Friday 5 – Sunday 7 April 2024

The National Trust Lagangarbh bunkhouse would’ve been ideal for hiking directly into the mountains, were it not for Storm Kathleen’s 70mph winds and rain. Her forecast was so unsettling that a third of the group caught a cold before even leaving Dundee – let’s call these the Fair Weather Five. The hut supposedly sleeps 20, but it was cosy enough at half capacity.

Undeterred by the MWIS, albeit with a leisurely Saturday start, four groups set out to defy Kathleen. One taking full advantage of the direct access to Buachaille Etive Mor, but just to the snowline, another decided it would be nice to hike over to Kinlochleven on the West Highland Way, with three quarters of the group making it back on foot after coffee and cake at the Highland Getaway Inn. A more ambitious trio sensibly drove to Ballachullish to bag some Corbetts but still found themselves being blown over and retreating to the warmth of Kingshouse Hotel. The final soloist undertook a circular run of the Two Lairig’s, which was almost over before it really started, with the high river level completely swamping the stepping stones requiring careful plotting upstream to continue across. Rather than head back to the hut at lunch, this run was followed by another run to Kinlochleven over the Devil’s Staircase and back offering impressive views out to Ben Nevis, but a regrettably steep, very wet and windy return!

On some Meets the communal meal chef is still out on the hills well past dinner time, but on this occasion they never even left Dundee. Thankfully there are many talented chefs in the DMC and the Tik-Tok recipe was masterfully followed. Chocolate peat bog cake was equally delicious, although the recipe calling for an entire slab of butter was questionable!

Cooked breakfast was followed by the entire Meet group hiking into the Lost Valley before heading to the Isles of Glencoe sauna as Kathleen inevitably passed over again. Another great weekend away with DMC.

• Report by Dominic Hughes