CREACHAN MOR (2156')

Log book entry from Glip's personal log.

1st-2nd October 1983 - Ardentinny Weekend

Leader Glip

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Leaders (Sunday only)

Chrisy Foster, Kevin Byng, Andrew Davies and ?

Scouts Mark Sinclair, Callum Gillespie, Derek Speirs. Roderick McCrorie, Kenny Blair, Alistair Blair, Richard Terry, James Gatherer, Stuart Dalrymple

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​Report

Saturday 1st October 1983

Travel day to Ardentinny

Due to sizeable numbers and lack of transport, it was decided that everyone should bring bikes and Percy would carry gear. Despite everyone been told to bring puncture repair kits and especially spare inner tubes, very few did, which resulted in several problems.

The weather was not nice – rain, wind, cold and low cloud – so climbing was out of the question. Therefore, a prolonged visit of Dunoon was permitted, which meant, as usual, the amusement arcade. After about one hour of this, Glip drove to pick up food from Templetons while the cyclists set off.  At the Copper Kettle*, amidst a downpour, Glip caught up with the slower group which included Richard Terry, complete with puncture. Glip remained until the puncture was repaired then continued on towards Ardentinny, stopping on frequent occasions because the rain was so penetrating that Percy was complaining and developing a severe cough.

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 Due to worries about Percy's health, Glip decided to carry on and get the gear to the Ardentinny Scout Hut, where Percy spluttered to a halt having decided that enough was enough. The gear was then taken into the hut and Percy was given First Aid which involved drying the points and applying vaseline to try and avoid further water reaching Percy's innards.

By this time, the first cyclists had arrived with news that Richard had had another puncture and was walking. Roderick and Glip jumped into Percy and headed back. Percy was still in poor health and actually spluttered to a halt as Richard came into view outside of Ardentinny.

After a quarter of an hour, once we had fitted the bike on roof rack, Percy had dried out and was feeling better, so we were able to get back for packed lunches.

During the afternoon, we had a Superstars competition** involving standing long jumps, high jumps, phantom chairs (where Ally Blair was incredible at about 3 to 4 minutes), press ups etc.

Some of the party (for example Frodo and Merry?) arrived later on in the afternoon having got a later boat.

In the evening, we played board games and Glip also explained a bit about the Everest Challenge, and about Scottish mountains in general. A weekend like this proved excellent for creating a good spirit. Before pit, we had the chair game***.

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*The Copper Kettle was a restaurant about half way to Ardentinny. Not sure if it is still there or not

** This was probably inspired by a Superstars Competition that was shown on BBC and was quite popular for a while

*** The Chair Game was extremely popular at weekends during this period.

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Sunday 2nd October 1983

Creachan Mor

The weather was a bit more promising today. The cloud level was higher and it was dry, although there was still a fresh breeze around. We set off aiming to reach Am Binnein at least, having left a note for Chris and the Venture Scouts who were due today. The ascent of the forest track was our first stage and, by the time we reached the turn off onto the hill proper, we were in mist, which provided a navigational challenge.

The climb to the ridge (stage two) was done slowly and steadily with everyone keeping up well and we soon reached An Binnein itself. In fact, we reached it quicker than expected when we found ourselves surprised by a steep drop ahead of us.  Added to this, there was  a sinister humming noise which proved a bit  unnerving until we realized that it was the pylon line somewhere in the mist to our left. Walking a few yards to our left brought us to the pylon that is positioned on the crest of the ridge.

Spirits were high, so we decided to continue to Cruach a’ Chaise.  From there,  Callum led us on a compass bearing to Creachan Mor (2156’), where we had lunch after slipping down a greasy, grassy slope out of the wind. Sweets were thrown to and fro amongst the party, occasionally getting caught by the wind.

Callum led us back the we way we had come on compass bearings, and we met Chris and the Venture Scouts on their way up. After comparing bearings, we left them to it and carried on down. Callum’s navigation was spot on.

By now, Ally, no doubt suffering from yesterday’s phantom chair, was starting to tire.  Mark Sinclair, on the other hand, was most impressive and appears to be very fit. James seems very fit too. Merry, as usual, dithered during the climb, so it’s difficult to know how fit he is. In fact, nobody lagged behind or seemed particularly tired. As a group, everyone was most impressive at this early stage.

Back at the hut, we tried to solve the bike problem with the help of Chris when he appeared. Roderick’s bike had a broken chain, while Peasant’s chain fell off if he went too fast. Richard’s bike was 'dead'. Chris took Roderick and his bike in his car and set off for the ferry*, while Glip and Richard cleared up at the hut. Everyone else set off on their bikes, Frodo's bike been towed by Callum because the former was also knackered due to gear problems we think. Frodo and Callum shared the hard work of towing it.

Once the hut had been cleaned up, Percy set off with Glip and Richard and passed the slower group of  Frodo, Callum and Peasant about Kilmun Point.  The other group of Mark, Ally, Derek, and Merry were well ahead– approaching Sandbank. Percy reached  Dunoon in time to see Chris before he boarded the ferry. He told us he would meet us when we got across. Richard’s bike was taken off Percy's roof rack and Richard was left with it while Percy drove back to help out Frodo, just as the first group of cyclists was nearing the pier.

Frodo, Callum and Peasant were at the Glen Lean turn off when Percy found them. Frodo's bike was put onto Percy's roof rack, while Callum and Peasant cycled off as fast as they could to try and catch the next ferry. Percy then took Frodo and his bike back to Dunoon. An anxious few minutes were then spent in Dunoon waiting to see if Callum and Peasant would make it. Fortunately, they did, and our band of very wet cyclists boarded the next ferry.

At the other side, Chris was waiting for us, along with Mrs Sinclair who very efficiently threw bikes into her minivan. The only Scout who turned this act of kindness down was Mark himself, who  scorned the idea of a lift home from his mum. Most amusing.

Percy dropped Frodo and his bike off at his house and so ended an incident filled weekend. The Scouts must have been exhausted that night.

Note. A lot of work had been done on the Ardentinney Scout hut since we were last there -  new chimney etc. However, there weren’t any mattresses which was disappointing.

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* It's not indicated in the account whether the ferry was Caledonian MacBraynes  or Western Ferries

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