Glen Affric Weekend

19-21 April 2024

Robert's Story:

Eight of us, Robert S, Chris H, David, John, Gillie, Alan, Bob and Jane, made our way to the remote Glen Affric hostel on Friday night. The hostel  is 13km from the end of the tarred road and the onward track looked reasonable for biking. It was however an arduous 13km and at least one of our number ditched their bike and walked the remainder to the hostel. 3 of our number also arrived after dark and the very helpful and convivial warden was getting concerned and wanted to go looking for them, he accepted our assurances that the missing three were experienced and would be fine, as they were.

On Saturday Robert, Chris, John and David set off for the three Munros behind the hostel. The first Munro, An Socach went easily but there was a bit of confusion on the way to the second, Mullach Na Dheiragain and unintentionally David headed for Sgurr Nan Ceathramhnan, while the other three continued to MNaD. Good mountain acoustics from ridge to corrie helped us out.  We then passed David on his descent from SNanC on our ascent. The weather was great all day with extensive views throughout.

On Sunday Robert, Chris and John tackled Mullach Fraoch Choire and A’Chraileag direct from the hostel up a steep pathless slope. MFC Was reached without event but the ridge across to A’C was another matter. The bypass path around the rock towers on the ridge was impassible with significant lying snow meaning the only route was directly over the towers. After a few abortive attempts to find a route they were overcome with a very exposed scramble. The remainder was plain sailing across to A’C and even the return route through the Glen did not produce the man eating bogs we had been warned about. An interesting day was followed by the 13km cycle back to the cars, slightly better than the outward journey technical being down hill.

We were lucky with great weather all weekend, the warden said the best he’d had since opening at the beginning of the month. The hostel was warm and welcoming with two log burners blasting away and a very convivial warden mucking in with everything and getting the water reconnected first thing in the morning. It’s very basic as would be expected but all the better for it, and apparently very quiet in the week.

Bob's Story:

Saturday - a pleasant walk along the good path west from the hostel along Gleann Gniomhaidh until I could cut up the hillside up steep grassy slopes to the Corbett Sgurr Gaorsaic.  Descent was via the north ridge and then skirting back south past Loch a Bhealaich to join the path back to the hostel.

Sunday - biked back out from the hostel nearly to the Glen Affric Car park and hid the bike in the heather, then headed south to the Corbett Aonach Shasuinn.  It was very boggy with no path once past the new hydro electric track, so instead of returning the same way I came back via the Carn nan Coireachan Cruaidh ridge - a much better route.

Jane's and Alan's and Gillie's Story:

It was a challenging cycle ride to and from the bothy but fantastic scenery. Saturday was spent with a short walk and some relaxing time beside a river with beautiful peaceful surroundings. Unfortunately the ticks found Jane and they loved her!