Eight Miles High Low Down
The Meet Report
Inverardran Cottage, Crianlarich
3rd – 5th August
Attending
Jake Brewster
John Kirkham
Andre Hawryliw
John Meechan
Mike Paterson
Davie Paterson
Martin Dand
Jimmy Taylor
Graham Wyllie
Apologies
None: all who said they were going went, including Martin on a special permit from senior management. Quite a good attendance given the holiday period.
Base Camp Notes
Inverardran Cottage is an old favourite of the club, given its easy access from Fife and good location for the hills. After a major refurbishment some years ago, it is again undergoing a major upgrade with a big new kitchen extension being added out to the back (see photographs). This includes an access ramp presumably for wheelchairs (Disabled Ramblers please note), confirmed by a large “wet room” shower which was still under construction in the body of the cottage (Andre please note). It is assumed that the Ochills Club (who own the cottage) are experts in funding sources and have used this facility to contribute to their extension. All the appliances in this new kitchen are brand new, and whilst it lacks “comfy” chairs, the design around a large communal table makes it the social centre of the extended cottage (much as the previous kitchen, but much bigger and better).Two clubs could comfortably use the excellent facilities (the other basing themselves around the lounge) if they wanted to be anti-social. As it was, only the Eight Miles High members were there, and we based ourselves in the new kitchen extension, although sleeping was distributed around the whole cottage to avoid snorers and those with prostate issues in the night.
Base Camp Notes
A number of members were accused of talking in their sleep, suspicion falling on two individuals, one being profane and the other being incoherent (no prizes for guessing which was who). There were also issues with an unidentified “Phantom Clanger” crashing about in the middle of the night, walking into (and falling over) things, as well as knocking them over. An older Whylie apparition or wraith was suspected, but discounted when the noise stopped as the morning approached (when the Whylie phenomenon usually starts).
Weather Notes
The weather was excellent on the Friday and Saturday with intermittent sunny intervals despite fairly extensive cloud cover, which built up later in the day. Heavy showers also moved in later on Saturday (especially to the South over Cruach Ardrain) after a bright start. These showers disappeared again by Sunday morning, that day again being bright and hazy despite the threat of rain. It was probably a bit too warm and humid for any strenuous exertion on most days.
Special Note One
Jimmy Taylor practiced for his imminent 90th Birthday by going for a “short stroll” between the Victoria Bridge and Tyndrum. He also successfully completed “The Ultimate Challenge” across Scotland earlier this year, being (it is believed) the oldest entrant, never mind finisher. Everyone in the club aspires to be like Jimmy at his age, especially getting there in the first place. He is a walking testament to the outdoor life and the recuperative properties of Whyte and Mackay!
Special Note Two
A new local hydroelectric scheme has been installed in Glen Coralan above the Bridge of Orchy, presumably for the use of the Auch Estate. The Alt Corolan has been dammed higher up by a waterfall, and a two-foot pipe buried under the access track to take the water over a mile down to the Alt Kinglass where a small new generating station has been built.
Hill Notes – Friday
Andre Hawryliw
The five Corbetts north of Tyndrum (Beinn Odhar, Beinn Chaorach, am Chreag, Beinn nam Fuaran and Beinn a Chaisteil). Claimed to be the most Corbetts that a person can do in a day, it is not an easy undertaking with a lot of steep ascents, descents and re-ascents totalling 16½ miles and 6,365 feet of ascent (measured by GPS). The western descent of Beinn nam Fuaran is particularly steep, whilst the drops between Odhar / Chaorach and Chreag / Fuaran are very deep and arduous.
Mike Paterson
The Arrochar Munro Ben Vorlich from Glen Sloy. Readers are reminded that the approach from Loch Lomond over the Small Hills can be treacherous in winter snow due to the presence of a lot of deep pits in the rock (where Jimmy Taylor once rescued a starving ewe which had obviously been trapped there for some time).
Hill Notes – Saturday
Messrs Brewster & Kirkham
The Graham Beinn Suidhe from Victoria Bridge. Described as a steep-nosed ridge at its north eastern end, above the Loch Tulla to Glen Kinglass path. Victoria Bridge was also the starting point for Jimmy Taylor’s walk back to the Green Wellie Shop in Tyndrum.
Andre Hawryliw
The two Corbetts Beinn Udlaidh and Beinn Bhreac-liath from Glen Orchy. Initially very steep from the end of the Easan Dubha track by a new deer fence, then up along a line of marble outcrops to complete a straight forward circuit with good views.
Messrs Meechan & Wyllie
The rockclimb “Crowberry Ridge Direct” on the Buachaille Etive Mor. The day was nice, quiet and dry, but once again they made things more interesting for themselves by drifting off the recommended route.
Mike Paterson
The two Munros Cruach Ardrain and Beinn Tulaichean from Glen Falloch. These hills seemed to stop most of the rain, so Mike got quite wet and had to make use of the drying facilities back at Inverardran Cottage.
Messrs Dand & Paterson (D)
Eventually decided to also do the two Corbetts Beinn Udlaidh and Beinn Bhreac-liath from Glen Orchy. Some two hours behind, they saw Andre on Bhreac-liath when they were just coming on to Udlaidh, so they tried to phone him (but Andre’s phone was in the car!). Being that bit later they also got caught in the rain showers that came on later in the day, and also needed the drying facilities.
Hill Notes – Sunday
Messrs Meechan & Wyllie
After abandoning the idea of January Jigsaw yet again due to imperfect conditions chose to go down to do Graham's second last Munro during the ascent of which he managed to lose his car keys and had to meet his brother in perth with a spare set before heading back again to Crianlarich to pick up his car
Andre Hawryliw
The Corbett Bhein Mhic-Mhonaidh from Eas Urchaidh in Glen Orchy. The long walk in through the forestry is a delight on a nice day, especially the trees in the Caledonian Forrest Reserve at the Alt Broighleachan.
Concluding Note
Graham Wyllie will be celebrating his last Munro (Bla Bhein on Skye) at the next club meet which is on 14th and 15th September, based at Willie Nicholson’s Hut at Camas Lunie in Kintail. The intent is to climb Bla Bhein on the Saturday, after meeting up on the Friday evening, with Sunday for those that need to get home.
