All posts in Meet Reports

Ronan Cottage is owned by the Scottish Ladies Climbing Club. It is at Aultbea, north of Pool Ewe, with fabulous views over Loch Ewe. A lovely place to stay. Munros ascended included: An Teallach – by the pinnacle ridge and by the route from Dundonnel, Slioch, Fionn Bheinn and Am Faochagach. John and Dave went further afield to climb Maol Chean-dearg, Sgorr Rhadh and Beinn Liath Mhor from Achnashellach. Corbetts included Sail Mhor, Beinn Dearg Mor via a night at Shenavall, and Beinn Airigh Char. So lots, taking advantage of the glorious weather. John and I explored local sea cliffs but were foiled by rain and tide – another trip.

Loch Ewe was used as a base for Arctic conveys during world war two, to deliver supplies to Russia. A fascinating local museum, set up and run by volunteers, gives details of these epic journeys. https://arcticconvoymuseum.org/ Also worth a visit is Inverewe Gardens, created in the 19th century, containing species from across the globe, taking advantage of the climate moderated by the gulf stream https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/inverewe

Overall, a great place to stay. There are also a lot of local crags, which we didn’t explore and the Fisherfield wilderness. Thanks to Lorna for organising this week.

Mary, John and myself moved up to Elphin, North of Ullapool, for a second week in the SMC Naismith hut, where we were joined by Sue Miller for two days, and two friends from the Fell and Rock, Robin and Richard. The hut features a photo of the SMC outside the Clachaig Inn in Glencoe in 1907, including Naismith himself and other SMC luminaries of the time. From here groups climbed Ben Hope, Ben Kilbreak, Conival, Ben More Assynt, Cul Mor, Cul Bearg and Sgurr an Fhidhleir. All very fine hills. The varied rock types, proximity to the sea and relative isolation of these hills gives them distinctive characters and great views. Robin and I explored the extensive Reiff sea cliffs, where an ascent of an isolated pinnacle led to a tricky descent in the rain. Loads more to climb here, if you can find it, and are happy at VS+. Robin also tried to teach me to fish – with a similar level of success.

More mixed weather on this week, although it only really hit us on the last couple of days. We retreated a day early in the face of storm Amy. Another great venue to revisit. Many more really good hills to go on.
Geoff.

Ten of us met in Over Haddon for a 7.5 mile walk above and then through Lathkill Dale. Walking westwards along the lane out of the village we admired a landscape which, minus the drystone walls and scattered farmsteads, is very similar to that which was experienced by the earliest humans to reach this area at the end of the Ice Age some 12 000 years ago. As the ice retreated, these Mesolithic hunter gatherers were able to follow and hunt migrating herds of reindeer, aurochs and wild horses and would have encountered mammoths, woolly rhinos and hyenas along the way. It was hard to imagine all this as we passed placid herds of grazing cows but a chilly wind helped to put us in the picture!
We passed the jumbled remains of Ringham Low, once a five-chambered burial mound from the Neolithic period, and then made our way down through Ricklow Dale and its quarry to the shelter of Lathkill Dale. We visited the sites of Mesolithic rock shelters at Lathkill Head Cave and Cales Dale before moving into the woodland of the lower valley. Here the focus switched to the 18th & 19th century remnants of the lead mining industry and water-powered corn mills. We explored the ruins of Bateman’s House and Mandale Mine’s engine house but a new fence and rank vegetation prevented us from visiting the outlet of Mandale Sough – but we could at least hear the sound of the only running water we encountered all day. We finished with the steep climb back to the village.
We were lucky with the weather, just one brief but heavy downpour, and the day was rounded off with Helen distributing pieces of delicious, home-made, apple bake – very tasty.
Thanks for your company everyone
Steve W

The early start and forecast of rain for the afternoon didn’t put off thirteen members and a dog from meeting up at Bowden Bridge. All seemed to be straining at the leash as we setting off at a brisk pace for the heights of Kinder. The climb up past the reservoir took the group to William Clough which contained a babbling brook to walk by and blooming purple heather decorating both sides of the path. With 1345 feet ascended and some wild but dry moorland crossed the group stopped for elevenses at the twin trig points of The Edge (one collapsed and was replaced). Ali used her tried and tested technique to leap up and sit on top of the upright trig which itself stands about a metre above ground level – another one ticked off.
The next stop was Kinder Downfall where some of the group scrambled down to investigate the whereabouts of a cave. The River Kinder which flows over the downfall to give the Peak Districts longest waterfall was best described as a trickle. Lunch was taken at Kinder Low before the descent past Edale Cross (made from local gritstone and is believed to be medieval in date and was probably erected by the Cistercian monks of Basingwerk Abbey at the southern boundary of land which they received from Henry II in 1157 – something to add to your general knowledge!).
A right turn shortly after the cross took the party over paths and fields, with far reaching views over surrounding hills and valleys and on to Manchester. Then it was back to the start with a few teasing drops of rain falling just as we got back to the cars.
All in all a great days walking with the additional bonus of the weather staying clement. Thanks to all who came along.
Andrew

Fiona’s pics

A select group of 2 set off after the group member endeared himself to the leader by buying scones for elevenses from the stall raising money for the restoration of St James Chapel just up the road. A pleasant walk up to Laddow, across to Chew Valley ensued. We dropped down the road to scramble up Wilderness Gully stopping enroute to admire a little scrambly clough that the esteemed President reassured me wasn’t one of the Wilderness Gullies. 10-15 minutes letter we had returned to said clough and enjoyed a great scramble up ‘the best’ of the gullies. Bone dry. Great views over towards Bleaklow on the return circuit. Good walk and great scramble – well recommended. Mary

Up to 2 days before there were only 2 people intending to come on this meet. In the last 2 days this expanded to 6. We still managed to cover what we intended. visibility was good generally and not too hot. Feedback was generally positive and all felt they got something from the day. Gordon
Eli’s pic

Bron’s pic

Saturday 9 August six of us completed a 12 mile circular walk from Low Bradfield. The sun greeted us for an 0930 departure. The first ascent led us to High Bradfield where we perused some of the gravestone inscriptions in the flagged pathway and then moved onto Bailey Hill for a wander round the historical motte and bailey remains, dating back to Norman times.
An ancient path then took us to the meadows below Agden Rocher. We found our way to the top of the crag and then walked its length, admiring the views over to Derwent Edge and Ughill Moor. The wind picked up here, and despite the warm sunshine, layers remained on!
A meandering descent brought us to the northerly end of Agden Reservoir, where we found a convenient bench and grassy bank for a snack break. Onward we walked, to Wilkins Hill and then through an old quarry site to Dale Dike Reservoir – where the banks of the original dam burst catastrophically in the Sheffield Flood of 1864. We followed the paths on the eastern side to Strines Reservoir dam and then ascended to the folly near Sugworth Hall. Colin provided us with an excellent potted history (built in the early part of the 1900s by a steel baron as a viewing platform to see the resting place for his late wife). A meander through the rhododendron bushes gave us an exit on to a country lane. Tracks and paths across Ughill Moor eventually descended to Blindside Lane where we followed the pleasant path alongside Dale Dike that feeds into Dam Flask. We arrived in Low Bradfield opposite The Plough where were forced to stop for a drink in the sunshine.! Thank you to the gang of five for a very enjoyable day. Ali.

Phil and I got to Aussois on the S side of the Maurienne on 23rd June, Seve and Charlotte 6 days later. Most people will be familiar with this set of hills from the ski resorts on the N side, such as Tignes. We started with a four day hut to hut walk, going over five passes. Wonderful alpine scenery. Flowers and marmots. A little snow on the passes, but not needing crampons. We explored 4 local single pitch crags. A variety of rock on four different crags. Did some tremendous via ferratas, especially in the Victor Emmanuel Fort complex and over the river L’arc gorge. I ventured on a 640 meter zip wire, 180 meters above the river. Exciting. A couple of exciting day walks. A second hut trip took us to the Femma refuge where Phill and I went up Mean Martin, 3,300mts. Our high point. A last hut trip took advantage of the free bus to Bellecombe, at 2,300mts. A walk to a hut, blizzard, and a second day contouring above the main Maurienne valley, with great views of the Ecrins.

Wonderful ice cream – we sampled all the cafes in Aussois. Very good municipal camp site. Lots is free in France – parking, toilets, via ferratas. Aussios was 20 minutes from a motorway which led directly to Calais – at a cost. A great venue with something for all. Geoff.
Geoff’s pics:

Mean Martin Vanoise

Via Ferrata

Steve’s pics:

On the GR5 above the Maurienne valley

Approaching the Femma Hut

Mean Martin from Col de Rocheure

Ten of us met at Ashford-in-the-Water, some of us having enjoyed a pre-walk coffee in the Aisseford Tea Rooms, for a 7.5 mile walk which took in historical features from Mesolithic to Modern. We began by spending a few minutes exploring the churchyard which has the stump of a 14thC preaching cross and (very) faint traces of the moat of a fortified house once belonging to Edmund Plantagenet, brother of Edward II. Passing the 17thC tithe barn, now a smart cottage, we crossed its contemporary, Sheepwash Bridge, and made our way along the river, spotting dipper and kingfisher, to reach the abandoned 18thC, water-powered corn mill at the foot of Great Shacklow Wood. Passing the exit to the Magpie Mine sough, constructed 1873-81, we made our way on to the foot of Deep Dale, once the site of a Romano-British settlement and close to the rock shelter in Demon’s Dale once used by Mesolithic hunter-gatherers.
Monsal Head via the 19thC Headstone Viaduct was next, now regarded as a picturesque feature but when the viaduct and railway were built it was not universally popular – John Ruskin, the Victorian artist and critic, railed against the damage caused by its construction, declaring
‘The valley is gone, and the Gods with it; and now, every fool in Buxton can be in Bakewell in half an hour, and every fool in Bakewell at Buxton’
After lunch overlooking the dale and a brief, light shower of fine rain, we moved on for a spot of jungle bashing to reach Fin Cop, an Iron Age promontory fort in a commanding position overlooking the Wye. Modern excavation of its banks and ditches has revealed much older origins and grim evidence of a massacre of women and children during its destruction around 300BC.
Retracing our steps, we followed the field paths back to Ashford, grateful for the sunshine and cooling breeze which had accompanied us for most of the day. Thanks for your interest and company everyone. Steve.