HWUMC

What I was getting at is that either going by a route planner or personal experience the journey time to Skye or Snowdonia is about the same even though Skye is less miles.

I'm a bit dissapointed about the lack of stiffened suspension and NO2 injection on the bus now

Why do you think we've got all these engineers!
Is anyone planning on cooking for everyone, and if so for how many nights? I'm not too good at very large-scale cooking like that, but if anyone else feels like taking a trek over to Bla Bheinn one of the days, I can offer tortelloni with veg and sausage when we eventually get back!

Bla Bheinn's a long way from Glen Brittle. If you're wanting to go there on foot expect to need at least 2 days and to bivvy. It's much more doable from near Elgol, but the drive round would probably take an hour or more. If you can persuade someone, I'm up for a Bla Bheinn-Clach Glas traverse.

I really that at least one bus should leave earlier than 7pm. Jon's definitely right, the time to get to Glen Brittle will be something like 5 or 6 hours I reckon.

Where are these Fairy Pools? Wanna go!

I realised that after I posted! It looks like about 3 hours just round the tail of the Cuillin Dubh to Loch na Creithach, and there doesn't look to be a bridge or stepping stones like there is across Loch Coruisk. Volunteers to drive, anyone? Looks like either that or take a day and a half, pitching the tent/bivvy above Camasunary before going up the ridge to avoid carrying unnecessary kit for the scrambling.
I agree, I think an earlier bus would be handy. We were after midnight last year, and that was leaving at about 6.
The Fairy Pools are in Glen Brittle, about 7 or 8 Km up the road including walk-in. Really clear water, waterfalls, and surprisingly cold even in hot weather. Remember to bring swimming kit and a towel!

I nearly forgot to sign up....and Florine is on twice you know. Can we have a bus leaving at 6 then?

Don't forget your wetsuits......

alex - there is a bothy at camusunary - might that help you? i don't know much about it, but i seem to remember it is marked on the map and right on the coast.

wetsuits are definitely more appropriate than swimming cozzies for the fairy pools I'm going to reserve judgement on swimming in the sea until I have seen it - I've already had one jellyfish-infested swim in the sea this year, and I didn't like it very much!

JP wrote:What I was getting at is that either going by a route planner or personal experience the journey time to Skye or Snowdonia is about the same even though Skye is less miles.

Snowdonia is actually quite painless to get to, as its motorway/dual-cabbage-way for 95% of the trip - took me 6 hours including comfort breaks and chips in Penrith (highly recommended: "Angel Street Chip Shop" - fish fillets the size of a whale!)

Skye does drag, I admit, but the food stops offer more variety?

JP wrote:I'm a bit dissapointed about the lack of stiffened suspension and NO2 injection on the bus now

I have roof-rack and bike carriers now - can't say its a performance improvement though


You won't get worse weather than I had last weekend in Wales - Enjoy!

wardka wrote:Don't forget your wetsuits......

The Bikini's were good last year <sighs>

Dirty old man Wicks
"The Bikini's were good last year <sighs> "
<cringes>

Does anyone have a wetsuit spare then? To fit a size "me".

I've just looked it up, and the Bla Bheinn-Clach Glas traverse actually has a rock climbing grade. It's only a Diff, but nonetheless, it would be worth taking and knowing how to use a rope, particularly how to abseil out of difficulty if necessary.

There is a 'tourist' route up Bla Bheinn, but that's from the Elgol side, so it definitely needs a lift.

In fact, the usual route of the traverse is also from that side. It's a big, hard trip from Glen Brittle!

I don't have a wetsuit. Will challenge the cold water...arrrrr....

Thanks for the info about Camasunary Bothy, Sarah. The Harvey's 25K map shows the building, but I assumed it was just a private sheep-hut or similar.
I know the well-known route is up Coire Uaigneich, but that's assuming you're going by car. Doesn't the long South ridge look more interesting, for those coming in from that side? Alternatively, I don't have a climbing guide to check for routes, but there are a few climbing crags marked on Bla Bheinn!

Nothing wrong with cold water! Nothing better to finish sobering you up after the bonfire the night before. (Just need to keep telling yourself that...)

could someone explain what r the arrangements/normal practise re food on the skye trip?
sorry to be ignorant
Vlad

No problem, everyone has a first long trip. Weekends are generally similar in arrangement to this, but with less nights.
Usually we stop for fish & chips on Friday night on the way up, and also on the way back on Tuesday. For Saturday, Sunday, and Monday evenings, it depends. Often, someone volunteers to cook a big pot of curry for everyone to share. How many nights that happens is entirely down to the goodwill of our fellow-campers, whom we never remember to thank enough for it. For that, you'll just need something to eat from and something to eat with (not fingers!). The other nights, you'll have to make your own arrangements. The Club has Trangia stoves you can use, but don't provide the meths to fuel them. The shop on the campsite has some basics, but I wouldn't rely on it, especially as it isn't open late.
Breakfast and lunch, you're on your own for all four days, although if I've over-estimated how much porridge to cook I may well be trying to get rid of it!.
I don't think there's any cold storage there, so don't bring stuff that'll go off before you can use it (i.e. pasta's fine, cheese probably so, sausages up to you, and milk would probably have to be UHT or from the shop).
There's usually a bonfire on Monday night, for which marshmallows etc. are optional, alcohol implied (and plied), and singing along expected. Translation of obscure Scottish innuendos can be provided on request, but we're not usually that subtle.

Speaking of food, do we have any volunteers to cook for all, and of so which nights, or will everyone be doing separate things whenever we get off the hills?