Last month’s walk: Beinn Achaladair and Beinn a’Chreachain
Attendees: Myra, David, Alan, Di, and Jimmy
We had another cracking day out last month. The weather forecast was for a fine morning and then some heavy showers in the afternoon, but it was wrong and we had a clear, dry day from start to finish. They got the bit about the wind correct though as it was a bit blustery on the tops and the ridge and quite cold too, but not enough to spoil anything. As it was very clear we had superb views in all directions all day long (see photo section for the evidence).
Like April’s walk it was a long day. We started up the hill at a little after 10 and took 4 hours to the first munro,1 ¾ hours along the ridge to the second one and just over two to get back to the car again. 8 hours in all and 5 sets of ‘sair legs’ staggered into the Callender chippy on the way home.
Myra & Terri’s Rollercoaster Saturday 30th May – Saturday 6th June.
Attendees: Myra, Terri, Alan, Di, Kev, Graham, Rob, Harry, Abby, Jimmy, Bob, billions of midgies, millions of ticks, tens of thousands of clegs, loads of deer, 1 sea otter, 1 adder (not necessarily in that order)
The first part of our annual week long trip with Myra and Terri and we went to Jura. The plan was to leave cars in Oban on the Saturday, get the bus down to Cuan on Seal Island where we got the wee ferry over to The Isle of Luing. Walk round to the only village on the island, Cullipool, camp there for one night, walk back to the slipway on Sunday where we had arranged to be picked up in a rigid inflatable and taken over to the northern tip of Jura via the Corryvreckan whirlpools. Trek south as far as we could on Monday, wild camp again, get the bus down to the 3 arched bridge on Tuesday morning, climb some or all of the Paps, camp at the Jura hotel in Craighouse on Tuesday night and get the ferry back to Oban on Wednesday morning.
All went according to plan except due to the unrelenting heat and the resulting desire to go to the pub, we got the bus down to the hotel from Inverlussa on Monday evening and camped in front of the hotel for 2 nights instead of one and got the bus back up to the 3 arched bridge on Tuesday morning. Again due to the excessive heat we managed 1 pap, the corbett, but nobody cared as we were having a great time.
When we landed on Jura we wanted to camp on the headland where there was a bit of a breeze to keep the midges at bay but despite Myra phoning the farmer 2 months previously to check if camping was acceptable, he wasn’t pleased and we were told in no uncertain terms to camp on a less than perfect midge infested site. We decided to put up with it rather than upset him any more.
Apart from the farmer at the north of the island everyone else was very kind and friendly. The woman who drove the bus was better than a tour guide and the Jura hotel deserves 10/10 for food quality and value for money. The beer and Jura Superstition went down well too.
We left on the school bus at 7.30 on Wednesday morning, got the wee ferry over to Islay then the big one back to Oban.
After Jura we headed up to Glencoe and 4 of us, Alan Harry, Terri and Di, conquered the Aonach Eagach on Thursday in perfect conditions. Safe to say the ridge was all that we expected it to be with fear and exileration in equal measures and a big thanks to Di for helping the rest of us over the pinnacles, especially the down climbing bits. The week was rounded off with a walk in to Learg Leach bothy then 4 bagged the Munro, Stob Ban, the outlier in the Grey Corries. A huge vote of thanks is due to Myra for organising the whole thing and letting the rest of us just turn up and have a great time. How will she top this one for next year. Mmmm!
Sunday 21st June
Meall a’ Bhuiuidh and Creise in Glen Etive. OS map no 41. Names please by Thursday 18th June to allow time to arrange cars etc.
July:
Myra is helping some youngsters do a charity climb of Ben Nevis on Saturday 18th July. As it is also the BEMAC walk weekend it had been suggested that the Sunday walkers travel up on Saturday, meet up with Myra on Sunday morning and bag something in the Fort William area before returning home on the Sunday evening. Details are still to be worked out.
Other stuff:
The website is now up and running www.bemac.org Anybody who wants walk photos posted please either e mail them to me or send prints and I will scan them. Perhaps different people might like to write the walk report from time to time to get a different perspective on things.
Alan