This Easter meet took place at Strawberry Cottage – a magical place in the middle of Glen Affric, 8km away from the closest carpark. Sloe Steve was the hero of the weekend, agreeing to drive his car into the glen along the rough track and taking along sleeping bags and food for everyone which had been dropped off at mine by meet attendees the previous week. But not just that – he also bought and brought a 5l water bottle for everyone (plus of course the obligatory bottle of Sloe Gin), as the water supply close to the hut isn’t of drinking water quality.
2 laden kayaks and a canoe set off from Loch Beinn a Mheadoin and sailed down Loch Affric, propelled by a camping tarp, transporting Doug, Rhi, Anna & Steve M. Shallow waters and raging waterfalls got in the way at the end, so their final approach was on foot. Doug forgot his waterproof and was rescued by Perry’s spare. Thanks Perry!
Steve and I set off from Edinburgh early on Friday and headed to Glen Strathfarrer where we went up and down Beinn ‘A Bha’ach Ard – hot, hot, hot in the glen, but oh so cold on the summit!
Fiona & Mike were just around the corner on the Strathfarrar Munros. Great weather, views and very little snow made for quick progress. On returning to the car a weather check revealed that Saturday’s weather was no longer looking “peachy” and that the weather front was fast approaching so getting to Strawberry Cottage ASAP to avoid a dousing became a priority. They met Steve and Martha in the car park where the interestingly bike-in-ready packed apple crumble was popped into Steve’s car, and managed to get to the cottage before the rain.
Over the course of the evening also Gillian, Perry, Iain, Helen, Emma Y and Claire H arrived. A fire was started in the wood burner whilst people got comfy, and Steve M and Claire H pitched their tents as the rain arrived.
And the rain didn’t stop until Saturday afternoon. Steve M’s tent and contents didn’t stand up to the deluge and Steve made his way out of the glen again first thing in the morning.
Ash and Lianne who were staying at Cannich had jogged to the Cottage, arriving absolutely soaked and a bit chilled. After a hot cup of tea they set off with Claire and myself for a Munro-top & Corbett bagging mission, but turned around when it became apparent that conditions higher up were too wintry for the supplies they had brought along. Claire and I carried on with our loop over Carn na Coire Mheadhoin, Tigh Mor Na Seilge and Carn a’ Choire Ghairb – low vis, quite a bit of of snow, cold feet in trainers!
Helen, Rhi, Doug, Iain, Mike, Fiona and Anna played cards, drank tea and avoided going outside until just before noon. They then headed up An Socach where they bumped into Gillian on the snow-covered summit.
Sloe Steve, Emma and Perry made the long plod along the track to the Glen Affric hostel before heading up the Corbett of Sgùrr Gaorsaic. Although Walkhighland’s description had raised hopes of “views which improve with every step” approaching the summit, the clag put paid to those. The wintry conditions high up meant the sodden trio didn’t linger long before heading back to the welcoming fire at Strawberry Cottage.
The wood burner did an amazing job and most of the kit was dry for Sunday. The wood burner was also used up heat up the crumble after discovering that the massive dish was too big to fit in the oven! Such a delicious treat – thanks Fiona!
Sunday was glorious – although the amount of snow on the tops made for hard going in parts. Mike and Fiona did the round of Sail Chaorainn, Sgurr nan Conbhairean, A’Chraiaig and Mullach Fraoch-choire. Martha’s wonderful coloured eggs were consumed and photographed on the first summit with Steve’s chocolate eggs on the final summit. The day was only spoiled by the “path” or lack thereof for the last 60 minutes that seemed to take forever.
Steve and Perry tackled the Corbetts of Càrn a’ Choire Ghairbh and Aonach Shasuinn and had the hills and great views to themselves.
Emma Y headed up Beinn ‘A Bha’ach Ard before returning to Edinburgh.
Rhi and I set off on a jog to the foot of Sgurr na Lapaich, then broke trail over to Mam Sodhail where we bumped into Fiona M (surprise!), then into Gillian (bigger surprise as she was supposed to be on the Corbetts with Perry and Steve). The descent was over Creag Coire nan Each. An early return to the Cottage meant lots of time for a glorious swimble in ice melt water before cups of tea in the sunshine.
Anna, Helen, Iain and Doug followed in Rhi and my footsteps with Anna pionieering a new scramble on a rocky nose on Sgurr na Lapaich. Anna, Iain and Doug also added on Carn Eighe whilst Helen enjoyed the sunshine on Mam Sodhail.
Doug & Rhi provided super tasty popcorn as a communal starter for tonight’s dinner (thanks!), and there was still a bit of crumble left (plus remnants of Mike’s and Steve’s Sloe Gins, Steve’s port and Perry’s whisky) to finish off the day. It would have been a shame to have to carry any of those treats out again.
On Monday we packed up, cleaned the hut and headed out. Steve’s chariot offered rucksack portage which was gratefully accepted making the bike ride out much more fun.
Fiona & Mike headed home to unpack and for a very welcome shower.
Anna, Doug and Rhi paddled out with stunning morning colours and amazing loch reflections, meeting Steve and Helen at the car park for a 5 (wo)man strong team for the final paddle to return to the car.
Iain, Perry, Steve and I stopped for a quick leg stretch on Carn na h-Easgainn en route to Edinburgh.
Martha
