Forfar & District Hillwalking Club
founded 1963
Latest News
See club journal here
Sunday 8th April 2018 : Day meet - south of Loch Laggan
11 members attended. 3 cars left Forfar at 07:05. One car picked up 2 city members at Dunkeld. We all met up at
the car park just east of the bridge at Moy. Walking started at 09:30, where some had difficulty finding the start!
3 walks took place.
* 2 members climbed Beinn a Chlachair (1027m) by ascending the path by the Alt Coire Pitridh, and returned by the same route.
(distance 23km, ascent 910m, 7 hours).
* 5 members climbed Geal Charn (1049m) and Creag Pritridh (924m) ascending the path by the Alt Coire Pitridh and returning in a circular route. (distance 21.5km, ascent 970m, 7.5 hours).
* A group of 4 elected to climb Binnein Shios (667m) and Binnien Shuas (746m), including much rough ground, bog and some scary ascents and descents!
(distance 18km, ascent 920m, 8.5 hours)
It was a clear day with good views, mostly with broken cloud and sunshine. Light winds, and still a lot of snow on the hills - though soft. Several herds of deer were spotted as well as 2 golden eagles,
a male hen harrier, ptarmigan, frogs and frog spawn.
All members stopped at House of Bruar for fish & chips. Last cars returned to Forfar at 21:00.
Monday 2nd April 2018 : Open Meeting - Members' Night
Held at Forfar Fire Station. 23 members attended. The Open Meeting was followed by "Members Night", where members are allowed 10 minutes to talk about 10 photos. 7 members took part. 2 of these 7 actually chose a new format showing a slideshow (with more than 10 photos) over their alloted time period. Everyone made it home as the April snow fell outside.
Wednesday 28th March 2018 : Committee Meeting
The committee met to set the weekend meets for the next meet calendar. These are provisional (subject to booking) :-
Sept - Torridon; Oct - Clova; Nov - Roybridge; Feb - Glen More; Mar - Corran, May - Assynt; June - Arran;
Thursday 22nd March 2018 - Mountain Mind Quiz
Held in Queens Hotel, Dundee at 19:30. A team of Graham B, Linda & Colin was entered to represent the club. Nicola H was the only fan who came along. The quiz was organised by the Grampian Club and consisted of 3 rounds of 35 pictorial questions (105 marks total). 10 teams took part, and the questions were a mixture of Scottish Munros, Corbetts and Grahams, some English, Welsh and Irish tops, and some from Europe. There were a few flowers, birds and mammals thrown in too. The club team finished a respectable third (if only they hadn't screwed up the first round). 1st: Dundee Mountain Club (92), 2nd: Perth Mountaineering Club (91), 3rd: ourselves (88), 4th: Carn Dearg (84). Get swotting for next year!
Friday 16th - Sunday 18th March 2018 - Weekend Meet - Mill Cottage - Glen Feshie
9 booked. 2 call-offs earlier in week due to injury & family matters. 3 other members called off on the Friday due to weather plus
one other member decided to hold off and travel up on the Saturday instead due to potential road conditions. This left 3 in the cottage
on Friday night.
Saturday
Woke up to glorious sunshine 3 set off to climb Mullach Clach a' Bhlair at the end of Glen Feshie by the land rover track and if weather
improved possibly include Sgor Gaoith. Conditions sunny and clear up to around 800m but bitterly cold as we increased in height.
Wind and spindrift blowing over the top made the last 200m of ascent "interesting" with periods of total whiteout on slope but
clearer as we reached the top. Any ideas of continuing to Sgor Gaith quickly lost their appeal and we returned by route of ascent.
3 more members arrived on Saturday evening, one with a view to walking on Sunday and 2 for skiing.
Sunday
3 members plus another member who had driven up for the day headed off to climb Sgor Gaoith, with 2 keen to traverse over to Mullach Clach a Bhlair.
Conditions mainly overcast and very cold again as we increased in height. The two who were planning on taking in both Munros were slightly ahead and
turned back at the ridge before Sgor Gaoith due to wind/visibility/cold and met the other two just below the ridge and all headed down.
One member headed home on the Sunday morning and the two who had come to ski also headed home as the ski centre was shut. Weather on the tops were full-on winter
conditions and challenging.
Next Weekend Meet : Friday 4 - Monday 7 May 2018 - Tongue Youth Hostel
3 nights - 20 spaces - fully booked. £72 for 3 nights. See http://www.tonguehostelandholidaypark.co.uk/
Next Social Meet : Sunday 13 May 2018 - Kindrogan Forest and Hill
Late start!!! No Munros, Corbetts or Grahams!!! Meal following the meet!!! More details to follow.
Next Meeting : Monday 14 May 2018 - Outdoors : Girds and Games, Reid Park, Forfar
More details to follow.
Next Day Meet : Sunday 20 May 2018 - Victoria Bridge, near Bridge of Orchy
Leaving from Myre car park at 07:00 by shared cars. More details to follow.
Weekend Meets 2018
Booking for the June weekend is now open with details as below. If wanting to book, please drop Neil an email or text (see contact details).
Of those who regularly attend weekends, Neil would also appreciate if you can drop him an e-mail to let him know if you're not planning on coming,
due other commitments, as he knows that some people have holidays booked. This will allow him to judge numbers and try to cancel any unused beds well in advance with the
bunkhouse so the club doesn't end up paying for unused beds.
22 - 25 June - Inverie bunkhouse - Knoydart
3 nights - 25 spaces (full bunkhouse booking)- £59. 15 places already booked (as at 6th Feb). Booking only open to club members at moment, although several guests have expressed an interest.
See https://independenthostels.co.uk/members/knoydartbunkhouse/
Please note Inverie require a ferry crossing from Mallaig. There are several ferries a day including Sundays but last from Mallaig looks to be 18:15 on the Friday for anyone arriving late.
Ferry cost per return is £20.
Neil is happy to opening this up to guests closer to the time as suspect we will have some spare places.
Embroidered Club Clothing
Still available. Contact Debbie & Brian for latest availability and prices at aquarian@unitelmail.co.uk.
