Does anyone have any suggestions for winter mountaineering (from 'interesting walking' through to II) from a bothy - either being based in a bothy for a couple of days, or even better as a several day bothy tour?
My lack of familiarity with Scotland isn't helping put a plan together. My guidebook is in Newcastle and I only have a map of Nevis area in my house (along with a couple of excellent coffee table books). Google is obviously proving useful, but piecing everything together is proving painful. And personal recommendation is always good.
I've already clocked that Ryvoan would make a decent base for a couple of days, and the Duror bothy is quite handy for the Ballachulish horsehoe. Any other great suggestions? The wilder and more remote the better.
Creag a'choire Etchachan's Hutchison Memorial Hut might suit.
The climbing in the Choire Etchachan is probably all slightly harder than grade II but you could possibly tie it in with a visit to the Hell's Lum area. Plenty of interesting walking to be had in that area also or even better if you have a set of skis.
We'll be making an early-season trip (mid December), and more importantly I'll be staying away from skis for a bit after my February mishap! Similarly ridges are probably better options than low-grade gullies which may not have formed by then.
III is good by me, pushing to IV, but for the most part we're interested in less technical things with a proper mountain feel to them for this trip. Maybe with a day or two of more technical fun
Ben Alder Cottage for the Leachas ridges (I) on Ben Alder - Culra was better placed but is closed due to asbestos
Coiremor/Magoos bothy for Creag an Duine ridge (I/II) onto Seana Bhraigh
Shenavall as already mentioned. It's not totally logical as a base for an An Teallach traverse but would be ideal for stuff on Beinn Dearg Mor/Bheag. A traverse of those two including the NW ridge of Bheag would be at least I
Camban for Mullach Fraoch Choire south ridge (I)
The round of Coire Dhorcaill (I) on Ladhar Bheinn from Barrisdale (it's not a great bothy though)
Corrour, then walk round to the NE ridge of Sgurr an Lochan Uaine (I)
Gelder shiel bothy for Central Buttress on Lochnagar (II)
Thanks for the offer(!) but Nevis area is the only map I do have, and I don't have maps of anywhere else because, well, I'm lazy! Rather than end up with maps for every major mountain area in Scotland, I'm hoping to put together a sensible plan for a couple of different areas and then buy fewer maps. But of course, it's hard to plan without a map to begin with.
That said, I'm about to buy a subscription to OS Maps online. Problem solved.
I've spent a good portion of the week in Camban bothy - plenty things to choose from, but managed to get just 2 days of Munro tops due to the weather. It's absolutely a cracking place to be at and quite remote, although I met quite few folk in March. It's a tough walk-in with fuel on your back, mind you...
Coire Fionnaraich isn't the remotest per say, but gives a good base for couple of days with a super short walk-in. You can also do a semi-circular route by climbing either or both Munros East from the bothy. You would end up on Achnashellach, where you can hitch back to the Coulags and resupply. This is what I ended up on a bit of an epic day out. I managed to catch a ride at 7~8PM on Hogmanay, so it's certainly easy to hitch. You also have Ling Hut nearby if you fancy a bit of luxury.
I wouldn't fancy approach of Ben Alder Cottage from the South if the ground is not frozen by the way. It's a bog fest. North is better, but it's either a bit scrambly (if you are going via the loch) or long and high (if you are going round Ben Alder group).
Ultimate one would be a tour of Barisdale and Sourlies bothies with a return to Kinloch Hourn or Inverie (with a ferry back to Mallaig). It is a challenging one with no Carnoch Bridge yet and certainly ticks off the remoteness box!
Bing.com maps have free OS maps for browsing and it's good enough to plan the route on a larger screen. Then buy paper map for the trip. They last ages if you take care of them anyway.
Loch Ossian is a great base. Nice place and good in wet weather etc. Arriving by train really adds to it. Bothys in reach of it if you really insist on being cold.
Bearnais. If it's cold enough there's stuff to do on Creag a' Chaorainn to the North and Sgurr Choinnich to the East in its Northern Corrie.
I don't know its name but there's a bothy between Fuar Toll and Ruadh Stac Bheag. Plenty to get your teeth into there but the bothy is less than an hour from the road so not very remote.
If Foinaven looked in nick then Strabeg would be a good base.
There's a bothy called Poca Bhuide between Beinn an Eoin and Baos Bheinn that's a nice spot. It would make a nice base for the Torridon hills if there wasn't too much soft snow around.
Backhill O' Bush for the Dow Spout and stuff on Dungeon hill/Craignaw. It would need to be cold but it's not so far to drive.
Finally you could do a tour, Beinn Dronaig Lodge > Bearnais > Meall Bhuidhe.
This Winter Conditions page gives a summary of what is being climbed at the moment, what is 'in' nick and
what the prospects are...
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