Friday night saw a dozen of us drinking pints of Red Cuillin in the Slater's Arms, Cannich. We had to work out the tricky problem of how to get twelve people and twelve rucksacks into two cars to Strawberry Cottage at the west end of Loch Affric in one go (landlord's restrictions). We managed but it was bloody uncomfortable for five very bumpy miles from the locked gate onwards. Strawberry Cottage is a wee gem, despite the very inappropriate name. Solar powered electric lighting, running water and a log fire. Saturday morning most of the club headed off to do the five Munros from Mam Sodhail north and then east. I had done these previously and so headed west along the glen. A gentle hours walk took me to the hostel which I checked out for a possible future visit with my daughter. The I took the path up onto the hills and headed for Sgurr nan Ceathramhnan. The cloud was shifting around at about the 3000 foot mark so sometimes visibility was fine the next down to a hundred metres or so. On the summit it was so thick I had to use my compass to make sure of the ridge out to Mullach na Dheiragain. That is a long, long ridge. Met a few guys who had come up from Iron Lodge. Enjoyed my lunch and then retraced my steps including going back over Ceathramhnan as I did not fancy trying to hit off a bit of successful contouring in the poor visibility. The ridge back to the bealach seemed interminable. The walk east back along the path to Strawberry Cottage was surprisingly pleasant. No midges, no sore feet, no blisters. Surprising as I was wearing a brand new pair of boots which had just done a ten hour day. Chicken curry, a bottle of wine, roaring log fire and pleasant company till late ensured a good nights sleep. Next day dawned wet and misty. Yesterday's long hard day, and dare I say it, last night's drink ensured no one felt like venturing out on the hill, so it was tidy up and head home for Fife in time for tea. PS No midges worth mentioning. No one even put anti- midge cream on.
"Leonard Trim" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
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Friday night saw a dozen of us drinking pints of Red Cuillin in the Slater's Arms, Cannich. We had to work out the tricky problem of how to get twelve people and twelve rucksacks into two cars to Strawberry Cottage at the west end of Loch Affric in one go (landlord's restrictions). We managed but it was bloody uncomfortable for five very bumpy miles from the locked gate onwards.
Is this near Althnamulloch (only bit I can see on the map)? How or who did you speak to in order to get a car in that far, and did you use the track on the south side of the Loch?
Quoted message said:
Strawberry Cottage is a wee gem, despite the very inappropriate name. Solar powered electric lighting, running water and a log fire. Saturday morning most of the club headed off to do the five Munros from Mam Sodhail north and then east. I had done these previously and so headed west along the glen. A gentle hours walk took me to the hostel which I checked out for a possible future visit with my daughter. The I took the path up onto the hills and headed for Sgurr nan Ceathramhnan. The cloud was shifting around at about the 3000 foot mark so sometimes visibility was fine the next down to a hundred metres or so. On the summit it was so thick I had to use my compass to make sure of the ridge out to Mullach na Dheiragain. That is a long, long ridge. Met a few guys who had come up from Iron Lodge. Enjoyed my lunch and then retraced my steps including going back over Ceathramhnan as I did not fancy trying to hit off a bit of successful contouring in the poor visibility. The ridge back to the bealach seemed interminable. The walk east back along the path to Strawberry Cottage was surprisingly pleasant. No midges, no sore feet, no blisters. Surprising as I was wearing a brand new pair of boots which had just done a ten hour day. Chicken curry, a bottle of wine, roaring log fire and pleasant company till late ensured a good nights sleep. Next day dawned wet and misty. Yesterday's long hard day, and dare I say it, last night's drink ensured no one felt like venturing out on the hill, so it was tidy up and head home for Fife in time for tea. PS No midges worth mentioning. No one even put anti-midge cream on.
Munros 243/284
Good report Len, I've been in Glen Affric but not visited the hills you climbed. A couple of "pleasants", no midges and back to Fife for tea. Couldn't get any better :-)
Strawberry Cottage is a wee gem, despite the very inappropriate name. Solar powered electric lighting, running water and a log fire.
Sounds excellent. We're booked in for the second May Bank Holiday weekends next year, so it's bound to rain that week, book your holidays abroad now. Are we really limited to 2 vehicles?
The message <[email hidden]> from "KRO" <[email hidden]> contains these words:
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Is this near Althnamulloch (only bit I can see on the map)? How or who did you speak to in order to get a car in that far, and did you use the track on the south side of the Loch?
It is just opposite Althnamulloch, on the opposite side of the river. Strawberry Cottage is owned by An Teallach Mountaineering Club. Contact them for hire. Sorry I don't have the address, although I daresay I could get it off the club secretary if you are particularly interested. If you hire you get two keys which will allow two vehicles access through the locked gates onto the track on the south side of the loch. Hope this helps.
As late as 1983 Athnamulloch was a working sheiling.. A man from Cannich would drive his cattle up and spend the summer there before returning at the onset of Autumn...
This is the latest transhumance I have come across in Scotland.. Any other examples?
Hitched a lift with him out of Cannich at this time during th winter.
