Saturday 31 December 2011

Wet day







Warm and wet on the hill today. Oui Oui on Creag dubh is really going for it!

Tuesday 27 December 2011

Carn an Fhreachadain







On Christmas day we got blasted and wet on the little hill next to the fort at Laggan, but it was good to be out! Today we went up the Corbett behind Kingussie in pleasant weather. Quite springlike on the walk in as the grouse were very noisy. Cold wind on summit, hardly any snow around. Ptarmigan not well camouflaged. Cairngorms and Feshies looking bare.

Friday 23 December 2011

How quickly it goes!







We walked up Croidla this morning, with views of rapidly diminishing snow. The rivers are really going for it and the fields are Lochs. Another good hill for a short bimble!

Monday 19 December 2011

A'Chailleach







Yesterday we walked from home up A'Chailleach, one of the Munros on the Monadliath. It was a cracking day but quite hard going breaking trail. Firm to walk on one minute, then much floundering the next. Helps when you can share the trail breaking though!!

Saturday 17 December 2011

First time this year for the Mantas







Having been wearing SLs for most of the year we thought it time to get the Mantas out for an airing. Took to Creag Dubh and glad of them as the snow has firmed up nicely in places and needed a bit of step kicking. Lots of interesting snow formations around too.

Creag Liath







Another gem of a wee hill in the Monadliath, rarely visited but well worth the effort. We did this on Thursday when the snow was just not firm enough to weight bear, great day though.

Wednesday 14 December 2011

Creag Dubh Newtonmore













Our friend Dave was up for a hillwalk on this very windy day and we thought this would be a good one as he is in training and carrying a heavy pack everywhere he goes to prepare for Winter ML. The wind and snow gave it a real mountaineering feel and we were all blown about a bit. The views were still good even though the cloud was low. The 'friendly ghost' really stood out!

Tuesday 13 December 2011

Fort Hill Laggan







Another one of our favourites to do when we only have a short time to play between bouts of admin. Never see anyone yet it is a lovely walk with great views.

Sunday 11 December 2011

Creag Dubh in winter







Most of November was spent doing maintenance at home, moving one store, building another etc and only recently have we been able to think about playing. Today we were on Creag Dubh at Newtonmore, one of our favourites in winter. We very rarely see anyone either!

Monday 7 November 2011

weekend of fun













On Saturday we were with Shared Lives at Woodend chalets, Banchory for some Fun with Team Challenges and Archery. Lovely group of folk as usual, keen to work together learning new skills, gaining confidence and becoming addicted to Archery. It was almost dark when we finished!







Sunday was glorious weather and we were on the Indoor Wall at Glenmore with girl Guides in the morning and a few Active Kids in the afternoon. Excellent day, even the youngest who is 4 was tying her own figure of 8!

Saturday 22 October 2011

Busy week



















































Lots of activity with Active Kids and Kevin Fawcett's DofE group. Weather not that good but everyone had a good time whatever.

Friday 14 October 2011

Rafted Canoeing Loch Insh







Yesterday we took a group of 'Active Kids' exploring by Rafted Canoe on Loch Insh. It was quite windy and they had to work hard, but we did 'take the island' where we made camp with a tent, tarpaulin and built a couple of dens. We set off again when the wind calmed a bit and checked out another excellent camping/den building area before setting sail and having a free ride back.

Wednesday 12 October 2011

Active Kids etc







Yesterday we were working for WOW Scotland at Duntelchaig running climbing sessions. Kind weather and good groups meant we have a very pleasant day. Today we had a group of 'Active Kids' biking and Indoor Climbing. Again the weather was very kind and a lot of the children were new to our group and we all had a great time. Tomorrow we are Rafted Canoeing and Den Building on Loch Insh.

Thursday 6 October 2011

Fun on the Spey













On Tuesday we were both working for Alltnacriche then yesterday Ian was indoor climbing all day whilst I had a great time on the Spey from Lochan Uvie to Newtonmore (near the 10th Hole!) with a group of four unique characters. They are very keen to do a 5 day trip on the Spey with Dave Craig, 'Spirit of the Spey' and this little trip was a taster of what is to come and for them to decide if they might enjoy it having never canoed before. It was very windy which made things a little more entertaining! However, it was at a good level and an excellent introduction for them especially as two were quite nervous. All was going well until their canoes got too close to each other with one team taking an unforeseen swim, ie Alan and slightly nervous Lynn. She didn't even get her hair wet and was eager to get back in and carry on. As Ryan said, it added a bit of drama and proceeded to turn it into an episode of Dallas (don't ask!). We used trolleys to portage back to The Beeches and a warm welcome from Jude.

D of E Silver Exped













Following our fun session on the Loch we took off for Poolewe to walk in and meet a group of girls from Millburn Academy camping near Carn Mor and swapping over with Steve who supervised the first day. They were well sorted so we left them to it. In the morning Ian went back out to get our vehicle round to the end point whilst I had a chat to the girls before they set off over to Letterewe. The weather was glorious on Sunday and the mountains looked superb. The next campsite was at the foot of Gleann Bianasdail where they were met by the assessor and Ian. Monday became a very windy, then wet day but it did keep the group moving through the glen to Lochan Fada and out to Incheril via Gleann na Muice. Lovely route for a Dof E Exped.

Friendship Fund







Saturday morning was a bit drizzly on Loch Morlich but quite calm when we met up with members of the Friendship Fund to have some fun Rafted Canoeing. We have been meeting up with these folk for a few years now and we use the opportunity for a good gossip and catch up with all their news. Most of the time was spent in hysterics even when the heavens opened. A lovely morning for us!

Tuesday 27 September 2011

More canoeing







Yesterday we were out with a lovely group consisting of a family of 4 and 2 brothers on the Spey from Kingussie to Loch Insh. The weather was fine and we all enjoyed a relaxed, friendly paddle, chatting and watching out for wildlife.

Sunday 25 September 2011

Catch up







Since the 3 Peaks we have been doing a variety of activities with a variety of groups including walking with a Swedish group, indoor climbing with a great bunch of Caithness Army Cadets, fun activities for Alltnacriche, and then yesterday Ian was guiding on Ben Nevis for Maximum Adventure whilst I took a group canoeing from Loch Insh to Aviemore to celebrate one of the girls 21st birthday. This was fun and the sun shone!

Tuesday 13 September 2011

3 Peaks

It has been a busy couple of weeks one way or another, working with the Falcon Froup, No limits etc. This last weekend we were working for Maximum Adventure on a 3 Peaks challenge for groups from various local radio stations all raising money for 'Cash for Kids'. The weather was not as kind as it could have been and the majority of these folk were not outdoor people but they coped brilliantly and were still smiling at the end. Snowdon was the worst for most as the vicious gusts were pushing them over at times but their tenacity got them there.

Monday 29 August 2011

Indoor climbing







On Saturday we had Chris and Katherine with their children Laura and Justin at the climbing wall in the morning and Archery in the afternoon. They got on really well trying these activities for the first time. Were to be canoeing on sunday but rain stopped play. Instead, we had a small group of 'Active Kids' for indoor climbing, much fun had all round.






Friday 26 August 2011

Canoeing Loch Insh







Yesterday Ian took a family of 4 for a trip around Loch Insh and up the Spey a little way. It was lovely weather and they all had a good time. They were looking out for the Ospreys and only saw one at the nest on their way back.

Wednesday 24 August 2011

Loch Morar







On Saturday we were guiding for MaxAd on Ben Nevis then on Sunday we got our kit together and set off to paddle and camp on Loch Morar. Big sw winds on Sunday, gentler winds on Monday initially which helped on the final paddle to the end but winds became much bigger as we started paddling out, much more entertaining! Decided to camp again just to have another night out leaving only an hour of paddling to get back to the van. Super trip, lots of exploring to do and a wonderful sunset on Monday.