Friday 12 – Sunday 14 December 2025
The Christmas meet is one of the highlights of Dundee Mountain Club’s year and 2025 didn’t disappoint. Thirty odd people (Regular members, new members, people we haven’t seen since last Christmas) made their way to Braemar Youth hostel on Friday determined to have a great weekend despite the weather forecast. My weekend got off to an auspicious start: cresting Glenshee on Friday evening we were treated to a northern lights display as we descended down the valley; a portent of good things to come?
The forecast for Saturday was windy and damp, very windy on the summits with possible 90mph gusts predicted on the plateau. So most people decided to stay low. Though Beck did manage to tick off the nearby Corbett Morrone (859m). Others went for a stroll up Creag Choinnich (538m) behind the hostel and admired the Lion’s Face crags (I don’t think anyone could actually make out the Lion). Half a dozen members headed up Jock’s Road to Loch Callater for lunch at the Stable bothy. I went off as part of the second of two groups to attempt Niall’s mountain bike circuit around the Dee: over Victoria bridge to Mar Lodge, through the low hills and back via Invercauld bridge. Niall promised us the ‘through the hills’ bit was easy blue or green. Turns out he can’t read a map and that was a completely different trail – definite contender for this year’s DMC Navigation Award! The trail we found ourselves on was black, so lots of pushing. Though Andrew Holmes had a game attempt at cycling as much of it as he could, including quite a few ‘tactical dismounts’ (falling off). Dominic Hughes elected to run this route and put all the cyclists to shame by finishing it much faster on foot.
The Christmas meal this year was organised by Heinke with help from Sandy. Everyone available mucked in to help with the peeling, chopping and cooking, Heinke presiding over everything like a well oiled surgical operating theatre. The starter was a charcuterie board, followed by a delicious roast turkey dinner (nut roast for the vegetarians) and rounded off with a tasty fruit compote type thing from Scott. He didn’t realise that serving up such a delectable dessert qualifies him for promotion to main course next year!
After dinner we were lucky once again to get a visit from Mr and Mrs Claus with their traditional DMC Christmas quiz! This year’s quiz was a toughie! The winning score only 16 out of 26. But, my Aurora’s omen had proved correct: I was on the winning team for the first time in club history. I’m usually a good bet for the wooden spoon, but this time Paul’s team had that honour.
Replete, people repaired to the drawing room for the tipple of their choice and chat about the day and the year. After a while the kitchen disco started and carried on long into the night.
Sunday was still not great for weather so some people headed home whilst others went down to take in the entertainments available in Braemar, including a horse and carriage ride. Quite a few of us set off to walk and run the hills behind the hostel: Creag Choinnich again, and this time five of us made it to the windy summit of Carn nan Sgliat (690m). We just about made it back as the heavens opened. Most of us still around met up at the Bothy café in Braemar for a leisurely lunch before wending our way back to Dundee.
Thanks everyone for another great meet. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
- Report by David Matthews
