Weekend Meet: GSG Caving Club Cottage, Elphin, Assynt, August 14-17 2026

Nine members attended the weekend meet at the Grampian Speliological Club Hut in Elphin (AS, BR, CS, JR, MMon, MMcE, PF, CM, RB). Sadly the weather in the northwest Highlands was a bit less than desirable Saturday and Sunday. However a number of hills and rambles were done.

Friday, August 14th

1. CS and MMon: Cul Beag (Corbett)

   

   
   

2. PF and AS: Beinn Liath Mhor a Ghiubhais Li  (Corbett from Glascarnoch Reservoir)

"Weather was dry but thick cloud masked the big hills around us. One point of interest was a helicopter ferrying loads to the summit of Beinn Beag south of us. Probably for a telecoms mast."

Saturday, August 15th

1. MMcE: Ord Hill near Lairg.

Investigated various archaeological sites, including two neolithic burial chambers. Views north up Loch shin, followed by a walk round Ferrycroft wood with the remains of a broch.

2. JR, PF, AS, CS and Flick, the dog, opted for a low level walk around Loch Inver.

Went to Lochinver for breakfast before walking up by the River Inver and pushing through acres of soggy bracken to reach Glencanisp Lodge and back to the car. We were drookit.

Glencanisp Lodge Centre

3. MMon and RB climbed Braebeg in very poor weather.  

4. BR and CM completed a walk around Stac Pollaidh.

CM making his way up the SW side of Stac Pollaidh, with Loch Lurgainn to the SE.

Sunday, August 16th

1. AS and PF: Little Wyvis

These two set off in search of brighter weather and found it on Little Wyvis at Garve (probably the lowest Corbett). They saw the locally quite famous white stag and got up close with some red deer. Both stags had a fine head of 10 point antlers.

2. MMcE & CS - Scaraben

   They headed east and north in search of the sun. They started from the ‘phonebox at the end of the world’, west of Dunbeath. They first climbed East Scaraben, then Scaraben itself. They got good views of the Berriedale Braes, Maiden Pap and the wet flow country. They had clear summits for most of the day. Only descending to Sron Garbh did the heavens open. So they elected to not climb to that summit. There and back was over rough boggy ground. No one else was on their hill.

3. JR and Flick also set off eastwards and evaded the showers on a coastal walk/run from Golspie to Brora.

4. BR, CM and MMon walked to Benmore lodge beside Loch Ailish before visiting the Elphin tea shop.

Monday, August 17th

Some members had an epic drive back through major backups on the A9.

MMcE managed a nice walk up Graham Carn Glas-choire from Auchterteang, north of Carrbridge. "Good views of the Cairngorm massif.  Mostly a track ascent apart from the final climb to the trig. So peaceful, and with grandstand views of the Cairngorms. A lovely outing."