21 to 26 April 2012 Corrour, Scotland
Present: John Anderson, Andrew Dyson, Peter Haigh, Ian Hargreaves, Dorothy Hemingway (G), Bill Hunter (G), Helen Kerr (G), Ian McMillan, Susan.Melia.
After the rain of the Tyndrum meet in early March, it was a pleasure to experience some snowy conditions in Scotland this winter, albeit only above about 3000ft, and for most of the meet the rain stayed away.
We stayed at the Chapel cottage at Corrour Lodge. The original shooting lodge, built in 1899 and accessible then only by train and boat down Loch Ossian, was burnt down accidentally in 1942 and rebuilt in modern style in 2003. The Lodge is now reached by 11 miles of estate road . The Chapel, adjacent to the Lodge, was unharmed in the fire and has now been refurbished to create a 1950’s-style Scandinavian ski cabin.
Parties of different sizes ascended Sgor Gaibhre and Carn Dearg on the first day, and the long ridge of Beinn Eibhinn, Aonach Beag, Gael-Charn and another Carn Dearg the next. The weather forecast promoted a successful trip off-estate on the third day westwards to the Grey Corries, but rain on the last day thwarted a walk up Ben Alder, which will have to wait for another day.
Several circuits of Loch Ossian were made by members of the party, either on foot or by bike.
Ian McMillan managed three Munros during the stay, despite his impending knee operation only days later.
Ian Hargreaves