Meall nan Caorach

David Kaye

23 November 2018

The number of last minute withdrawals and additions to Marauders walks has reached epidemic proportions, rivalling that of the Scottish football team.

One of the leading Sunday papers has offered to run a Fantasy Marauders League. You select your seven Marauders at the start of the year, and get 2 points if your player signs up for a walk, 4 if he/she turns up, and minus 5 if they withdraw. Any positive score may win the prize.

The November outing saw 4 last minute withdrawals and one last minute arrival. It was a cold but dry and relatively windless day. 10 hardy souls and an excited dog rolled up to the Amulree Village Hall. David left Edinburgh early, but decided to visit the Perth road diversions en route, lost a wrestling match with the Satnav, and turned up last.

The walk began with an 800 meter section of busy tarmac road, but then morphed into a fine land-rover track which duly deposited us at the bealach, where first lunch was taken.

The ascent to Meall nan Caorach was defined in the Grahams Book as “brutal”. Well, there’s brutal and brutal, and this was definitely the latter. Everyone did eventually arrive at the summit in time for second lunch, although many required the support of the trig point, walking poles or a small dog.

In a break with tradition, Cosmo did not consume any cling-film wrapped sandwiches, though not for the want of trying. Sarah kept him on a tight rein.

After lunch we tripped down to the bealach with the heather grabbing at our ankles.

The aged and infirm decided that was quite enough brutality for one day, and set sail for home. The Secret Seven (a clue in the summit piccy) jogged up to Meall Reamhar. (Oops - BTMail refuses to expand the picture. Get you magnifying glasses out).

The Wimps made themselves useful, by picking up the Heros at the start of the track thus obviating a second tussle with the tarmac and traffic.

All then repaired to Dobbies in Perth, David again being felled by the Satnav, where coffees and cakes had been well earned.

Yet another memorable outing in the annals of the intrepid Marauders.

Friday 14th December

For a short winter’s walk we will visit the Pentlands. We’ll meet in the car park by the bus stop at the foot of the ski slope at 10am. We’ll climb Caerketton and Allermuir and possibly Capelaw, before returning via the T-wood to Swanston Golf Course for tea and sticky buns.

Already accepted are David, Mike, Jim and Marion, Sandra, Jack, Sarah, Elaine and Andrew T, with Ken and Denise to advise.

As always, all welcome.

Cheers, David.