30 December 2019 – 2 January 2020
You wait all year for a nice weather day on the hills and Scotland doesn’t let you down, it arrives on the very last day of the year. Hogmanay was one of those dream days and Torridon is arguably the best wee range of mountains to be on when it happens. Walking into Beinn
Alligin the sky was cloudless and spirits were high. The sunrise tinged the hills pink with Alpenglühen. Out of nowhere the mist rolled in, trying to dampen our spirits, but it failed miserably – instead giving the scrambling fantastic, dramatic atmosphere. Look out for some competition-winning photographs! By the summit we were looking down on a sea of cloud, dancing with Brocken spectres, before they all vanished in a puff of smoke to reveal endless views of mountains, sea and islands.
The last hours of the decade were spent on the beach around a bonfire, toasting marshmallows, drinking whisky and singing Auld Lang Syne to say farewell to the year and also Haste Ye Back to our NZ friends Janis and Markus.
The start of the new year was a wee bit breezy so we climbed a nearby Corbett and hurried back to the hut before we could be blasted into the loch.
Inside our cosy cottage we had three great evenings around the fire, chatting, playing games and eating delicious food prepared by Markus, Berenice and Iain. Many precious memories to treasure.
- Report by Andrew