B B BELFRY BULLETIN JOURNAL OF THE BRISTOL EXPLORATION CLUB Volume 9 No.95
August 1955
Hostelling Holiday in Scotland by Chris Falshaw. My oppo, Nev Thompson and I left Bristol on 16th. July, and after spending one night in that fairest of all cities, Manchester, reached Glasgow. Sunday 18th. July. We were woken at 8.10 by cups of tea, rather comfortable. After breakfast we bid adieu to our host and boarded our MT, a 1952 Morris Minor, and made for the Campsie Fells. These are situated about ten miles north east of Glasgow, and consist entirely of Volcanic Basalt. The gen. book says it is not good for climbing. This view we endorsed, as ‘it comes away in yer hand when you ain’t looking’. Eventually we reached the said hills and climbed to the nearest trig. point, Holehaid, 1805ft. We had intended to climb to The Earl’s Seat, but the sun was hot so we lay down in the heather and told the Earl what he could do. Reached Fintry Hostel at opening time, i.e. 4pm. Monday 18th. July. After breakfast we took the road to Callender, stopping on the way to take some photographs. Stoked up with grub, then continued via Falls of Leny, Loch Lubnaig, Loch Earnhead and Glen Ogle, here we climbed Meall Burhdie, 2,000ft. and geologised and photomogenised to some extent. Nev ruined the film in the process of trying to get 39 exposures on a 35mm. film. After this we returned to the Hostel Balquhidder. A very enjoyable evening was spent futhering Bristol/Edinburgh relationships. Tuesday 20th. July. Said our farewells to Edinburgh and took the road to Inver Loch Larig, the reputed home of Rob Roy the Highland Rogue ‘Our Hero’. Here we parked the car, donned boots and smoked a farewell reed. We struck up the glen following the stream (burrrrrrrn) and commenced to climb Benmore, 3,843ft. We stopped at the watershed for dinner - orange and cake -. There was a cold wind blowing so we did not dally but started to climb seriously. Entered cloud at 2,800ft. and the going became easier. Reached top after four hours, and thumped each other on the back. This was our first Munro (for the uninitiated, a Munro is a mountain over 3,000ft. high). The wind on top was literally knocking even skittles out of us, so we retired behind a rock and ate Penguins. We retraced our steps getting well and truly soaked in the process. Arrived at the car three hours later nearly dead through lack of our favourite alkaloid. Returned to the Hostel and played Solo all evening. Wednesday 21st. July. A rest day. Went to Callender to review the local talent and also some Roman remains. Practiced bird photography on some willing seagulls with telephoto - Bakewell tart was used as bait - this was very potent; after eating it the birds became grounded for about ten minutes. Returned to the Hostel and again played Solo. One bod, insisted on reading Hamlet. His oppo threw it across the room. This invoked strange, words from the owner.