Ballater weekend meet. 1-3 November 2024
We had a very good weekend meet to the excellent Ballater Hostel with a total of twenty members and prospective members coming along.
Spurred on by the fine weather on Sunday in particular, multiple hills were summited. Lochnagar saw multiple ascents; Dan and Irene tackled Broad Cairn and Carn Bannoch on Saturday; Fiona and Becky biked in to Carn a Mhaim; while Cal picked off the Cairnwell munros. Morven had several ascents and Jill summited Conachraig en route to Lochnagar. The Marilyns of the North East saw a concerted effort by Jim and Steve who along with Arthur, Robin, Ewen, Brian, Mel and Michael individually and severally tallied fourteen of these lesser hills over the weekend.
The Pass of Ballater crags provided some good climbing for Chris, Colin and Martin on Sunday. The Burn O’Vat gorge and the Balmoral Cairns saw several visitors, as did the Green Inn restaurant and The Bothy to round off a very good weekend. Here is what some of the participants write about their adventures.
Martin writes -
On Saturday several plans for routes on Lochnagar were combined, forming a group of seven (Brian, Chris, Colin, Martin, Mhairi, Abigail and Cal) that set off from the Spittal of Glenmuick. Overcast, but unseasonably warm, cloud was draped across the summit plateau. Most of the group had not walked together before, so there was plenty to talk about as we ascended the path up the East side of Lochnagar. Towards the bealach the wind picked up, funnelling down from the corrie. A couple of red grouse were startled, while a completely white hare nestled between dark rocks and tried not to be concerned. Stopping at the bealach to treat the early blisters, the group split briefly with Martin, Colin & Abigail having a wind-assisted ascent of Meikle Pap for views into the corrie. Descending was harder, with the wind gusts causing some stumbling. The same issue was found on the ascent to the plateau when it came to balancing over boulders.
Back together again, we followed the heavily cairned path towards Cac Carn Mor, the smaller top, we had a number of brocken spectres in the corrie rather than a view down to the loch. Nearer the summit we spied 15-20 white ptarmigan among boulders above the path. At first we thought there were only three or four and then others started to move, revealing their great camouflage skills. A bearing was needed through the cloud between the two tops, although there was a window in the cloud and a view North towards Ben Avon briefly from the summit region. Ducking below the summit we found a spot out of the wind for lunch. The return journey around the plateau was simple enough, before a SE bearing over the stoney tops of Cuidhe Crom to Little Pap, which were objectives for Colin. A strong side wind was racing across, accelerating around the landforms and pushing clouds past us at an estimated 40 mph. Walking was okay, but lifting legs to boulder-hop required more stability. Between boulder-fields the heather had buried rocks and was harder to traverse. Dropping off Little Pap towards the waterfalls a herd of deer was sighted, and an old abandoned bird egg and a hip flask were discovered. The path down past the waterfalls was well-made, with good views during the descent. It was an atmospheric and enjoyable day, with good company.
Cloud over Lochnagar
Lochnagar from Meikle Pap
Waterfall on Lochnagar
Waterfall on Lochnagar
Descending to Loch Muick
Brocken Spectre from Little Pap
And Dan writes about his and Irene’s ascent of Broad Cairn and Carn Bannoch -
On Saturday Irene and I wanted to go onto the White Mounth plateau. It looked dubious whether the views would open up but some hope did remain in the forecasts. It was a little breezy walking along Loch Muick with cloud covering all the tops but with patches of blue sky offering further hope. We ascended Broad Cairn first entering the cloud at around 800 metres. Although there were moments of sun peaking through an apparent thinning clag unfortunately hopes of views from the peaks were dashed. We continued along to Carn Bannoch but decided to find a way down from there. We practiced some navigation using water features as a hand rail down to Dubh Loch and back onto a good path back down to Loch Muick.
On Sunday we decided on a smaller day going up and down Morven approaching from the East. It was blue skies all round with no wind giving a serene and warm ascent. We had great views all round to the mountains and the flatter farmlands of the Shire.
Irene thinks the cloud is breaking over Broad Cairn (it didn't)
Irene descending to Dubh Loch
Admiring a waterfall above Dubh Loch
Dan spots a mysterious bright orb above Mt Keen
Mt Keen
Lochnagar
The Marilyn baggers in the group took the opportunity to turn some of the red markers on their Marilyn maps of the North East into green markers accompanied by other tolerant club members. First Jim, then Steve, then Arthur.
Jim writes - This month's IMC weekend meet was a tale of four Marilyns, Craiglich, Kerloch, Millstone Hill and Cairn William for me. Friday morning saw me and Ewen leaving a wet Inverness in search of better weather in the East. It was still raining when we reached Tomintoul, so it was time for a coffee and a contemplate. Fortunately, the weather improved as we dropped over the Lecht allowing us to do Craiglich from a layby just east of the Queen's view on the B9119. The hiil provides an easy ascent and is a fine viewpoint. There are fragments of a plaque near the summit trig and memorial cairn that indicate it was erected by the tenantry of the estates of Farquharson of Finzean who owned the land thereabouts in the 19th century.
On Saturday, Ewen and I did Kerloch, the highest hill of the foothills of the Mounth that lie east of the Cairn o'Mount. We did a traverse of the hill ascending Melmannoch. Little Kerloch to Kerloch. A network of forestry tracks made for easy going, except for the need to climb locked gates on two deer fences. Despite the access legislation, there are still landlords who unfortunately don't want us on their land.
On Sunday I set off on my own for Millstone Hill and Cairn William. Millstone Hill is the southern neighbour of Bennachie and gives excellent views from its summit. I started from the Donview car park following a good path to the summit. Finally, I drove to the other bank of the Don and made use of tracks and mountain biking paths to ascend the heathery, granite ridge of Cairn William. From the summit there are good views over the Aberdeenshire countryside.
Steve writes -For me the weekend saw five new Marilyn’s and remarkably a total ascent of almost 1,500m. I took in The Bochel in Glenlivet on my drive east. On Saturday it was a day of dodging cattle and shotguns on Coiliochbher Hill and Lord Arthur’s Hill before a quieter affair on Tap O’Noth. Sunday I visited Burn O’Vat before a wander up Kerloch, where I was treated to a Golden Eagle circling the summit, on the way home.
Arthur (mistakenly) thought that the rain on Friday was likely to clear from the North and East first. He writes - I set off for the long drive to Strichen and the most easterly Marilyn in Scotland - Waughton Hill, with its white quartz horse prominent on its southern slopes. The rain continued. Brimmond Hill in its eponymous country park overlooking Dyce Airport was next and as the light started to fade I followed in Jim and Ewen’s earlier tracks up Craiglich.
Saturday saw Robin and I decide to make a longer day of Hill of Fare by going from its easternmost side (the summit being at its west side). The head height whins and bracken for the first kilometre of our chosen track did help to lengthen the day and we preferred to dice with the road traffic on our return trip. Sunday was altogether the best day and Robin, Ewen and Brian accompanied me on The Coyles of Muick, a very pleasant walk following the boundary between Abergeldie and Balmoral Estates.
View for Kerloch summit
Cairn William from Millstone Hill
Mither Tap from Millstone Hill
Brian, Robin and Ewen on The Colyes of Muick summit
The Coyles of Muick summit party
Mel and Bracken on Pressendyne
Sunday also looked promising for climbing so Chris, Colin and Martin decided to head for the Pass of Ballater and climb. Chris writes - Martin had asked if anyone would want to go climbing prior to the weekend and I threw my harness, boots and helmet in at the last moment just in case, not expecting to use them. It turned out to be a perfect day to climb, the south facing crag was bathed in sunshine all day on the middle and upper tiers. The granite was warmed nicely and the grip was good.
We climbed as a three with two half ropes, which worked well, and we completed 5 climbs from VD to HS, alternating the lead. We used Colin’s SMC guide, UKC online, and the excellent slim Julian Lines guide, which is very good for this crag. The climbs are known to be relatively hard for their grade, especially the starts, which were a bit awkward.
There were several climbing groups on the crag, and we had some good friendly belaying chats. It was an excellent day, and we were fortunate to have such good weather. I was very glad that I brought my kit.
Colin on Ping Pong
Colin on Lime Chimney
Colin and Chris topping Bisector
Taking part: Ewen, Jim, Daniel, Irene, Fiona, Jill, Arthur, Robin, Steve, Mairi, Michael, Martin, John, Chris, Becky, Brian, Colin, Mel and prospective members Cal and Abigail.
Words and Photos: Dan, Irene, Chris, Martin, Michael, Steve, Jim, Cal and Arthur