Archery

We had a lovely group doing Archery yesterday afternoon in Glenmore Forest. It was cold but dry and they were really keen to shoot. Close run thing when we came to a bit of competition too!

Southern Uplands

Shared Lives

Over the past couple of weeks we have had good days running activities such as canoeing and indoor climbing with a variety of folk as well as doing some work at home. This Saturday we were at Dufftown for a day of fun with a Shared lives group from Aberdeen. We have known many of these people for at least 3 years now and every time it is like meeting up with old friends. We always have a morning of Fun, followed by an afternoon of Archery. They do other stuff too. The weather was fine for the morning but even the heavy rain and cold wind in the afternoon did not stop them. This time we included an 'egg drop' where each group had to make something to keep an egg safe as it was dropped from a height.

Ben Nevis

We had a very cold, windy, wet day at Loch Duntelchaig last Wednesday with a lively bunch of folk then two wonderful days on Ben Nevis where the weather was perfect! Yesterday it was back to normal service at Glenmore with damp cold weather for Archery and canoeing but the group had fun!

The Merrick & others

This was more like the sort of hillwalking we like. One day in particular being almost like a Highland day! The two Grahams of Craignaw and Mullwharchar and The Merrick. Very rough, rugged ground all the way round until the final descent of The Merrick which was via a well used path. Weather good too!

White Coomb and other hills

Had another few days in the Southern Uplands recently. Good views of Grey Mares Tail waterfall from the very steep slopes of Andrewhinney. A Chinook crossed our path whilst descending White Coomb. Is it a VOR station on Broad Law? Mist down to 250m on the day we climbed the 3 Ettrick Grahams.

More Southern Uplands

On a mission now to climb all 28 Corbetts and Grahams in the Borders. Did another 4 during Tuesday and Wednesday. A couple of firsts too ie first time we have ever walked through a windfarm (Windy Standard), and first time we have followed a tarmac road all the way to a summit (Green Lowther). We also did Blackcraig Hill and Tinto which has the biggest cairn in Scotland on it. Usual mix of weather.

Friendship Fund

Ian was on Ben Nevis both Saturday & Sunday whilst I enjoyed some Rafted Canoeing on Sunday with members of the Friendship Fund. We have fun with these folk once a year and have found that the canoeing is a great success.

Southern Uplands

We had a couple of days walking hills in Ayrshire this week as we have never been on any of these so are going to make an effort over the next few weeks to go down whenever we can to climb all the Corbetts and Grahams. We love the Highlands and forget there are other areas to visit! The weather was not so good and 3 out of 4 summits were in mist, it was also quite chilly. Autumn is definitely on its way.

Cummingston

We were expecting to go to Beinn Alligin yesterday with the Mottrams and Co but the weather was not looking too kind up North so we decided on a day at Cummingston. It was a bit breezy but mainly sunny with just the odd shower so lots of climbing was achieved along with very aching arms!

River Spey

Ian took two folk down the Spey from Loch Insh to Boat of Garten yesterday. Spent a bit of time on the Loch practising skills then off they went. River very shallow so wet feet were unavoidable but good fun all the same. Lots of wildlife spotted, group of four Ospreys, lots of merganisers, dippers etc. Weather

kind too.

Fairy Lochs and Beinn Alligin

Went North to visit the Fairy Lochs at Gairloch, where a Liberator crashed in 1945. It is a wild, open place of moorland and water. The walk through to the Bealach between Beinn Dearg and Beinn Alligin would be an excellent way to get to know this spectacular area. The next day we did Beinn Alligin and the Horns, always a favourite mountain of ours and one we hope to visit again on Saturday with a group of friends who have yet to taste a little scrambling.

Canoe & Archery

We have just had two lovely days doing Rafted Canoeing and Archery with a family of 18 with a wide age range! It was a lot of fun for everyone and a great way of getting families together doing something different.

Loch Ordie & Oisinneach lochs

Another good day biking. We have visited Loch Ordie before but never gone on to the Oisinneach lochs. T

he tracks and paths were brilliant ranging from good landrover track to single track with everything in between. Good feeling of remoteness especially as we only saw one other person until back at Loch Ordie.

Loch Pattack

Day off so went biking! Out to Loch Pattack and back to Loch Laggan, very pleasant trip, good tracks. Past couple of weeks have been busy with weaselling, abseiling, canoeing and archery for a variety of groups.

Canoeing

I had a very pleasant day on Saturday with two ladies who wanted to climb Ben Nevis and at a leisurely pace, whilst Ian had 2 groups of 3 peakers! On Sunday we had a couple of families for Indoor Climbing and Canoeing on Loch Morlich. Then this week we are working with Reach4reality and 3 different young people every day doing canoeing, archery and biking.