With Storm Bram’s impact still lingering, several members headed up early on Friday to take advantage of what proved to be the calmest weather day of the weekend.
Nicola and Martha enjoyed a run over the western four Drumochter Munros where a dusting of snow at the tops didn’t provide quite enough camouflage for all the ptarmigans and the mountain hare they spotted. When the views were there, they were “stunning”, but the payback was the uphill jog along the A9 against a fierce headwind.
Kate and Perry had a quick jaunt up the Sow of Atholl, bumping into David T on his way back from a cycle along Loch Garry to do Beinn Mholach. All three headed to the Apiary café in Dalwhinnie and found Martha and Nicola recovering ahead of check-in at the Old Schoolhouse, where the hospitable hostel owner had a roaring fire on the go to welcome EMC.
With the MWIS forecast for Saturday illustrated by a prone walker laid low by expected 90mph gusts later in the day, everyone focused on getting something done in the morning.
Colin S and David T opted for solo cycle rides, while Dan C, Kate and Perry headed up Creag Ruadh from Sherrabeg, a Fiona which offered great views for not a huge amount of effort (at least until the descent through an almost impenetrable section of forest).
Alison, Nicola and Martha had an enjoyable run along forest trails with a quick up-and-down of the Marilyn Meall Luidh Mor. The trees provided decent shelter and they made it back to the car just before the weather turned properly foul.
Sally and Will went for a run in Rothiemurchus Forest, Jamie, Julia and Joshua headed up the Fara, and Kenny reacquainted himself with Meall na Leitreach.
As the winds continued to strengthen in the afternoon, several members sought refuge in the Dalwhinnie Distillery – the highest in Scotland – where they enjoyed an informative tour (who knew distilleries hold casks for each other in case a fire wipes out all stocks at one?). The tour culminated in a tasting session, with some of the more value-conscious members of the party cannily securing an additional dram of one of the distillery’s more expensive releases.
The weather was decidedly wintry outside during Saturday evening, but it remained positively tropical indoors with the hostel owner popping up to refuel the log burner whenever the room temperature was about to dip below 26 degrees.
On Sunday, Colin S demonstrated his no wash-up breakfast invention of cereal tipped into a carton of custard (patent pending) before heading off to make the “top of something”, though given claggy conditions he wasn’t entirely sure what…
Sally and Will went up A’Bhuidheanach Bheag and Josh opted for a run up Gael Charn.
Jamie, Julia, Nicola and Martha timed their run up Creag Fonvuik from the Killiecrankie visitor centre perfectly – “atmospheric views, lovely woodland trails and good chats” just before the deluge arrived, and nice coffee and scones provided sustenance for the drive back to Edinburgh.
Dan C, David T, Kate and Perry were slightly less fortunate with the weather, encountering heavy rain just as they approached the summit of Deuchary Hill at Dunkeld, although it thankfully eased off during their return journey.
Attendees: Alison C, Kenny, David T, Martha, Kate, Dan C, Julia, Jamie K, Nicola, Colin S, Joshua, Will, Sally, Perry.
Perry
