RHSoc ContributorBy Rick Salter
A bagger gathering took place at Newtonmore at the end of September. Alvey house is a fine house, a former hotel, converted to self use by groups. The house sleeps up to 18 people in comfortable rooms, all with en suite facilities, with the exception of one room that has its own private bathroom. There is a large kitchen space, utility room with washer/drier, an extensive dining room, a cosy lounge with open fire, a TV room, large hallway and an entrance porch big enough to serve as a drying room. There is off street parking for up to 10 cars and a bike store. A very comfortable bagger-house with easy access to local shops, cafes, pubs etc, and importantly surrounded by scores of mountains and hills to climb.
In all 18 baggers enjoyed the week, most staying all week, some for part of the week, handing over to others who used their rooms. There were many highlights of the week, some are recounted below. All in all an excellent stay and the good news is that the house has been rebooked for next year, from October 3rd to 10th 2026. Many hills still to climb!
A highlight was Jill Robertson’s final Munro, or rather three last Munros. On Sunday a group of us parked at Drumochter and climbed A’Bhuidheanach Bheag and Carn na Caim. Others of us then strolled off to collect neighbouring Simms, HHB and other tops. With just one Munro left to do Jill left very early on Monday morning for a drive round to Glen Shee, where she and Tony Jenkins climbed An Socach and its Eastern top (to be sure) from Baddoch. On return to Alvey House at 16.30 the party began, with champagne, two lots of Colin the Caterpillar cake, plus numerous other goodies. A job well done; 82 Munros this year to complete. Looks like Jill is now onto the Marilyns, climbed a handful the rest of the week, as well as a visit to the Wildcat sanctuary. Now with the 600 Marilyns Hall of Fame the next target, by dinner in Brecon perhaps in June 2026?
Eric and Anne, pretty focused on Dodds at the moment commented: Our "Dodd of the week" award goes to Am Binnein 547m (hill no. 5930). As we approached from Crubenmore it displays its craggy face. From the col shared with Meall Crubenmore it gives hope that one might struggle up a steep grassy ride. Once you get there through the ked-ridden open pinewood you discover a well made now untended zigzag stalkers path which takes you effortlessly to some top rock slabs, depositing you there like an escalator. All the better as the stalkers construction is not mapped by the ordnance surveyors, and a grand viewpoint for the Spey valley (curious it's not a 'glen') and the surrounding Munros.
Gill only had a couple of nights at the house, and managed to pick a fabulous walk for the Sunday. It started with a truly beautiful woodland walk from the Torrcroy car park, along the River Tromie, then across the bridge and on to Meallach Beag. Heather bashing was rewarded by stunning views and a superb, easy ridge walk on paths to Croidh-la, then down to Tromie bridge and the Speyside way. Theoretically, it would be possible to include the newly forested pancake Simms to the east, but only if you're keen on spoiling the walk.
Jenny and my highlight, recommended by Gill, was a circuit of Gleann Chomhraig. A small glen sandwiched between Glens Tromie and Feshie. Parking at Drumguish we made our way down the estate track for a couple of kilometres, before turning of left onto a minor path through the heather, This lead with increasing height and interest to the North ridge of Simm Croidh-la and finally its trig/cairn top. The autumnal views of Glen Tromie and beyond to Drumochter were very good, equally to the Monadhliath, and the Cairngorms in the East. As the highest point we lingered a while enjoying an early lunch while Bryher dug holes in the turf. The continuation south to the next Simm Clach – mheall was almost as good, although the path starts to give out, and then didn’t return. We took a direct line down to the Lag an t-Siolaidh knoll, through increasing amounts of plantings of mixed woodland. The climb to Simm Aonach Mor was hard work through either deep heather or rough tussock grass, fortunately shorter vegetation returned for the summit, then an easier walk to final hill of Meall Buidhe, a Simm Hump. More testing ground however on the descent to the Allt Chomhraig, just about crossable with dry feet, and its attendant beehives. The estate track was then followed back via Killiehuntly and the start.
Alan and Marion Mitchell, making their first visit to Alvey House commented; Our (Marion`s) aim was to tick off some Humps and we had a very successful week.
Sunday was our most enjoyable day on An Suidhe above Kincraig. An easy hill with tracks all the way and the best weather of the week. It has a wonderful cairn/shelter/sitoutery on the summit, perfectly oriented to enjoy the Cairngorms across the Spey Valley. We were so pleased with our progress and being on a "high" , that we thought "let's do another Wee One". Not the best decision of the week -- Kennapole Hill with the Duchess of Bedford`s Cairn proved to be a nightmare with deep heather, lots of gorse and windblown trees. Suffice to say, its abandonment was inevitable, leading to much marital discord, with one party saying "never again" and the other, "it might be OK from the other side". Still recovering from the hell of Kennapole, on Monday we set off for Glen Feshie and Cairn Ghiuthsachan on a good wee path which went round the hill and then up the back to the summit. On Tuesday we went up from Cluny Castle to Binnein More. While it was a pleasant enough day on estate roads and tracks until the final pull to the high point, it was nothing exceptional.
Still thinking "it might be easier from the other side", Thursday saw us tackling Kennapole once again from Loch an Eilean. The start followed good tracks along the base of the hill before we made the mistake of cutting upwards too soon. It was a steep battle through gorse, deep heather etc. Finally reaching the summit area, we were confronted with windblow which we had to negotiate with great care. On arrival at the massive summit cairn we found a very definite wee path. This we followed down and back to Loch an Eilean without further drama. Jill`s magnificent dinner that evening was much appreciated. Friday held no drama or difficulties as we ascended Craigellachie from the youth hostel car park in Aviemore
Jonathan Woods’ favourite hill day was surprisingly the wettest one, when he managed three new Marilyns, a very happy flush of a Dodd, Graham and Corbett in Glen Roy. Despite the rain (one hour in full waterproofs) and the tortuous route of either up or down, it must have been the company of RHSoc Chairman Barry which spurred me on. (At least that's what I told him). Fortunately the numerous and extensive bridge repair and replacement project on the glen road didn't prevent us from achieving our objectives (see Barry’s notes on the same round later).
Alex Cameron, as ever happy to put in the foot miles contributed; The walking highlight for me has just got to be the pre-dawn wander straight out of the house up to Carn Dearg 945m, (picture attached), before then continuing across the bog-ridden high plateau of the Monadhliath to the rather isolated HHB summit Sgaraman nam Fiadh. A superb outing through some very wild country with a definite carpe diem motivation to make the best of strong fitness and fair weather to visit some decidedly out of the way corners of the Scottish Highlands that very few others will ever get the chance to experience.
Alan and Kathy Duval, regulars at Alvey House, ventured up past Laggan to Loch Laggan. They write:
One of several good walks was our ascent of Binnein Shuas and Binnean Shios.
We set off along a track on the south side of Loch Laggan. Then up through the trees and a rather tussocky walk up towards Binnein Shios. The going gets easier and more interesting with height. There are many false summits but eventually we reached the real one!
Then back along the ridge to Binnein Shuas. In good visibility, we could see a way up through the crags, but this would be difficult in the opposite direction. We were rewarded on the descent by a brilliant rainbow.
John Foote, like several of us, opted to head around the Cairngorms where the weather was generally better. He reports: After being sociable on the Sunday, I reverted to type for the rest of the week and picked hills I could have to myself. Wednesday saw me filling in a gap, on Creagan a' Chaise in the Cromdale Hills. Advice to try from the west proved helpful, and I followed a good path up the ridge from the A939, then easily if boggily at times over two exciting subSimms and a Simm to the Marilyn summit. In a supposedly wet week, the rain was mostly elsewhere, and it was entertaining to imagine how different the day could have been with a less felicitous choice of walk.
Note to be outdone, Barry comments on his and Jonathan’s Glen Roy trip: On Monday Jonathan Woods and myself tackled the three Marilyns on the west side of Glen Roy. These are Beinn a’ Mhonicag (a Dodd), Leana Mor West ( a Graham) and Beinn Iaruinn (a Corbett). There is no flat walking here! And the hills increase in height from 567m to 800m.
The road up Glen Roy was closed beyond the viewpoint, but the viewpoint is an excellent start point for a steep but otherwise straightforward ascent to Beinn a’ Mhonicag (picture below). This only took 40 minutes. We then dropped 300m and climbed straight back up to the summit of Leana Mor West. At this point I left Jonathan to continue to Beinn Iaruinn and went for a civilised coffee and bacon bap at Roy Bridge.
Following the coffee I drove past the viewpoint, through the road closed signs, and found Jonathan, having bagged the Corbett, chatting to the workmen four miles up the valley. A great day of Marilyn bagging.
We had the excitement of a one hour power cut around 7pm, fortunately most had cooked their suppers and were enjoying them in the dining room. Cars were moved to avoid risk of tree fall, in the morning all were covered in a decent coating of pine needles.
And so it ended, over 100 bagging days, in generally good autumnal weather. A fine group meal provided by Jill Robertson on Thursday night, well aided by Tony Jenkins and Alex Cameron. Convivial times in the dining room after evening meals, and then the lounge in front of the fire. A goodly number of bottles of whisky were despatched, thanks to those who brought them. Some industrial hill logging on laptops, and good chat with friends old and new.
And so farewell to Alvey House, until next year. Thanks to all baggers attending for a very enjoyable meet.
Can’t finish without a big thank you to Jenny for all the hard work organising and liaising, and Bryher for the never ending company. Jen said never again, and then within a week a date was back in the diary. Still lots to do, ready to walk.
Rick
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