Braedownie Hut, Glen Clova, 1st - 3rd Feb 2013

A small party set off for the weekend to Glen Clova, staying in the Carn Dearg Mountaineering Club's hut, Braedownie. The weather was good but windy, and we had the added excitement of an exploding oven to spice things up.

View from near Mayar, Glen Clova (Paul Crawford)

We stopped on the way in Kirriemuir for fish suppers. This was essentially an educational visit for Irene in the joys of deep frying in Scotland. It was dark and snowing on arrival at the hut, and it took a while to finally get some heat due to a lack of matches and some wood that was surprisingly reluctant to burn.

Fire! The Braedownie hut stove

The kitchen

You might notice the oven on top of the microwave, remember that for later.

Saturday morning we set off to Glen Doll woods where our walk would start.

Glen Doll forest

Exiting the forest towards the Shank of Drumfollow we started ascending the hill on what, presumably, was the summer path. The snow was troublesome at times. Specifically, the times you end up knee deep on one leg.

Looking back to the start of the ascent

We stopped for lunch, and at this point put on crampons as a couple we met had already turned back as their micro-spike things were just not enough.

As we got near the top, it was steeper and quite icy.

Looking towards the top of Shank of Drumfollow

This gives you some idea of the slope

At the top of the bealach there were some cornices (not terribly clear in this photo).

Top of the Shank of Drumfollow

In the (not too far) distance, Mayar (928m)

Nearing the summit of Mayar, the weather was great except for the wind which was getting up to 40-50mph by now.

Ice on an old fence post

There were some excellent views from the summit. To take a group photo I had driven my ice-axe in to the ground and used the hand-strap to stop my camera & tripod going for a flight in the 50mph-ish winds!

View from the top of Mayar

Summit view

Group photo on Mayar using the joys of a self-timer

After a very brief photo session, we headed back to the hut. The sun was almost down by the time we reached the forest edge.

Getting dark, Glen Doll forest

The wine selection for the evening

Starting with the soup we had the white wine, a Gewürztraminer from the Alsace in France.
Then we had the reds with the spaghetti bolognese. First red was from the Puglia region of Italy, and seemed a spiritual match for the meal.
Second red was a pleasant Chilean wine, though we only made it through half of that bottle before deciding it was bed time.

While cooking the remaining garlic bread on Sunday morning, there was a pop and the floor was showered with glass.

It had seemed fine and managed 6 minutes out of the timer's 12 for cooking the bread

On our way back on Sunday we stopped at Glen Clova hotel for some coffees.

Last port of call: the Glen Clova Hotel. They also had a wood-burning stove

Report and all photos: Paul Crawford