The minibus will leave St Margaret’s at 8am and will park at Finzean Sawmill. The first part of the walk will follow the path west, on the south side of the Feugh until we reach the path along the Glaspits Burn. The route from there is pathless until we get to the track at Cock Hill which will lead to the summit of Mount Battock. The President’s Party will return by the same route. Alternative descents are via higher ground. over Baudnacauner and Glaspits, or the Water of Avon. To book, contact Kolbjorn Akselvoll.

Image “Fading Light” by Addy, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

The ‘Coloured’ Hills of Alford. With an 8am start for our minibus from St Margarets, this polychromatic meet includes the Green, White, Red and Black Hills south-east of Alford. Starting at a farm track off a back road to the south, we go past Ewens Croft, and ascend Green Hill on a mix of track and footpath, then descend NNE to White Hill (some heather; trig point). Then NW over open grassland to the abandoned farmstead of Culthibert, then a twisty landrover track back up to a col below Green Hill before heading SW up to Corrennie Moor and Red Hill. From here, down past a stone circle to Forkins, for a short stretch of road/track before a short diversion over lowly Black Hill (which we might do first) near the starting point. The almost figure-of-eight route would allow short cuts to omit White Hill and/or Red Hill. To book, contact Ken Thomson.

Ben Rinnes has a shiny new indicator installed, and we’ll go up and have a nosey at that as well as of course the various fine tors on top. (Craig Thomson)

With gale force winds forecast for the summits, this year’s traverse (S to N) through the Lairig Ghru was a good choice, as it kept us out of the worst of the wind.
17 of us started at Linn o’ Dee. Derry Lodge was reached in good time, and there the 3 runners amongst us nipped on ahead. The rest of us hiked.
Devil’s point marked the entrance to the main Deeside trench of the Lairig Ghru. Macdui, Cairn Toul and Braeriach surrounded us as we walked through the remotest part of the Cairngorms. We reached the Pools of Dee on schedule and, sheltering out of the breeze, stopped for lunch. The Lairig Ghru’s summit was reached shortly after and a view down to Rothiemurchus and Aviemore met our eyes.
A few miles further down we left the famous mountain pass and ascended to the Chalamain Gap. After scrambling through the  gap we headed to our finish at the Sugar Bowl. The gale force winds finally caught up with us on this last bit and we took a buffeting.
Well done everyone who came on the trip. It is a long walk to do in a day. The runners completed it by mid afternoon, and the rest of us reached our finish on time. 1 member continued down into Rothiemurchus forest and finished the Lairig Ghru proper, at Coylumbridge. Well earned refreshments were taken at the Old Bridge bar before the coach headed back to Aberdeen.

Sunday saw a minibus trip to Blair Atholl, with the 3 munros of Beinn a Ghlo as our target. With high wind and heavy rain at times, we only got the occasional dramatic peek through a gap in clouds at the scenery around these mountains. Well done everybody in completing a challenging day out – in particular a new member who ticked off their first 3 munros in tough conditions – a baptism of fire (or water!). The sun came out while descending and was most welcome for the last hour (and a visit to the Atholl Arms beer garden).

Our day meet from Glen Esk to Glen Clova was briefly scenic heading past Loch Lee and up beyond the Falls of Unich, before we entered a dreich grey void higher up. Even on a bleak, low visibility day there’s something of interest to find off the beaten path – in this case an old air crash wreck. We also passed the footbridge above the Falls of Damff, which the club was instrumental in refurbishing. The Colour and heat made a welcome return in the snug at the Clova Hotel.

Our Ben Macdui trip saw high winds hinder progress, with the group heading for the top deciding to turn back from Cairn Lochan, head past Lurcher’s Crag and finally get a sheltered break in the Chalamain Gap. A second group made it over and down Coire Raibert to the Shelter Stone, then back via Coire Domhain. All back in time despite the tough conditions so a nice break at the pub in Aviemore before the coach headed back to Aberdeen.

Despite high wind, Sunday saw most of the high and low route variations used on our Beinn a Bhuird day trip: a wee scramble up A’Chioch, Carn na Criche and Carn na Drochaide, and traversal of Glens Slugain and Quoich. On route visits were made to a secret place, an old air crash site and a scramble amongst some rocky outcrops.

While chilly with bursts of rain and hailstones higher up, after heading down to check out the new Quoich path, it was sufficiently warm to encourage some paddling at the Linn while waiting for the parties to regroup at the picnic house (and the beer garden in Ballater on the way back).

After a grey week it was great to set off under blue skies up through Ballochbuie Forest.  Three split off from the main group to traverse to Glen Callater via the Meall an t-Slugain gap and Loch Phadruig, the main party continuing out of the forest and across the river (this time without any drama other than a reluctant dog requiring a lift). Approaching our main target Carn an t-Sagairt Mor we headed into the snow, with 3 heading through a gully to practise their snowcraft, and 2 powering on ahead to the addition of Carn an t-Sagairt Beag where a hare survey was carried out successfully. Although clear with good visibility there was biting wind-chill on top so the reassembled group headed down, spotting a patrolling eagle en route before arriving at the Callater bothy for a coffee break before heading out to Auchallater and onwards to Ballater for refreshments.

The club had a very successful mid week walk up Bennachie in nice weather. The route started at Rowantree and followed the Turnpike trail taking in a visit to the Fog house and then the Colony trail to Gordon way and up to Mither Tap with some going on to Craigshannoch.

A total of 17 members attended this Day Meet to the Ladder Hills. We travelled to Strathdon by minibus and car and assembled in Glen Nochty to begin our hike to the Corbett, Carn Mor.
After a walk of several miles up the glen we emerged from the forest at the ruined settlement of Duffdefiance. From here we started uphill on the old Ladder Road, which crosses the hills from Glen Nochty to Glenlivet. By the time we reached the cairn that marks the highest point of the path, we were in the mist and wind. Our route then took us over the top, Dun Muir, and then through the peat hags before rising for the final kilometer towards the summit of Carn Mor. The peat hags provided shelter from the wind for a lunch stop before the final ascent.
We didn’t linger for long at the trig point, just enough time to check the maps and get a few photos before heading downhill in a SE direction that quickly got us out of the wind and below the mist. Once down in the glen we followed Allt an t-Sluichd Mhoir then the Waters of Nochty which meander down through the hills, and eventually after several tricky river crossings we arrived back at Duffdefiance. The rain started as we walked back down Glen Nochty, but we were glad the day had been mostly dry for this enjoyable circuit in the Ladder Hills.
A fine supper was had in the Haughton in Alford on the way home.

After a few years of this January trip being smashed by high wind, all turned out great this time and a cracking day was enjoyed with better than expected wind and visibility. The snow was great quality and there was just the right amount.

After summitting and enjoying some mulled wine, we had an unexpected stop beside the Glas Allt falls, which having frozen across at the base due to an extended cold spell, allowed for an unusual group photo standing directly below.

We stopped briefly at the Glas Allt bothy for a break, with the wind only beginning to bite once we reached the exposed end of Loch Muick. We regrouped with another party who had headed up Conachcraig, then our coach headed to the Boat Inn at Aboyne for “high tea” (may have included a beer or two).