Friday 1 – Sunday 3 August 2025
This was an excellent weekend at a great location that enabled alternative routes to familiar hills. That said, it was not without its challenges, especially for old bones.
With a 4-5 mile walk, for most, from Movich, we were all late to arrive at Glenlicht House. Yasmin had the door unlocked at about 9:30, and that was that – no water to turn on; no fuse box to find, no fridge to plug in. The gas is left connected. When I say ‘House’, the accommodation is little more than a bothy, but it is a comfortable bothy, with a gas hob in the scullery, and a couple of alpine bunks in the roof space. However, when I say ‘comfortable’, there were a lot of comments during the course of the weekend about the lack of soft seating. The long wooden benches may have rocked but they were not upholstered rocking chairs. After the usual last minute changes, the eventual party was reduced from 16 to 10 and this was about the right number for the facilities, especially as the bunks were really big enough only for four. You would have to be very small or very good friends to spoon in somebody else.
Leaving Dundee early, Yasmin bagged The Easains en route, while Greg and Chris had the longer drive to the logistical not spot of Arnisdale, where Chris had a steep climb up and down Beinn Sgritheall, while Greg Grahamed on Beinn Clachach. After the cloud cleared there were excellent views across Loch Hourne into Knoydart and of Ladhar Beinn in particular.
With the forecast heavy rain not expected until later in the evening, there was no pressure for a particularly early start and folk began to leave about 8:30. The glen was filled with bright sunshine and midges, but the tops still had some cloud on them. There were two main parties. One did the Sisters counter-clockwise, and the others did a clockwise circuit of Ciste Dubh and the Brothers. With the midges left behind and the cloud clearing, the ridge walking was very enjoyable with excellent views before the haze built up in the afternoon ahead of the rain.
Berenice provide the communal meal and Greg fed the fire in the hearth to provide the main source of light in the sitting room. When I say ‘sitting’ room ………..
After heavy overnight rain, but with the low cloud quickly burnt off by the sun, there was an opportunity for more hills on Sunday, but nobody took this up (or is it ‘on’?)
- Report by Chris
It was a welcome return to Glenlicht House in the heart of Kintail after a couple of dozen years hiatus for several of us. The interim has seen some marked improvements made by the Edinburgh University Mountaineering Club, completed in 2018, including sleeping platforms, refloored parlour, mouse-proof kitchen units with gas hob and a composting loo!
Ten of us made it in the end to enjoy the cosy splendour with Yasmin, Chris and I managing hills on the Friday. Saturday saw teams on the Sisters and Brothers whilst Berenice took a gentle day return to Camban bothy. A mellow evening ensued before a lazy day on Sunday.
- Report by Greg Cox
