So then there were six. Various ascents were made: Kleine Rinne, Direct Route, Via Media, Gazebo, Yew Tree Climb and Gangway Climb. The North Crag unfortunately looked a bit damp in amongst the trees - and so it proved as Peter and I were forced to ab off pitch 3 of Zig Zag.

 

A good day out!

Dave Rotheray.

  

Scotland Meet – May 2007

My Dad was the village bobby in Crianlarich. Police cars were rarer then and he rode a motorbike instead – a treacherous occupation in the Fifties’ winters. He kept the mountain-rescue equipment in the living room.

 

Fifty years later, I was back. We were parked opposite the same police house. Should I go in and ask? Is it OK to photograph police buildings in these post 9/11 days? “Just get on with it!” said Rosemarie impatiently. I nipped out of the car and snapped away with the Canon. Unnoticed, we then drove on to our base for the weekend. We were staying in the Ochils Mountaineering Club cottage – a picturesque white-washed building on the edge of the village. Only five had made the trip north – John and Margaret; Roger; Rosemarie and me.

 

We split up on Saturday morning; Roger and John did the classic circuit of Ben Cruachan and Stob Garbh. They started at the dam, which serves the pumped-storage power station within the mountain. This fine route was marred only by cloud towards the summits. Margaret chose the scenic rail journey to Fort William. This featured great views of the Arrochar Alps. Fort William was full of raucous trail bikes, gathering for an event, and spilling out of the narrow streets.

 

Ben More is a popular climb by the direct route. However, Rosemarie and I decided to drive out eastwards into Glen Dochart, for a horseshoe which also included Stob Binnein. This remote, pathless route was quite rough and Rosemarie’s knee began to give her some trouble by the end. However we had been lucky enough to get close to a large herd of deer.