1981 » Garve Caravan
September 1981 Garve Caravan.(Malcolm. Ian. Dave Hill)
This was Dave Hills first foray with us.
Sept 25th 1981 We left Blackpool at 6pm and took the Strathyre route to Glencoe. We were booked into the Clachaig Hotel Chalets for the night at a cost of £2 per head. At normal closing time the back room door opened, and as we were resident we were included. This was the night that stories were told in turn. I intended doing 'Our Albert' but was pre empted by a big bearded, kilted, Scotsman with a dirc down his stocking top, who proceeded to tell ' A famous seaside place called Blackpool'
I quickly decided, instead, to teach a scout round which goes :-
'Macdonald is dead and his brother don’t know it,
His brother is dead and Macdonald don’t know it
They are both of them dead
And in the same bed
And not one of them knows that the other is dead.'
This can be quite a jolly round if sung with gusto. But I forgot the connection between the song and Glencoe, when the McDonalds were slain in their beds. The song made light of the event which the Macdonalds in Glencoe still vividly recall Just in time, my friends restrained me, and suggested that I could try :-
'Oh the Campbells are coming. Hurrah Hurrah '
But this would, of course, be just as bad as it was the Campbells who killed the Macdonald's, and there was a sign in the Hotel foyer clearly saying "No Campbells ! "No Hawkers !'
As my great grandmother was a McDonald, I should have known better.
I seem to recollect sleeping part of the night behind the car steering wheel after being locked out of the chalet. I will get my own back. BEWARE.
26th September 1981.
Malcolm. Ian. Dave Hill.
Two Munros and 3 tops.
Carn Mor Dearg. Ben Nevis (Repeat).
We parked near to the golf course by Inverlochy Castle and started on the good track up the Allt a Mhuilinn before striking up to Carn Beag Dearg and then keeping to the ridge all the way round. Malcolm was struggling with an ankle injury from rugby and he retreated somewhat despondently after Carn Mor Dearg.
It rained nearly all day and was quite windy on the arrete up onto Ben Nevis and on the summit itself.
11 miles. 5300ft. 7 hours 50 mins.
After a shower and a meal at Fort William we headed to Garve where Ian had booked us a caravan.
When we arrived it was to find that the owners were out and the van was a decrepit old thing. It was partly roofless, chicken infested, dirty, and the electrics seemed archaic. Before dashing out for a pint at the Garve Hotel we did a quick springclean. Ian (our accommodation manager) vowed to have a serious set too with the owner next day.
27th September.1981
Malcolm. Ian. Dave Hill.
One Munro
Fionn Bheinn (Achnasheen)
The lady owner of the van came to see us and was close to hysterical, with tears running down her face. Before Ian could complain she said "There's no way that’s your home boys. You are in what we use as a chicken coup. No one has stayed in there for over 20 years. Your van is the big new mobile home round the back. Anyway, we have some cottages, and if you like you can have one of these for the same price. They are central heated, with hot water and a fireplace. Just pay the electric at the end of the week'. We were well suited.
As Malcolm was struggling with his rugby injury, and didn't think he could put boots on, we decided on an easy day and chose Fionn Bheinn above Achnasheen village. It was cloudy all day and the climb was rather dreary. Malcolm managed in plimsolls.
6 miles. 2700ft. 3 hours 15 mins.
This was probably the first time we visited Bloody Beryl, the landlady of the Achnasheen Hotel. We were to have some good nights there over the years before it finally burnt down. The pool table, the ever present Hector, pictures of steam trains, roaring fire, container of sandwiches, bonfires, Gerry getting irate about the fate of aboriginies, will ever remain a backdrop to a number of amusing memories. Sad that the place no longer exists.
We tried unsuccessfully at Grudie to negotiate a key to the gate to the Fannichs.
28th September 1981.
Malcolm. Ian. Dave Hill.
We decided to try for Beinn Dearg but we were turned back by the laird after we inadvertently drove up his drive near Inverlael. They were stalking today and probably all week. Family looked rather posh and we dubbed one hurrah henry type 'Cynthia'.
As time was going, we opted for a quiet day by the river at Garve. The river was in flood and the falls were looking good. Road improvements were just beginning. We spent some time aiming stones at cans and small cairns we built, and visited the Garve Hotel. It didn’t have a lot of character and some film or other was usually on the TV. The little shop in Garve was quite old fashioned, and their was a level crossing for the railway..
29th September 1981
Malcolm. Ian . Dave Hill.
Two Munros
Conival & Ben More Assynt. (Inchnadamph)
From Inchnadamph we followed the Gleann Dubh virtually to its source. The river goes underground for a short stretch and there are a number of caves in this valley. From the source it was an easy ridge to Conival and a good long ridge out to Ben More Assynt. When we visited here a second time (In 1992) there was a small element of doubt as to whether we did in fact visit the top on this first trip.
The day was wet all day and we had no views..
To descend we simply reversed the route.
10 miles. 4000ft. 6 hours 45 mins.
30th September 1981.
Malcolm. Ian. Dave Hill.
Four Munros and 1 top.
Meall a'Chrasgaidh. Sgurr nan Clach Geala. Sgurr Mor. Beinn Liath Mhor Fannaich. (Fannichs).
We parked 2 miles west of Braemore Junction where the Abhainn Cuileig goes under the road. And headed due south following a stream directly to Meall a Chrasgaidh. At a small Lochan Malcolm was not amused and had a sense of humour failure when we decided on an 'add on', as his foot was still sore, but we still veered right to Sgurr nan Clach Geala, then reversed round the ridge to Sgurr Mor. It was very windy here and we were to get no views all day.
Taking in the final Munroe (Beinn Liath Mhor Fannaich) we dropped northwards. Dave and Mal then followed the Allt a Mhadaidh eastwards to the nearby A835. From here they hitched back to the car. Ian and myself took the longer but direct route, north along the east flank of Meall a Bhainne, to hit the car spot on.
We repaired to the Dundonnell for refreshment.
I have little doubt that we probably also called in the Aultguish Inn as well. In fact I think this was the night of the fight.
Whilst we were quietly playing a newly explained board game called cat and mouse, (draughts board and pieces), a light appeared from the South and a lorry stopped. The driver sat himself at the bar and drank on his own. Shortly afterwards a light appeared from the North and a lorry stopped and the driver sat himself at the bar and drank on his own. The two drivers soon struck up a conversation which rapidly deteriorated into a discussion, then an argument, and finally, a brawl. Our pieces were knocked flying. The landlord solved the problem by going and fetching his wife who promptly evicted both offenders.
12 miles. 5000ft. 8 hours.
October 1st 1981.
Rest Day. We took the train from Garve to Skye and back.
October 2nd.1981
Ian. Malcolm. Dave Hill.
Two Munros and 1 top.
Toll Creagach. Tom a Choinich. (Affric)
Today was a first for Glen Affric. We took the car as far as was then possible which was about a mile from the end of Loch Beinn a Mheadhoin and followed the northerly track along the Abhainn Gleann nam Fiadh for a mile before bearing right to tackle Toll Creagach direct up the Allt Coire an t'Sneachda. There had been 3 to 4 inches of fresh snow last night on the tops over 1500ft. Snow covered bracken is not the easiest terrain and when the gradient steepened it became slow going with a bit of backsliding. Malcolm, apart from wearing plimsolls, wore an old thin waterproof over his Gore-Tex, as his latest investment had leaked all week. He looked a good advert for 'How not too climb' Magazine.
As we approached the highest point the breeze rose and stinging sleet greeted us. Fortunately we hit the Trig Point absolutely spot on, just as well, as visibility was down to virtually nil.
From the summit of Toll Creagach we followed the easy ridge westwards down to a pass then up onto Tom a Choinnich. Ian was all for continuing along the ridge to Carn Eighe which would have added another three miles and another 5 tops. It would also have left us that much further to return. Fortunately we opted to head straight down, and, as it was, it was going dark as we arrived at the bottom.
We had been out 6 hours for 3700ft and 10 1/2 miles.
After the 35 mile drive up to Garve and food and a bath we noted that Ullapool was only 30 miles North and that it was Friday night. Maybe there was something on at the 'Fair Isles'. There was. We spent the evening at a dance (which in Scotland means you drink and listen to Scottish Music). Someone broke a glass on the dance floor and I went to retrieve it before it was stepped on in the melee. I nearly got thrown out for my assistance, as the bouncer thought it was me who had broken it. We accepted an invitation to coffee and all fell asleep whilst it was being made. Eventually, in the early hours we somehow got back to Garve.
3rd October.1981.
Ian. Malcolm. Dave Hill.
One Munro.
Geal Charn (Cairngorm
Leaving our excellent holiday house at Garve, we settled the electric and headed for Inverness and the A9.
The radio was on and the discussion was about 'The Peter Pan Syndrome' which for some reason some members of the party thought funny.
Conversation turned to the holiday cottage we had used, and it came out that the electric had worked out at something like £.1 15½. As the electric was 5p per unit, and as it was only measured in full units, I was intrigued to find out how the figure we paid ended up with a half pence at the end. We were all rather tired, and it took us several miles to conclude that the bill should really have been £11.55. Somehow the decimal place had slipped a spot during the original calculation. Ian undertook to remedy the defect. (I think he added a box of chocs as apology).
We diverted to Feshie Bridge , parked in woods near the Allt Ruadh and plodded up Geal Charn (Grid 884014). The slopes were completely boulder covered. The problem was that deep soft snow covered everything and the ascent was a leg breaker. There was some snow glare, and it poured down all the time. The only memorable part was Malcolms complaints as his poor ankle kept getting stuck between the hidden boulders at every step.
By the time we arrived back at the car (2½ hours later) the snow was melting, and this, together with the heavy rain, caused considerable flooding. A plank bridge had been washed away and the minor road was under about a foot of water. Ian insisted in paddling and posed mid stream/road for a picture.
5 miles. 2100ft. 2 hours 30 mins.
The weeks tally was 12 Munroes and 5 tops. 54½ miles and 22800ft.
We returned home without major incident.