Edinburgh Mountaineering Club: Meet Report
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Meet Report

21st to 23rd February 2004 - Corrour

It had been several years since the club last visited the bunkhouse at Corrour Station on the West Highland Line, and many of us were looking forward to it with eager anticipation...

The only way into the bunkhouse, other than by walking, is to take the train, so the club assembled on the platform at Crianlarich in time for the last (and not quite only!) train of the day on Friday evening. An hour later, having traversed Rannoch Moor in the dark, we arrived, to be welcomed to the bunkhouse by Liz, the manager.

Corrour Bunkhouse is probably best described as comfortable but cosy, consisting of 2 dorms, a small kitchen, and the old signal cabin upstairs which doubles as the eating area - one with quite some view as we discovered in the morning ...

Saturday dawned bright and sunny, and we all set off early to make the most of the day, as bad weather was supposed to be moving in from the north later on. Martin, Kenny and Alison took the train out to Tulloch, returning over 'the Easains', with Martin adding in an extra hill for good measure! Julie and Tim went on to Spean Bridge, walking back at a slightly lower level. Victoria, Fraser, Katherine and William walked out over Carn Dearg and Sgor Gaibhre, returning past the new lodge at the head of the impressively frozen Loch Ossian. Bill and Eileen followed at a slightly more measured pace. Lesley went Corbett or Graham bagging south of Loch Treig, though I'm not sure which hill it was. Finally, Cathy did Beinn Eibhinn, and Bill Brown both Beinn Eibhinn and Aonach Beag, both being in much wintrier condition than the other hills attempted, and requiring crampons for some of the day.

Corrour station has a restaurant as well as the bunkhouse, and the club descended there en masse (as did the occupants of the Youth Hostel, and a party arrived by train!) for a delicious 3 course meal (soup, venison, and apple crumble). We then retired to the bunkhouse signal cabin for what turned into a wine and cheese party ...

The weather, which had got gradually cloudier on Saturday, improved again on Sunday morning, with clearer long distance views than the day before. Kenny and Alison climbed Leum Uilleim, with Kenny following this up with Beinn na Lap for afters. He didn't quite catch up with Cathy, Lesley, Katherine or William who all settled for Beinn na Lap alone! Fraser and Victoria started out on Beinn na Lap, but continued to Chno Dearg behind, via a precipitous descent and reascent between the two which didn't sound very enjoyable. Martin headed along Loch Ossian and back over Sgor Gaibhre and Carn Dearg. While almost everyone enjoyed tea, coffee or hot chocolate at the restaurant while awaiting the train out, Julie and Tim walked out to Rannoch where unfortunately the tea shop was closed. All in all, an excellent weekend, with much better weather than expected for February!

William Ivory