Meet Report
1st to 3rd April 2002 - Torrie Shieling, Inverie
This year, for the first time, the Club were trying out the Torrie
Shieling Bunkhouse at Inverie for the Spring weekend break. Driving
from Arisaig to Mallaig on Friday evening to pick up our boat, the views
were simply stunning with Skye, Rum and Eigg etched clearly against a
beautiful sunset - a good omen perhaps for the weekend to come. Apart
from having a bit of difficulty getting Jessie into the small boat taking
us to Inverie, the journey over was wonderful, allowing us to catch the
last of the light before arriving at Inverie around 10pm.
Saturday dawned clear, bright and cloudless. The mountains here are
absolutely superb and before long, small groups had disappeared off to
do various things - Anne and Richard climbed Luinne Bheinn and Meall
Buidhe; Alison, Lindesay, Alistair and Steph climbed Ladhar Bheinn by
its western ridge, with Alison going on to bag the Corbett, Beinn na
Caillich; Dennis took the boat round to Loch Nevis and climbed Sgurr
na Ciche and Garbh Chioch Mhor; Martin had a massive day on Ladhar
Bheinn, Luinne Bheinn and Meall Buidhe. Albert, Judith, Cathy and
I walked up to the head of the Mam Meadail and climbed Meall Buidhe
then Cathy and I went on to climb the Corbett too - Beinn Bhuidhe -
this turned out to be a very long way indeed. It was only when we
thought our planned dinner at the Pier House might be under threat that
we decided to drop down before the end of the ridge - ok until we hit
a deer fence. The only way for the two of us and the dog to conquer
this was to squirm limbo fashion under the wire which was all of about
six inches above the ground. After about half an hour we ran into
another deer fence and ended up "posting" Jessie through an enlarged
square in the fence before we clambered over it, snagging both clothes
and skin in the process. The meal in the Pier House was booked for 8pm
- Cathy and I made it for about 8.15 having had the fastest shower in
history.
I think it would be safe to say that our meal was simply superb.
Between platters of langoustines, bowls of mussels and pan fried sea
bream, the whole experience was a culinary delight, washed down as ever
with copious quantities of wine.
Sunday was wet and grey to start with but we all set off to do
various versions of the same hills as Saturday. By early afternoon,
after some sleet and hail (the top of Ladhar Bheinn was quite white),
the sun came out and all the crap weather cleared from the west,
leaving marvellous views for anyone on top of a hill at the time. It
also turned out that I was not the only one to be accompanied by a
four-legged friend. Dennis found himself befriended by none other than
little Wheeshtie (aka Rhona), a wee local dog of some character who
stuck with him during his entire walk up (and down) the Mam Meadail.
Being only 12 for the weekend, we had organised a communal meal, with
Alistair and Stephanie providing a stunning fish pie, topped and tailed
with delicious soups and puddings.
Our last day, Monday, was once again glorious. Although Anne and
Richard climbed Beinn Bhuidhe, the rest of us had saved the shortest
Corbett for the last day - Sgurr Coire Choinnichean - and two routes
were taken to reach the summit. It is a fantastic hill and once again
the views were glorious. We managed to find a route down which brought
us virtually to the bunkhouse where we could pack up and get ourselves
back to Inverie for our boat ride to Mallaig (some managed to fit in a
spot of lunch before we left). Leaving Inverie, the hills looked
magnificent - it is a truly magical place, and wee Wheeshtie was seen
underneath the pier, having obviously turned up to bid farewell to
his walking chum. Although a more expensive meet than our norm,
something tells me we will be back.