After the Loch Lochy booking I tried to make for New Year fell through due to lack of interest, I managed to secure a smaller place, more affordable and appropriate for the 14 people that had said they wanted to go - the
BCC Loch Ness Hostel - thinking we'd have a nice, quiet trip.
Suddenly, several people asked if they could bring friends and several more said they'd like to come after all, and we'd filled the place almost immediately!
Jen, Freya and me headed up on the evening of Tuesday 29th December to sort things out. It was -9°C when we arrived. Jen got out for a walk up Carn a'Choire Ghairbh on Wednesday, though it was quite cloudy. At various times during the day and the evening we were joined by Lenny and Katherine, Mhairi and Ian, Adrian, Jo, Greg and Buffy, Nick, Sue and Holly, Scott and Anne and Holly (canine version), Colin and Moira, Jean M, Roddy and Elke, Andy W, Jean Y, George and Susan, Robin, Katie, Anne and Darius, and Liz, Robert, Fraser and Angus. As a bonus, Nigel and Lucy rolled up in their campervan to join us for the bells before heading off to a frosty layby. It was a very enjoyable night, though not quite as wild as some past ones, with many people in bed before 2am.
On Thursday 1st I headed up Glen Affric for the same walk Jen had done the previous day. It was a gorgeous start to the day, with frozen rivers, falls and lochs, and thick rime on the trees of the Caledonian Forest remnant that makes the glen so special. Unfortunately the cloud came in soon and I spent the day navigating through the mist.
Lucy and Nigel joined us for our group meal that night; everyone brought something (club cottage Christmas meet style), organised and coordinated by Liz (thanks again!) It was all very good, and we were up to the wee small hours again.
On the 2nd, Jen and Nick went for a walk on An Sidhean and Bac an Eich at the head of Strathconon, and got gorgeous blue skies and a temperature/cloud inversion. I spent much of the day being entertained by the babies, with much help from Sue and Holly (and others). Various others returned from their walks reporting similar views.
Jean Y and Andy W headed home that evening.
On Saturday 3rd Jen got out again, this time with Adrian, Jo, Greg and Buffy, up Meallan nan Uan and Sgurr a'Mhuilinn in Strathconon (and their tops to the NW, so scenic from the Achnasheen road), getting cold and partly cloudy weather, but with some views.
A fair few folk headed home that evening, leaving just less than half the group that night. On Sunday 4th I headed up to Strathconon to repeat Jen's walk. It was cloudy with light rain and sleet (later a wee bit of snow), so I just bagged the Corbetts and headed back down, collecting Jen and Freya in Drumnadrochit.
The hostel was good, with excellent, spacious rooms. The hot water couldn't quite cope with everyone showering at once, but filled up again quickly. The kitchen was merely adequate, but the common area / dining room was good - it used to be a cafe, but the owners have decided it isn't worth running that and it's just for the hostel now. It's a great area too. I had a really good time, so thanks to everyone.
I'll let others tell of the many things they got up to, and I'll sort out and upload some photos later.
