Our return visit to the Laird's Bunkhouse attached to The Tipsy Laird pub in the main street of Kingussie was one again a sell-out. The hostel is, as I remember it from the club dinner meet of 1998, clean, warm and well placed to enjoy the hospitality of Kingussie.

With such a long period of excellent weather during March, we all arrived in hope and anticipation that it would hold over the weekend to enhance the enjoyment of our outings on the hills. Well, it was 'mixed'. Generally dry days, although some parties experienced hail/sleet on Saturday, the main imperfection was a cold and persistent North wind on both days. This made some trips harder work and played havoc with my complexion.

On Saturday folk got up at an ungodly early hour to prepare for their expeditions. I was woken by noise at 6.00 and driven from my bed at 7.00 by the smell of cooking bacon, a sure sign that Brian was up and around. Parties included:

Fred and Mary Craddock travelled West to Creag Pitridh and Geal Carn

Various parties did various combinations by various routes of the Corbets along Glens Trombie and Feshie:

- Sue Johnston, Gordon Dykes by cycling, John Donnelly by running along Glen Trombie to Meallach Mhor through the Minigaig and onto Leathad an Taobhain with John returning by Gleann Chormhaig.

- John Anderson, Gill Cook and Mary Cox walked along Glen Trombie to Meallach Mhor.

- Jimmy Stevenson, Dave Reynolds, Alison McLaren, Harrold and Connie Thomson walked in along Glen Feshie to Leathad An Taohain with some of the party returning via Carn Dearg Mor.

Several parties headed for the Cairngorm

- Ruth Keighley, Brian McDaid, Isobel Freeman, Dave Broadfoot, Tim Mason, Garrey Whyte, Rosemary Masterton and Hugh Bourhill were up Sgor Gaoith and Mullach Clach A Bhlair.

- Veronica MacDiarmid, Kate and Alan Stewart went up Braeriach.

James and Phyllis Smith walked up Glen Markie to Geal Charn.

Alan Stevens, Caroline Thompson, Elspeth Kennedy and Cyril went up Carn Dearg, Carn Sgulain and A'Chailleach from Glenballoch.

John Donohoe headed up Glen Gynack to Carn an Fhreiceadain

Carol Proudfoot and Elizabeth Maitland had travelled and met up on Saturday morning to go up Beinn Dearg (I think). Carol joining us at Kingussie and Liz returning to Glasgow.

 

Parties arrived back at various times from a shameful 3pm to a more respectable 6.30pm. John Anderson scorned the various suggestions Gill and I made for an entertaining afternoon in Kingussie including a visit to the hairdressers or the Highland Folk Museum. So we made do with early showers, a wee wander around Kingussie and copious cups of tea. Many took advantage of the food provided at the Tipsy Laird and the local Chinese take-away, leaving the somewhat small kitchen to those who preferred to cook their own tea (or in the case of John Anderson and myself to rely on the culinary expertise and kindness of others - thank you all).

A memorable part of my previous visit here with the club in 1998 was the embarrassment of myself and Dave Watson's attempt at entering into the spirit of the thing by joining in the Karaoke evening at the Tipsy Laird. Fortunately this weekend the entertainment on offer was of the more 'professional' kind - Michael ? - a folk singer in the style of Steve Earle according to John Donohoe. Unfortunately, the volume and longevity of the entertainment were undiminished over the years to the disappointment of those trying to sleep on the ground floor of the hostel. Several groups had soon had enough of the entertainment and departed to other pubs and back to the hostel.

No lie-ins on Sunday either for most of us and soon folk were forming parties ready to depart as the overnight damp cleared. Hills were mainly chosen to be en-route home.

Alison McLaren, Veronica MacDermid, Kate and Alan Stewart went up the Farra.

Garrey Whyte, Rosemary Masterton and Tim Mason joined up with Dave Reynolds and Mary Cox for the Sow of Atholl and Meall Na Leatrich.

Gill Cook with Jimmy Stevenson and Hugh Bourhill with John Anderson separately went up Meall na-h-Airse.

Ruth Keighley, Carol Proudfoot, Brian McDaid and possibly Isobel Freeman and Dave Broadfoot went up the local Corbet Carn an Fhreiceadain.

Alan Stevens, Caroline Thompson and Elspeth Kennedy walked around Loch Gynack and Creag Beag.

Gordon Dykes, Sue Johnston and John Donnelly went up Creag Pitridh and possibly Geal Charn.

Other activities for Sunday are unknown as they weren't on route cards.

A lovely weekend, full of the best the club has to offer - great walking and talking. We enjoyed the company of new faces (Cyril) and not so new (Jimmy and Phyllis Smith returned - welcome back) and hope to see them out again soon.

Mary Cox 04/04/03