Saturday 30 December 2023 – Tuesday 2 January 2024

We got an early start on the 30th for the journey to Skye, which turned out to be the right decision as heavy snow started falling later in the afternoon, and the road through Glen Shiel got a bit dodgy (lucky we were going downhill). Iain got blown off his hill, and Allan and Richard managed to bag their Corbett. We met up in a wee cottage in Kyleakin then headed to the pub for a feast.

Hogmanay dawned perfectly, but with better forecast on the mainland than on Skye we popped over to Lochcarron. Various Munros and Corbetts were slipped into the bag, maybe even the odd Graham Top as well. All in absolutely perfect weather, with snow on the tops, blue skies and magnificent views all around. Back to the cottage for a traditional Hogmanay Haggis Feast, then as the bells approached we headed to the local pub. Not as much life there as we had hoped – it even closed at 5 minutes to midnight!! Instead we had a bonfire on the beach and wished a Bliadhna mhath ùr to the one passing local.

The weather was not so great on the first day of 2024 so we all went for a low-level walk around Elgol and Camasunary which turned out to be more interesting than we expected. Not least because we bumped into a couple of old friends, yes it was Mountain Mind Malcolm and Jackie. After a blether, broken by an incoming front, we continued in our respective directions then all met back at the cottage for another traditional meal, the Steak Pie Supper. It was great to catch up over a meal and swap stories. Does that make Malky our First Footer?

A Wet Walk on the Way Home rounded off the DMC Hogmanay Trip, taking home great memories and looking forward to more fun DMC meets ☺.

• Report by Andrew