Bridge of Orchy, Ski Lodge

We often use Glencoe Ski Club hut near Bridge of Orchy for our Christmas (December) Meet. This is an essential part of our club calendar and usually the most popular trip of the year! Our communal meal is the full Christmas dinner, catering to non-meat eaters as well. Partners and family are most welcome .

*Journey Time from Dundee = 2 hours
*Location / Access – OS (LR 50) Grid Ref: NN292 388
Left off A82 at the Bridge of Orchy Hotel, over the bridge then sharp left to gated track (avoid gated track that is straight ahead) – 1.5km to the hut.
*Sleeping – several small rooms with covered foam mattresses – bring a sleeping bag +/- pillow
*Male & Female Showers/Toilets – downstairs – bring 10p pieces. Separate toilet upstairs
*Well equipped kitchen downstairs except for large fridge in found galley kitchen upstairs (no freezer)
*Mains water and electricity – Good phone signal
*Heating – background storage heaters + wood burning stove – bring wood

The venue is well placed for hill walking, trail walking, climbing, canoeing, running and train riding options – also skiing !!

Kinlocheil

Seeing in the New Year with DMC in a remote mountain hut is a great experience. The daylight hours are short at this time of year so spend a few hours on the hills or in the glen then come back to a wee cottage with a real fire, a hearty meal and a few drams of your favourite tipple. It will be available for a few nights before and after Hogmanay so you’ve plenty of time to relax, get away from it all, and enjoy one of the most spectacular parts of Scotland.

Where is it?
Postcode: PH33 7NP (roughly)
Lat long: 56.858514, -5.315241
Streetview: https://goo.gl/maps/cvDcqz5x5no
OS map: https://binged.it/2eM7yn3

What can I do there?
It’s between Fort William and Glenfinnan (famous for the Harry Potter viaduct)
so there’s plenty to do in the area:
walks: http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/fortwilliam/arisaig.shtml
skiing: http://snowsports.nevisrange.co.uk/
mountain biking: http://www.mtbtrails.info/Trail_main_page.aspx
http://www.glenfinnan.org.uk/what_do_content.asp?id=1462 and google
winter climbing: http://scottishwinterroutes.com/

What’s the accommodation?
Bunks for 14, toilets and showers, fully equipped kitchen, dining area, lounge area.

Braemar Hostel

Braemar Youth Hostel

Location map: http://binged.it/1ATcGh4 (AB35 5YQ)

Facilities: the hostel has full facilities: bed linen, showers, drying room, lounge, dining room, full kitchen, bike storage, and so on. There are some dorms and some family rooms.

Activities: some walking suggestions: http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/cairngorms/braemar.shtml Skiing: Glenshee and The Lecht are close by, plus Nordic and Mountaineering skiing can be done in the area.

Inbhirfhaolain Hut, Glen Etive

*Journey Time from Dundee = 2.5 hours
*Location / Access – OS (LR 41) Grid Ref: NN158 507 Left off A82 ~1.5km after the Kings House Hotel, driving down Glen Etive for ~ 7 miles. The hut is hidden in trees ~1km after Dalness Lodge – look for track on the left into the trees just after a sharp right bend – chain with combination lock
*Sleeping – covered foam mattressed area upstairs – bring a sleeping bag +/- pillow
*There is an environmentally-friendly “Clivus” composting toilet accessed by a flight of steps on the western edge of the cottage. No showers
*The kitchen has an electric cooker, fridge, microwave oven, electric kettle and water heater. Electric meter takes £1 coins – bring plenty
*Water has to be collected from the burn some 80m west of the cottage
*Heating – the common room has a wood burning stove. There is often some firewood at the hut which visitors may use for a suggested donation of £3/night, but this cannot be guaranteed; therefore bring wood
*The main entrance porch has a dehumidifier and a small fan heater and can act as a drying room.

The hut is ideally placed to give access to the Glencoe and Glen Etive hills. The Trilleachan Slabs are at nearby Loch Etive for climbing. Canoeing on River/Loch Etive.

Carrbridge Bunkhouse

The bunkhouse is near Aviemore in the Cairngorm National Park. This is a superb location at any time of year! 

Location map: http://binged.it/1ATr4WE (PH23 3AX)
Facilities: dormitories, bring your own sleeping bag. Hot showers, sauna, drying room, kitchen.

Activities: some walking suggestions: http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/cairngorms/aviemore.shtml and skiing at http://www.cairngormmountain.org/ Cross-country skiing in Glenmore forest. More mountain biking opportunities than you can shake sticks at.

Àite Cruinnihidh hostel

The hostel is near Roybridge, close to the Grey Corries and the Nevis Range. It’s also close to the mountains around Creag Meagaidh.

Location map: http://binged.it/1ATsC2S (PH31 4AW)
Facilities: the hostel is warm and comfortable with an excellent kitchen and hot showers. There’s 5 rooms of 4 beds, one six, a twin and a double/family room.

Activities: some walking suggestions: http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/fortwilliam/spean-bridge.shtml and skiiing at Nevis Range http://snowsports.nevisrange.co.uk/.

Crianlarich Hut

The hut is in Crianlarich, surrounded by some of the most impressive mountains in the central highlands.

Location map: http://binged.it/1ATu19G

Facilities: dormitories for 8 and 10; take a sleeping bag. Showers, small drying room, kitchen.

Activities: some walking suggestions: http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/lochlomond/arrochar.shtml (check from Crianlarich as Arrochar is a bit further away)

Coruisk Hut

The hut is near Loch Coruisk in the Black Cuillin mountain range on the Isle of Skye. It’s in a really unique location on the coastline of the island, completely isolated from roads and surrounded by the dramatic peaks of the Cuillin. Access to the hut is by boat from Elgol or by an interesting walk around the coast. Mountain biking opportunities are limited to the glen through to Sligachan but the real interest is for walkers, scramblers and climbers. An easy walk from the hut is a hill with possibly the 
Location map: http://binged.it/1ATuicD

Getting there: by boat from Elgol, or a long walk around the coast including the “Bad Step”

Facilities: basic accommodation for 9, take a sleeping bag

Activities: some suggestions: http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/skye/cuillin.shtml

Kintail Outdoor Centre, Morvich

*Journey Time from Dundee = 3.5 hours
*Location / Access – OS (LR 33) Grid Ref: NM967 210 Right off A87 ~2km after the Sheil Bridge (before road sweeps left over the causeway on Loch Duibh) onto minor road. Follow for ~ 1.75 km then turn right. The centre is ~1km further on.

*Sleeping – bunkbeds with duvets and linen provided

*Showers – 3 in both wings

*The kitchen has cooker, fridge-freezer, microwave oven, electric kettle.

*Central Heating and the common room has a solid flue stove. Note – it is difficult to buy firewood locally so bring wood

*The centre has a washer drier and wi-fi

The centre is well placed to give access to the Kintail hills and even Skye.