John Melluish Merchistonian Memorial Mountain Meet 2007

Crianlarich, 26-28 September 2007

It was with a feeling of relief that three of us arrived at Callander and could finally make our way along the A84 through the southern Highlands to our meeting place at the Ochils Mountaineering Club Hut at Crianlarich. A false start from Newcastle-under-Lyme and several traffic problems near Manchester which led to a 2 a.m. arrival was not an auspicious start to the 2007 John Melluish weekend, but we did at last reach the Highlands. Simon Durrant’s car and conversation, his colleague Mark Hambleton’s patience, and my many cups of strong coffee had finally got us to base camp, ready for the coming dawn and a hopeful weather forecast.

Photo above: L-R Simon Durrant (ex-Common Room) Bill Mitchell (Merchistonian) Robert Russel (ex-CR) Mike Gill (CR) John Hardy (ex-CR)

Robert Russel (staff ’73), Alan Black (’67) and Bill Mitchell (’60), were already asleep, although not many hours ahead of us, but after the stimulus of a substantial breakfast we could all make constructive suggestions for a suitable set of summits for the day. Ben Lui (1130m) was the first target after a brief dry-shod fording of the River Lochy, and then a grind up 1,000 metres in 3 kilometres produced great tales of John Melluish’s exploits at Merchiston. However, the cloud hung low and the view from the lofty summit during lunch was a blank wall of cloud. Bill and Alan manfully returned northwards to re-possess the vehicles, while we remaining four continued southwards in the mist on compass bearings, heading for the Creag Dubh a’ Bhealaich and there, suddenly emerging from the cloud, was our next target, the smaller but more gentle Ben Oss. After a short pause on the flat summit only to snack on chocolate and fruit, we headed through more cloud again for the final peak of the day, Ben Dubhcraig, well-known to many Pringle hillwalkers.

Suddenly and dramatically the mist lifted, the view expanded and the panorama unfolded to reveal the peaks beside Loch Lomond to the south, and Ben More and Stob Binnein to the east. A lovely descent through bog, heather and yet more bog to Dalrigh, ended an active and satisfying day, not least because it was Mark’s first venture into Highland mountains.

Back in Crianlarich it was a case of many cooks making light work as Robert rustled up a sweet and sour chicken casserole, and we were joined by Mike Gill (Common Room) who, having left Merchiston after a full morning’s teaching, managed to take in Beinn a’ Chleibh (916m) with remarkable efficiency in time to welcome the full-day walkers. Robert and Mike on their guitars later treated us to a melodic selection of Scottish and related songs before the previous night’s late activity sent us to bed with a healthy inward and outward glow.

The target for Sunday was the slightly lower twin of Ben More, Stob Binnein,(1165m) but the cloud lingered long enough on the tops to prevent a real view from the southerly peak. A remarkably simple but nevertheless tiring ascent ended in a warm and windless lunchtime break, before a hasty but orderly retreat back down to Ben More farm and the long road to the south and England. Meanwhile Bill had gone off to explore the Taynuilt area and visit a friend, while Alan explored the two less frequented Corbetts of Beinn Udlaidh and Beinn Bhreac-liath, west of Tyndrum.

Another memorable weekend in the Scottish Highlands, and very many thanks go to Robert Russel for organising accommodation and food. It was a weekend to remember and treasure as the days shorten.

Photo above: L-R: Simon Durrant, Robert Russel, John Hardy

Details can be obtained from School Reception, or Robert Russel e-mail: rjrussel@lineone.net or 01620 860 702