Tyneside Loipers joined forces with Tyne Valley Mountaineers for a long weekend in Braemar at the end of February. We stayed at the lovely Rucksacks Hostel and Bunkhouse. We had superb weather but there was little snow, so it was a weekend of walking and mountain biking.
Driving north past the Glenshee ski area, we saw only one patch of artificial snow and one short Poma running, so it was clearly the right decision taking mountain bikes rather than skis.
On a frosty sunny Saturday morning, we weighed up the possible summit options (An Socach, Carn Bhan, etc). Paramjeet and Richard went with colleagues from TVM and biked up to a high bothy. Dave Legg and Howard and I chose a tough mountain bike route up through the Mar Lodge Estate, We dumped our bikes about half a mile beyond the ford across the burn and then walked to the summit of Beinn a Bhuird at 1197m. A fabulous walk! And lots of snow at the top (though it would have been a long way to carry skis). Neil (and Chris Brogan) reached the summit about 20 minutes before us, having made an early start and walked most of the way from Braemar. We were confident we would overtake them on the way back after retrieving our bikes!
We did about 36 km of mountain biking and 20km of walking. But we didn’t overtake Neil and Chris! We chose what we though would be an easier (longer) return route, avoiding the loose stony track that we had taken on our outward journey. It proved to be a more adventurous route, with two river crossings, neither of which were rideable. The second one involved pushing across and getting wet feet!
Saturday was a TVM-Loipers grand evening meal back in the hostel. Everyone had brought a contribution for the meal and it was a proper feast!
Sunday was another sunny frosty morning. Two groups opted for an early start, walking (or biking and walking) up Derry Cairngorm 1155m. Four of us chose an easier day and found a route up Creag Nan Gabhar 834m, an isolated Corbett with fabulous views. We descended east from towards Loch Callater and had lunch sitting outside the little bothy at Callater Lodge and had a lovely 5km walk back down next to the Callater Burn. Another fabulous day! We finished in good time to check out the latest offers at Braemar Mountain Sports (trying not to be tempted into buying new skis).
On Sunday evening, most of us went out to Farquharson’s Bar. The meal was good and we can recommended it for next time in Braemar.
On Monday morning, we had a few snow flurries and the sky was more grey than blue. Dave and Howard and I went up Morven 857m, which was an easy 3 and half hour round-route from the hostel. Paramjeet and pals went for another bike ride. Neil and David and colleagues from TVM did a route around Creag Leacach and Glas Maol.
Thanks to Alison for organising! It was a great weekend, despite the relative lack of snow. Should we have gone one week later…?
Kevin and Kimberley were in Braemar the following week and did a similar route to us on Bheinn a Bhuird. They were e-biking and carrying skis! After dumping their bikes (where we had left ours the week before), they walked and skied up to the South Summit at 1179m. Then they enjoyed an excellent 500m of descent on good snow before returning again to their bikes. Well done Kevin and Kimberley! Are we jealous?!!
Alan Mitcham.