rented Black Sail Youth Hostel in Ennerdale which has no road access so we hiked in from various parts of the Lake District. Julia Richard and I arrived at 2am having forded a river, our way guided by the outside light Matthew had left on. The next day the Lake District lived up to its reputation as being one of the wettest places in the country which made for some amazing waterfalls and a few hardy souls (myself included) climbed Pillar in the mist. Fortunately it did dry up in the evening for so we were able to let off some fireworks!! After breakfast we went our seperate ways and on the way out it did clear up sufficiently for us to enjoy the Ennerdale valley in the day light

A wet walk...

2007-12-03T21:22:00.000Z

Nine of us met on Sunday 2 Dec for our monthly walk - and although the sun came out briefly, we were pretty wet by the end! We encircled Hayfield, first climbing to Twenty Trees for a nice view of Kinder Downfall (with spray blowing upwards from its waterfall) and then crossing over the by-pass near the Grouse Inn and following nice tracks to the summit of Lantern Pike. By then the wind was so strong we could hardly stand up! Sadly, the cafe half way along the Sett Valley Trail is closed on Sundays for the winter, now - so no tea there, although some came back to Sally & Matthew's in Marple Bridge (see second photo!) to dry out a bit.
NB the picture of Kinder is for atmosphere, and dates from a colder time. It wasn't snowy, sadly - although we had the first touch of snow of the year in November. More to come, we hope...

Snowdonia weekend, 2-4 Nov 2007

2007-11-05T20:03:00.000Z

A small but perfectly-formed group of seven chose to go to the Clogwyn MC hut near Portmadoc. This hut is not easy to find in the dark without the instructions! We had a misty day on Saturday and having climbed Moelwyn Bach from the hut, meeting nobody, we meandered back via the Ffestiniog railway - of which we had to "walk the line" since a derailment prevented our planned short train ride. This all meant it got quite dark as we tried to find the path back to the hut; several of us thought this was the most exciting bit (maybe we should get out more...)
Sunday was clear and calm and we got the most fantastic views from Moel Hebog, which we climbed direct from Beddgelert, descending a more southerly spur on grassy slopes to make a beautiful short round walk.
The hut (the Old Stable) sleeps a max of 12 but is not large, with a loft and sleeping platforms - so 8 is more comfortable. Nice stove and cosy interior. I'm not sure if RR have used it much before - it's well placed for Tremadoc and any of the southern Snowdonia walks. The scenery is softer than further north, so we all felt calmed and re-energised (well, I did).
Matthew.