Tyndrum

Glen Cononish to Glen Lochy

Sunday 16th November 1980

A late (8.30am) start, a diversion due to a blocked road on Lomondside, and driving rain on arrival at Tyndrum all conspired to modify plans for an assault on Ben Oss. Complex logistics placed a car in Glen Lochy while most of us festered in the caff until the drivers returned.

With no further excuses left, we plunged into the elements to walk through the hill pass below Beinn Laoigh.

the rain lashed walk through the hills

I remember occasionally lifting my head; mostly bowed in the teeth of the gale and rain, once when we lunched behind a wall at Cononish; once to see the huge cascade crashing down Eas Anie;

Eas Anie above Cononish

Again to admire the water white-streaking all over Beinn Laoigh's northeren flanks; and again when Alasdair and Chris Storie pursed voles which were swarming in the dead grasses at the col.

Matters did improve a little thereabouts, and there was a glimpse of steely Loch Awe before we splashed down the Eas Daimh's banks. The burn was a continuous strip of white water all the way down to the culmination of a lovely fall, the Eas Morag. It was quite uncross-able, below the point well upstream, where Ronnie did a Walter Raleigh act, standing mid-stream to hand Martha across. 'I'm no wetter' he said, on re-surfacing.

We used the railway bridge to cross, and then tramped down the line in renewed rain to the bridge over the Lochy River (at G.Ref. 229270) not marked on the OS maps, yet absolutely necessary to cross the spate.

I wonder if anyone was aware of Section 23,
Regulation of the Railways act 1868 (!)

Ten soggy bodies squeezed into Ron's Cortina; three more remained to be collected half an hour later to join the steamy mob in the Tyndrum cafe as darkness fell.

Perhaps the most exciting part of the day was driving home on a black wet, November night with a fading battery and all electrics failing on us.

Eric Scott

Loudoun Hill

19th September 1982

The day started out for John, Jim and myself at George Square, where Jim was his mandatory 30 minutes late. Wearing our seatbelts with the No Smoking sign lit we took off for Loudoun Hill.

We were soon cruising at the speed of many tappets past the Trongate, when the No Smoking sign was extinguished. The duty free trolley appeared and wended it's way to the flight deck where all three cabin crew, Jim (pilot), Alan (co-pilot) and John (navigator) sampled from the trolley.

On passing through East Kilbride air space our navigator pointed out his house roof and in so doing we had to gain emergency landing permission in a foreign housing estate. Our navigator sorted out his satellite navigation equipment and we were soon out of alien air space.

Loudoun Hill soon appeared on the horizon and we landed safely to await the rest of the party.

Isobel appeared 10 minutes later having driven from Strathaven. The four of us set off for the foot of the climbing bit and were soon joined by Eric and Bran. 

Jim soon disappeared into the under growth to preform his ablutions. One wonders why he took his chalk bag with him?

One route was tackled before Drew and Stuart arrived about lunchtime.

Jim Murray in 'Pulpit Crack'

More duty free was issued and consumed in the heat of the day.

More climbing ensued with John making a 'severe' look 'extremely severe'.  Eric appreciated this expense of effort by John by taking at least one picture.

Jim Murray demonstrating a 'Head Jam'

Jim was soon busy soloing climbs to organise belays for us beginners. 

Jim Murray above 'The Flake'

From the top of the climb there was a commanding view of the local hostelry. This we retreated to, after a fair day's climbing. 

On the return journey our navigator jumped ship which enable us to return home safely looking forward to the next club trip.

Alan Waugh (co-pilot)

(Despite the levity of the account, some quite good climbs were done around and on Pulpit and the Flake areas. Some very good climbs were also attempted and remain unfinished! - Ed.)

Those present: Alan Waugh, Jim Murray, John Watson, Isobel McCaw, Drew Carlin, Stuart Duncan, Eric Scott & all Bran.