Category Archives: Bothies

Enthusiasm on An Teallach

Posted on June 20, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

Yesterday was an early start up at 0400 as I was meeting an old pal Tommy Pilling who was up staying at Gairloch for a week. Tommy was in days of yore a typical of a young troop in Mountain … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Bothies, Friends, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being, Wildlife | Leave a comment

A bothy tale – Early winter Dec 1978 – The Mamores and an encounter at Meannanach bothy.

Posted on June 8, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

We were on our first winter traverse West to East of Scotland. We had done a North to South a year earlier and John Hinde one of our mentors had said “if you think your fit try one unsupported in … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Bothies, Friends, Gear, Hill running and huge days!, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, People, Views Mountaineering, Well being | Leave a comment

The Cairngorm 6 a long time ago. Braeriach, Cairn Toul and Sgor an Lochan Uaine,Devils Point,Sgurr a Mhain ,Ben MacDui, Cairngorm. Scrambles and aircraft crashes?

Posted on April 17, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

Some of my Mountaineering club were are away doing some of the great peaks in the Cairngorms . It’s great to see and I heard they had a great time. These peaks mean so much to me I have had … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Books, Bothies, Enviroment, Friends, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, People, Recomended books and Guides, Scottish winter climbing., SMC/SMT, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | 8 Comments

Memories of the first bothy I used Back hill of Bush Galloway

Posted on April 6, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

Memories of my first bothy Back of the Bush Galloway. Please note all Bothies are still closed due to Covid restrictions. From the MBA website https://www.mountainbothies.org.uk/ Please be aware that this website is the only up to date source of … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Bothies, Enviroment, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Weather, Wildlife | 2 Comments

Roybridge Village Hall – Roy fridge. In praise of village halls.

Posted on March 29, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

I wrote last week about Mountain Rescue cooking and the nightmare it caused for many of the troops in the team. We all had to take turns cooking for a day when we were accepted in the team. That reminded … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Bothies, Friends, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, People, Views Mountaineering, Well being | 9 Comments

Remote Bothies & Youth Hostels

Posted on March 28, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

Whats your favourite bothy or Youth Hostel? I like Affric Youth Hostel mainly along with Ossian Youth Hostel great places superb locations. Affric is a fair walk in from Kintail or Affric and Ossian unless you take the train is … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Bothies, Enviroment, Friends, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Well being | 2 Comments

Viscount aircraft crash Ben More Crianlarich 19 Jan 1973

Posted on January 23, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

One of my first aircraft searches was for a Missing Viscount aircraft from Glasgow airport that crashed on Ben More (Crainlarich) in the winter 19 -23 January 1973. The aircraft was on a short air test from Glasgow. The two … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Articles, Bothies, Equipment, Friends, Health, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, People, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | 2 Comments

Happy Christmas / Dog Tales – Exiled in England and then the return to Scotland.

Posted on December 25, 2020 by heavywhalley.MBE

Chapter 3 In 1982 Heavy was posted to RAF Innsworth near Gloucester there was no Mountain Rescue team nearby. It was awful and when we arrived Heavy was told that no dogs were allowed on the station by the Station … Continue reading →

Posted in Bothies, Corbetts and other hills, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Munros, Rock Climbing, SAR, Views Mountaineering, Weather | 2 Comments

I learned about winter mountaineering from this. Lancet Edge Avalanche.

Posted on November 4, 2020 by heavywhalley.MBE

The magnificent Lancet Edge a great winter scramble, it was from roughly here that we were avalanched in 1972 . This picture was taken over 30 years later! This is the story and worth retelling . This was the final … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Bothies, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, Munros, Recomended books and Guides, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Weather, Wildlife | Leave a comment

Whats your best piece of kit from the past?

Posted on October 19, 2020 by heavywhalley.MBE

Things have moved on since my early days on the hills. The clothing and footwear has improved beyond belief. Gone are the “hairy breeks” that many wore. How proud was I that I got a pair then at last I … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Bothies, Equipment, Gear, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, People, Scottish winter climbing., Views Mountaineering, Well being | 2 Comments