May Weekday Walk at Rouken Glen Park

Six walkers met outside the Garden Centre at Rouken Glen for a leisurely walk around the park in warm and sunny weather.

First we walked to the boating pond but somehow we managed to split into two groups on the way there and we arrived at the pond from different directions. We walked round the pond and spent some time observing the Canada geese and the Coots with their new youngsters. After that we made our way back to the Garden Centre via the Glen Walks .. and again we managed to get split into two groups, one on either side of the glen.

With all the walking done, we visited the Garden Centre Cafe for some food and drink and sat outside in the warm sunshine.

Willie Robison

May Weekend to Kinlochewe

Nine club members attended the Kinlochewe weekend, most travelling north on the Friday. I left Glasgow quite early, with the intention of making a detour down the Kinlochhourn road to climb Gairich from the Loch Cuaich dam. A large sign stated that the road would be closed ahead and indeed, various trucks and diggers were getting ready to start work a bit further along. I decided not to risk it and drove back and on to Glen Shiel, from where I climbed Biod an Fhithich (644m), a Graham. It was raining all the time and it was very windy on the ridge too.

Heidi made a bus journey to Aviemore where she met up with Steven and Hilary .. who had spent a few days there .. and they travelled to Gairloch together, where they were staying at the Millcroft Hotel.

I made my way to the Loch Maree Hotel, where Willie, Elena, Hamish, Tom and Jean were also staying. We all met up for dinner at the Loch Maree Hotel.

On Saturday morning, we all met up at the Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve car park at NH002650 .. except Hilary, who was exploring the area around Gairloch harbour. Sadly, James and Susan could not join us as planned as they had boiler trouble to deal with. The weather was better than forecast, with the cloud above the tops and only an occasional spit of rain. We set off through the beautiful forest and were soon climbing the very steep track next to the Alltan Mhic Eogheinn. We took our time and reached the high-point of the track at Leathad Buidhe, where we had a long lunch break below the cairn.

A steep descent was not appealing and we continued to beyond some lochans before turning south to meet the more gradual track leading down to the Beinn Eighe NNR visitor centre. For the last hour to the visitor centre it was raining quite heavily and we were not looking forward to the 2.8km walk along the road back to where the cars were parked. On the way down, we met solo walker Hannah .. who Steven asked if she had a car, and would she be kind enough to drop him at the car park to pick up his car, and she agreed! He could then ferry the drivers of the other cars and a very soggy road walk was avoided. The walk was a bit more challenging than anticipated, but was enjoyed by all. In the evening we met up at the Myrtle Bank Hotel in Gairloch for an excellent meal together.

The group split up on Sunday:

•   Hilary, Steven and Heidi visited the NTS Inverewe Gardens, experiencing the lovely blooms and blooming midges before driving home.


•   Tom and Jean drove home as they needed to be at work on Monday.


•   Hamish drove to the Corrieshalloch Gorge for a short walk before continuing to Inverness, where he was staying overnight and planning to do the Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh return journey by train the next day.


•   Elena and Gaius went for a beach walk near Gairloch.


•   Willie reported dry weather with sunny intervals on a planned short walk up Glen Grudie (Bridge of Grudie, NG964678). He also stopped in Strathbran and had a longer short walk on a track going towards Loch Fannich.


•   I drove to Glen Torridon, parking my car at NG977579. I walked along the A896 to the bridge over the Allt a’ Choire Dhuibh Mhoir and then followed the track above the river into Coire Dubh Mor and then around the lower slopes of Sail Mhor into the spectacular Coire Mhic Fhearchair with the Triple Buttress rising above the loch. I scrambled up the scree chute at the head of the corrie to reach the lowest point of the ridge and then north to Rhuadh-stac Mor (1010m). The weather was atmospheric, with the cloud often rising to give lovely views of the surrounding mountains. I followed the ridge to Spidean Coire nan Clach (993m), by which time the cloud was down and it was raining. From the trig point at 972m, the track descended steeply to where the car was parked. I was quite pleased that I had got the road section out of the way in the morning! I stayed over in Strathcarron before driving home on Monday.

Despite the patchy weather, this was a very good weekend with great company, with the well-attended walk in the Beinn Eighe NNR being a definite highlight!

Cornel Brozio