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Forfar & District
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19 members and 3 guests attended. Met at Edzell at 09:00. Started at the top car park in Glen Esk, walked along Loch to Inchgrundle, then ascended Burnt Hill and Cairn Caidloch. Descent was to Gleneffock farm (lots of hens) and then followed river to the green footbridge before the last 1km up the road back to the cars. (13.2km, 590m of ascent). Beautiful sunny day with good views (as far as Ben Avon) with a thin covering on snow underfoot. White hares and red grouse spotted. About half the group reassembled in the Panmuir Arms for a refreshment and blether afterwards.
11 members attended. Travelled by 3 shared cars to Balhennie. The group contoured round the south side to reach the summit (872m) and made their descent directly eastwards. It was a clear cool day with strong winds on top. Many mountain hares, in winter coats, were spotted, along with lots of red grouse and 2 golden eagles on the descent. The group were out for 5 hours, but still returned home as mid-winter darkness fell.
Held in Forfar Fire Station. The meeting was followed by a CPR demonstration and practicals from a member of the Fire Station.
10 members attended. Stayed at YHA Grasmere Butharlyp Howe, which was very comfortable. There were issues with their alcohol policy. Meet held in wintry conditions. On Saturday 7 members did a round a partial round to Easedale, reaching Sergeant Mann and descent by Blea Rigg, in deep soft snow. Fantastic views in snow-showery conditions. Descent at 5pm in dark. 2 members went to Borrowdale for a shorter walk. One stayed in the Grasmere area. On Sunday, 4 headed to Borrowdale to climb Cat Bells. 2 headed east to Housesteads and Hexham, 2 explored the coffee shops of Grasmere and the other two headed home.
3 members and 2 guests attended. Weather misty, but dry. Some patches of snow near the top. Descent made before bad weather arrived.
Held in Forfar Fire Station. A good attendance of members. Following the meeting Linda & Colin Sinclair and Carolyn Smith gave an illustrated talk on their recent tip to Corsica to walk the GR20.
Halloween parties were part of the club's social calendar for many years, held at the club hut, Whitehaugh. The club gave up Whitehaugh in 2002 so Halloween parties couldn't continue. However in September 2010, a social "banquet" was held at the Carn Dearg hut and the first boules tournament took place. Only 9 members attended. In 2011, it was moved to the end of October and became a boules/banquet/Halloween event and 18 attended. It was held again in 2012 with 18 attending. It was removed from the calendar in 2013 due to the 50th anniversary celebrations, but came back in 2014 and 2015 with 19 attending each. This year, there was a record number of attendees for the modern era - 42 members, ex-members and guests. The reason was the 50th celebrations for John and Rita.
Congratulations to Rita and John Norrie, who have been club members for 50 years (1966-2016). They joined only 3 years after the club's formation. At the recent social gathering, Rita and John were honoured by the president and presented with a book of memories, consisting of photos and anecdotes supplied and written by club members.
The annual boules tournament was held on Saturday 29th October at the social gathering at the new Carn Dearg Hut in Glen Clova. As usual, it was keenly contested. The winners were Janet Coull and Nicola Hay and they were presented with the new trophy.
4 members attended on a really dreich day. Only Ben Ledi was climbed.
19:30 at Guide Centre Myre Car Park Forfar. Open Meeting, followed by a talk, "Grassick Gibbon" by Jim Brown. Well attended.
Altguish bunkhouse. Of the 17 people who booked, 7 called off at the last minute due to a poor weather forecast which proved to be wrong. On the Saturday, 5 headed to Beinn Dearg and Cona Mheall, 2 separate coastal walks and 2 doing their own thing lower down. Weather mainly dry, only cloudy on the higher tops and virtually no wind. On Sunday, 2 headed to Sgurr-choinnich and Sgurr-a' chaorachain at Glen Carron but turned back at Bealach Bhearnais due to wind and headed to Glenmore lodge for dinner. Everyone else headed home.
An Casteil and Beinn a Chroin. 3 members and 1 guest turned out. It was a warm, dry day with good visibility, but a bit windy on top.
After the open meeting, Graham Harris gave an interesting illustrated presentation of his thorough preparations for tackling the TGO challenge and his experiences while on the trek. The meeting was well-attended.
16 headed to Ben Lomond from Cromer Farm, which was our first use of the mini-bus to try to reduce bus costs as the club normally takes a hit on the bus. This seemed to be quite successful and will be repeated and thanks to Richard for driving.
12 members attended. A walk to climb St. Arnolds Seat. Met at 19:00 at the steading at Goynd Farm (NO447626) and drove up in 3 cars to Redheugh. A beautiful clear evening, with a bit of a breeze. Back just as darkness fell.
Cancelled due to poor weather forecast.
14 members attended a meet staying at one of our favourite locations, Sail Mhor bunkhouse.
Sat: 5 on An Teallach, 3 on the Fannaichs, 2 on Beinn Dearg Mhor/Beag, 2 on Meal Airigh Charr, 2 walked into Shenavall
Sun: 5 on An Faochagach, 4 on Sail Mhor, 1 did a low-level walk, 5 returned home.
Weather: dry on Saturday but cloud drifting out & in of the summits. Sunday had a good start, but wet and cloud by 13:00.
8 members and 1 guest attended. The route left from Waterhead, Glen Lethnot at 0930. All climbed to the summit of the Shank of Donald Young and continued to the Sheiling of Saugh, the other 2 returning to the cars. 7 members joined Mel/Ianbr/iar for a meal at the Panmure Arms in Edzell afterwards.
9 members attended. Meet changed from Cairngorms because of low cloud. Instead, travelled to climb both the Easains at Fersit. Weather dry but cloud over the tops.
A great evening’s walk up Kinpurney Hill, organised and led by Clare Stewart. A fine summer’s evening with good views.
9 members attended on a fine day with clear views all around for the whole day. We split into two groups with 4 heading up to do a traverse of the Tarmachan ridge. The other 5 opted to climb Meall Corranaich and Meall a Core Leith. A new member Adrian Patterson opted for the second walk and thoroughly enjoyed the day.
It had been 4 years since our first Hampers and Champers. This time, the chosen picnic spot was the open bothy at Loch Wharral. 27 members and 4 guests attended. 18 members elected for a pre-luncheon walk over White Hill and round to Ben Tirran, meeting the others at the hut at 14:15. Many thanks to Carolyn and Aileen, our cooks, and Ali who provided the transport of the goodies. It was a special 86th bithday for Rita Norrie, one of our hononary members. She was given a lift up in a highly decorated Landrover. The bothy was decorated with streamers in her honour, and a clootie dumpling with candles was presented. A highly successful social meet.
Held at Reid Park, Forfar. Good turnout. The unstoppable force that is Neil Sangster won the girds again for the fifth year in a row! Well done. The gird race was then followed by a game of rounders expertly umpired by Jerry Husband, otherwise it would have descended into fisticuffs as the game was played in a highly competitive spirit. The following day most of the participants were nursing some sort of sports injury. Note for next year, compulsory warm up / cool down and written rules agreed and understood by both teams.
Carbost bunkhouse. 19 members attended, 17 in bunkhouse and 2 in Inn.
Frid: 2 on Beinn Dearg Mhor;
Sat: Deep soft snow on tops. 5 on Belig (2 carried on to Garb-Bheinn). 2 on ridge with guide Sgurr Bannachdaich,
Sgurr a' Ghreadaidh, Sgurr Mhadaidh. Rest walked into Coire Lagan/Coire Grunda without climbing onto ridge.
Sun: Better weather. 3 on Glamaig & Beinn Dearg Mhor. 1 on Beinn Dearg Mhor. 3 to McLeod's Maidens, 2 on Ridge with guide to Sgurr Alasdair,
8 allow path from Sligathan to Coruisk (turning back on high point), 2 in pub for lunchtime pint.
Mon: 9 in the Talister distillery for a tour. All headed home in heavy showers with ridge covered with cloud.
We had two abseiling nights at Legaston quarry (6pm-8pm), expertly led by the Sangster Boys, Neil and Connor. They were both well attended (8 on first date). Many thanks to Neil and Connor
11 members attended. This meet was planned for a bus from Glen Feshie to Linn o'Dee, but was changed to a car meet to a different area because of the weather. The group travelled to Beinn a' Chochuill and Beinn Eunaich. Good weather with fesh snow on the ground, but warm sunshine most of the day with any clouds above the tops. Fabulous views of Ben Cruachan.
Several members presented their selection of 10 photos.
9 members attended the weekend, staying in the Great Glen hostel which was a new venue for most and was well received. On Saturday, 7 climbed Gleouraich and Spidean Mialach and were treated to a marvellous cloud inversion. The other 2 members did a 12 mile low level walk. On Sunday, 4 members returned to Loch Quoich to climb Gairich. The higher tops were now in cloud but Gairich was clear. It was with some reluctance that we left our cars at the dam due to the dodgiest looking blokes possible fishing at the dam and it was a relief to find our cars were still where we had left them when we returned. 2 others opted to climb Meal Chuaich at Drumochter on the way home, one went on a low level walk and one headed home.
11 members turned out for the walk to Beinn Teallach and Beinn a Chaorainn going in an anticlockwise direction. We had a bit of a slog up to Beinn a Chaorainn in soft snow but the new president took his responsibilities seriously and broke trail. The group descended along the ridge to discover the warm and clear weather had resulted in snow melt and the crossing of the river looked uninviting. A route was found through the forest to join the main road without any difficulties, avoiding a few wet feet.
Forfar Fire Station. Open Meeting. Followed by AGM. The AGM was followed by a talk on "Annapurna, Nepal 2015" by Mhairi Ferrier, a Forfar Academy pupil.
9 members and 1 guest attended. Stayed at Cairngorm Lodge Youth Hostel, Glen More, near Aviemore. Weather was not kind. On Saturday, the group walked into Ryovan bothy then up onto Meal a Bhuachaille. They were driven back nearer the top due to high winds, poor visibility and spindrift. Sunday saw 3 group out, 4 (in 2 groups) headed east to the Lecht area. The other 6 did a 10k circular walk from Columbridge to Loch na Eilein and back, still in poor weather conditions.
11 members attended. This was a change of plan from the Crianlarich Hills due to the high winds and snow showers. Instead the group of 11 travelled in 4 cars to Loch of Craiglush. The route took the group up to Mill Dam, then to the top of Deuchary Hill, down to Loch Ordie Lodge for lunch and back by Raor Lodge. 16km. 6 hours out. Weather was mixed but required waterproofs all day. There was a brief glimpse of sunshine on the top (with good views) and also over lunch at Loch Ordie. However, the walk out to the cars was pretty wet with heavy rain. No refreshment stop as all headed home.
7:30pm. Forfar Fire Station. Open Meeting. Followed by the annual photographic competition. The judge was Graham Wilkinson from Carnoustie Camera Club. 13 members entered a total of 65 photographs. Some stunning photographs were received from all entrants. Best photograph: Willie Mather. Best collection of 5 photographs: Elaine Leong. All entries can be viewed here.
By bus, leaving Sauchieburn Hotel at 08:30. 26 on the bus to the top of Glen Moy. 23 members took a high level route via Shank Hill, Rough Craig, Hill of Glansie (highest point, 726m), Mount Sned, Hill of Garbet, LaidWinley, Old Man, Craig of Trusta to meet the bus at Afflochie (17km, 600m ascent). The other group of 3 took at lower level route to Shank, Craig Mou, Glen Ogil reservoir, Craig Corrie, to Afflochie. (13km, 430m ascent). A total of 37 members and guests took high tea in Sauchieburn Hotel afterwards, which was delicious, as usual. After the president's ramblings, Carolyn read out two of her poems, one about the president and the other about the Sauchieburn Hotel. Superb!
Huge turnout with 5 non-members also attending. Open meeting followed by talk by excellemt talk by Willie Mather on his recent (November 2015) trip to Patagonia with Graham Brown.
This was cancelled due to very poor weather.