Alex MacIntyre Memorial Hut weekend meet

The weather forecast for our weekend meet at the Alex Macintyre Hut at Onich was not promising with a band of heavy rain forecast for Saturday and showers for the rest of the weekend.

Friday was forecast to be the best of the weekend, so there was a flurry of hill activity on the journey down to Onich.  Steve and Jim continued their assault on the Marilyns with  ascents of Airds Hill and Beinn Leamhain respectively.  Becky went to Beinn Bhan and Peter B. to Binnein Shuas. Catherine summited the Pap of Glencoe and Robin and Arthur went to Beinn Resipol. The last two were the only ones who got very wet and did not see any views. Marcus, on his new bike, cycled to the hut from Fort Augustus.

The band of rain swept through, as forecast, on Saturday morning. We had a late start with limited enthusiasm to get up hills. Emma and Erin headed to the climbing wall in Fort William; Catherine, Mhairi and Becky cycled along Loch Sheil from Callop; Arthur, Richard and Robin explored the Strontian lead mines; and Peter B went to visit relatives on Skye. Only a brave band of Steve, Marcus, Jim, Peter and Marion took to the hill - Beinn Sgluich - and they stayed dry.

The cycling extravaganza continued on Sunday with Becky, Catherine and Mhairi cycling to the Falls of Pattack and around Ardverikie estate. Marion and Peter cycled on Route 78 - which conveniently, runs past the hut. Arthur, Marcus, Richard and Robin accompanied Jim and Steve as they picked off another Marilyn - Doire Bàn - with the Graham, Tom Meadhoin thrown in for good measure.

Jim writes about Beinn Leamhain:

The Marilyn, Beinn Leamhain is a flat topped hill forming a wedge between Glen Gour and Loch Linnhe. The walk starts at Sallachain where Arthur kindly dropped me on his way to Beinn Resipol with Robin. My route headed up straight up in south westerly direction on a combination of wet grass and wee slippery crags. As I gained height there were good views out into Loch Linnhe and up to the Glencoe hills. The summit is not the trig point at 504m, but a small cairn 300 metres to the west beyond two small lochans. Outstanding views to Garbh Bheinn and down Loch Linnhe were had from the true summit. I then retraced my route down and walked back to the Coran Ferry using the paths around Ardgour House. Unfortunately, the Inn at Ardgour was closed, so I caught the ferry and walked to the Onich Hotel where I had a welcome pint whilst waiting for Arthur and Robin.

Peter B. writes about a moment on Binnein Shuas:

I was going slowly up the west ridge of Binnein Shuas; there were a few spots of rain and also shafts of sunlight which created a full rainbow. I heard a bird call and thought it was geese, but the call was strange. I looked up and one rather forlorn bird was flying along and calling as if it was lost. Then after a few more heavy paces over the yellowing tussocks I looked up again against the bright blue sky and my lone bird had found a group of six or seven and they were heading in the direction of Loch Laggan: but they weren’t geese, they were Whooper Swans, pure white against the sky with that echoing call….later, as I was coming down, a Golden Eagle floated gently round the crags…..

Steve writes about Airds Hill:

Airds Hill is a diminutive Marilyn at Appin. Which nevertheless affords stunning views of the Firth of Lorn if you are prepared to tackle its clear felled and bramble entangled upper slopes.

Catherine writes about her trip up the Pap of Glencoe:

"My first solo hill jaunt for quite some time and Friday was a good day for it. Bright and sunny in the morning and never wet where I was, although it threatened plenty. “

Becky writes about cycling on Ardverikie Estate:

We started from the bridge near Inverpattack, followed the track past the Falls of Pattack out above the forest, then cut across and did a loch tour visiting Loch Doire nan Sgiath, Lochan na Earba and Loch an Righ. We then headed back past Ardverikie and along the side of Loch Laggan. A lovely route & there are lots of other options for bike rides (and walks) around there.

The Pap of Glencoe across Loch Leven

The summit of Tom Meadhoin

Doire Bàn summit

Marcus writes about cycling to and from the meet:

So I bought my first bike for over 30 years. What better way to test it out and cycle to the AMMH meet. Wednesday was a complete washout so I rode to Inverness bus station and put the bike in the boot of a 919 bus to Fort Augustus and a cosy night at Morag's Lodge! Thursday took me along the Caledonia Way to Fort William and up Glen Nevis. The Autumn colours were spectacular and I was surprised to see snow almost down to the half-way lochan on the Ben. On Friday I headed over to Ardgour using the two ferries to avoid the traffic, and making a stop for supplies at the Ardgour brewery. All relatively straight forward.

The forecast for my return on Monday was properly vile. Worried that the Camusnagaul ferry would not be operating I took Steve's suggestion to use the West Highland Way. It was gnarly and involved a lot of pushing and much paddling: but I made it and am now in Glen Nevis SYHA sitting by a roaring fire enjoying a beer! The final two days are promising to be more pleasant. Fingers crossed.

(Postscript: Marcus writes that the final two days were rather wet but not too horrible.)

Taking Part: Catherine, Steve, Richard, Peter M., Marion, Mhairi, Becky, Peter B., Robin, Emma, Jim, Marcus, Arthur and prospective member Erin.

Words: Arthur Jim, Catherine, Peter B., Becky, Steve and Marcus

Photos: Arthur, Jim, Catherine, Becky, Steve and Marcus

Arthur writes about a visit to Strontian Lead Mines:

Richard , Robin and I started from the Ariundle Oakwoods above Strontian.  The plan was that if we could cross the Strontian River we might climb the Graham, Sgùrr nan Cnamh. But secretly we knew that exploring the lead mines was a more likely option. And so it proved. We went as far as the Fee Donald Mine with its plethora of shafts and mineral veins, then followed the the line of the deposits over Druim Glas to the mines around Bellsgrove.

The mines were first worked in the early 1700’s with up to 600 workers mining lead, silver and zinc with machinery and supplies brought in by sea. Strontium was discovered here later in that century. The mines were worked intermittently for over 200 years - most recently in the early 1980’s at Clashgorm for Barite for the oil industry and then as an aggregate quarry, obliterating much of the older lead mines on which it was located.

Steve writes about Beinn Sgluich:

Beinn Sgluich is a hill of surprises, from its interesting geology and topography, most notably a band of limestone running through Glen Stockdale to the commanding views from its summit perched high above Loch Linnhe to Ardgour.  We accessed from the Highland Titles Nature Reserve and followed new forest tracks into Glen Stockdale from which the final slopes led past a large cave to the summit trig point.