Inver Croft Cottage in Upper Glen Carron (near Achnasheen) is a perennial Club favourite location with numerous visits over the years. Owned by the Jacobites Mountaineering club, it is a former shepherd’s house. The last family moved out in 1946 and it eventually opened as a Club Hut in 1990.

It sits several hundred yards back from the main A890 road and these days the new walkway constructed in 2016 offers easier access to the hut for visitors.

Our Club members are a busy lot, and for various reasons the numbers able to attend the meet were much smaller than normal. Those that did attend though were rewarded with two days of exceptionally fine weather.

Members Attending:

Jim Aire (Friday), Wallace Booth, Susan Henderson, Tanya Mackenzie (Friday), Louise McCulloch, Alyn McNaughton, Craig Sephton (Friday), Norrie Shand, Mike Winton

On Friday, Louise, as ever, keen to make the most of her weekend tackled the Munros of  Sgùrr Chòinnich and Sgùrr a’Chaorachain

Bikeless but dauntless she traipsed down to the Bealach Bhearnais which offered relatively easy access to the first of the day’s hills. The two Munros are close as the crow flies, but a rocky descent is required before the steep climb up to Sgùrr a’Chaorachain, with the trig point over 10k away from the days start point.

For a nanosecond she contemplated heading further east to the even more distant Maoile Lunndaidh, but common sense prevailed and energy was saved for the following day’s endeavours.

Jim had arranged to meet Tanya, and their target was the magnificent Torridonian Massif of Beinn Eighe with its two Munros. Most would agree that the finest way to tackle these outstanding ridges is via the illustrious Coire Mhic Fhearchair with its splendid wee lochan and impressive triple buttress. That is exactly what they did, and great fun was had (after the trudge up the scree slope) bounding along between the two main peaks before the steep descent to Glen Torridon.

In the meantime, from the same start point, Craig continued his quest of completing the Corbetts by heading for the fine rugged pair of Sgòrr nan Lochan Uaine and Sgùrr Dubh on the south of the glen. As well as being an enjoyable rocky climb, these hills offer superb views of their more famous neighbours.

Norrie and Mike travelled up together and stopped at Achnasheen to ascend the local Munro, Fionn Bheinn, a fairly easy climb from the village, made easier by the lack of recent rainfall and dry ground. Whilst it may not be the most exciting mountain route, the views from the summit definitely don’t disappoint. About a third of the way up, they were caught up by Alyn who had had the same idea and recognised Norrie’s hobbling gait from below. The three skipped back down and made the very short journey south to the hut.

Susan had just arrived, not having managed a climb on the way up and Craig was already in situ and had sorted out the plumbing, gas and electricity.

Not too long after, Jim and Tanya returned and, joined by Louise and Craig they enjoyed a refreshing dook in the narrows of Loch Gowan where the bridge leads to the hut.

The early evening saw the usual chatter, suppers cooked, and bottles uncorked – a couple of wheelbarrows having been on hand to help transport all the food and drink across.

The numbers weren’t quite complete though as Wallace and left home fairly late but wasn’t going to miss out on getting a hill done on the way up. Not just any hill though – he was to tackle one the most impressive Corbetts in the land, the mighty Beinn Bhan near Kishorn. And tackle it via the intimidating, intricate and precarious A’Chioch route. With his heartbeat back to normal after the descent it was a fairly short drive to catch up with others in the fading light.

The fine weather continued on Saturday morning and gear was eagerly packed in anticipation of a fine day ahead.

Unfortunately, Tanya and Craig had domestic fish to fry on Saturday and had to return home without managing any hills.

Jim also had to return on Saturday, but he managed a quick scoot up the neighbouring Munro of Moruisg which had evaded a second visit up to that point.

Susan and Louise took a short drive down to Achnashellach where they completed the excellent loop of Sgòrr Ruadh and Beinn Liath Mhor, two very fine Munros in their own right and magnificent viewpoints particularly over to the giants of Torridon. An easy day for the 45 Degrees tigresses!

Alyn’s destination was Beinn Eighe. Not quite following in Jim and Tanya’s footsteps the previous day as his initial climb was to the South Easterly Munro of Spidean Coire Nan Clach. From there he took the route east and tackled The Black Carls, a pinnacled ridge requiring a bit of “hands on”, out to Creag Dhubh before traversing back down to his car.

Norrie, Mike and Wallace took the very short drive down to Craig, with bikes in tow to make their day a bit shorter.

Norrie’s ambitions (and fitness) being less than his companions, he settled for a cycle/walk down the glen to the Bealach Bhearnais, followed by a steep loop north over the fine Corbett of Sgurr na Feartaig, yet another excellent viewpoint in this neck of the woods. Had he remembered to oil the brakes on his bike, the cycle out would have been a lot quieter, more enjoyable and less terrifying for the wildlife.

Mike’s very gradual progress towards Munro completion led him to the remote Munro of  Maoile Lunndaidh/Creag Toll a’ Choin – and, if Wallace could persuade him, the adjacent Munros of Sgùrr Chòinnich and Sgùrr a’Chaorachain. Wallace also had an itch to scratch on Maoile Lunndaidh/Creag Toll a’ Choin thanks to some infantile ribbing from another club member regarding the actual summit of the hill.

With every cairn dutifully visited they made the sharp descent west before the very steep clamber up to Sgùrr a’Chaorachain and onwards to Sgùrr Chòinnich. With their bikes parked at the bottom of the pass, they enjoyed the relaxing cycle back out to their companion slumbering in the car park.

Depleted numbers in the hut in the evening didn’t dampen the banter and hearty rehydration and calorie restoration was the order of the day.

It had been a fairly full-on weekend for most and everyone was content to head directly home on Sunday morning. No doubt though, there will be future return visits to this superb location.