Blackrock hut Glencoe

Blackrock Cottage meet 2-4 January 2026

 

Attendees

Becca G (organiser)

Harry P

Andy L

Claire H

Mich H

Jess B

Matt W

Kasia M

Gareth W

Phil M

 

Additional 

Andy S - Waters Cottage 

 

As the sun rose on the dawn of a new year, four keen Munro baggers were already on their pilgrimage from Manchester to the better part of the UK (writer’s opinion only, not reflective of the views of the KMC) to start their ascent of one of the most southerly peaks, Ben Vorlich. In fact, as the sun was rising we had been travelling in our respective vehicles for a couple of hours already, having set off at 6am, which meant ensuring the New Years Eve celebrations were particularly low key. Not an issue really for some of us whose regular bedtime is unashamedly before 9.30 anyway.

 

High winds were forecast and for once MWIS got that right. The ascent of Ben Vorlich via Little Hills was certainly a challenge and sensible folk like Andy S and Claire decided it could be saved for another day whilst stubborn fools like Harry and I pressed on trying not to blow over. We bagged the summit and extra top at around 2pm and made a hasty retreat to the nice warm car. Well Harry did anyway, and whilst he enjoyed his sandwich with the heaters on, I went for a very quick dip in Loch Lomond (1.5 minutes in case anyone’s interested) in an attempt to rehab my legs for the rest of the trip. 

 

Although the official meet was starting on the 2nd January, a few of us had booked an additional pre-trip night at Waters Cottage in Kinlochleven to ensure we got a full day on the hills on Friday. It actually turned into a KMC takeover with Harry, Andy S, Andy L, Claire, Mich, Jess, Matt, Kasia and I all starting the trip there. Andy S being a last minute addition as sadly Jo had come down with a cold and couldn’t make their planned Lakes trip. It didn’t sound like it had taken much to persuade him that he should join us in Scotland given how good the forecast was looking!

 

An early start on Friday saw most of the group; Andy S, Mich, Jess, Claire, Kasia and Matt take on Sron na Laraig *** winter grade 3. The group were protected from the wind and all successfully solo’d the route before summiting Stob Coire Sgreamhach. Although I didn’t join them, by the time I’d seen the 200+ photos of their day which were put on the watsapp group chat, I really felt like I had!

 

Andy L had done the route previously so he and I headed up Buachaille Etive Beag (I now know how to correctly pronounce this, thanks Andy S) to add another two Munro’s to our slowly growing list. As we broke the trail through the snow up Stob Coire Raineach we had the mountain all to ourselves. After bagging this we made our way back over the col to Stob Dubh (possibly even posing for photos at a random cairn which wasn’t the top) and along the ridge line to finally bag the correct top! The day was brightening up, the wind eased and we even had a fleeting sighting of the sun. It seemed a shame for the day to be over so soon, so we did what all great mountaineers do and headed to the Clachaig pub to update Strava and Instagram.

 

The fun wasn’t over however as the next challenge of getting into Blackrock Cottage aka the Krypton Factor began. Team work made it all possible as I dutifully read out the instructions and Harry (who had been grafting away on his computer all day) and Andy raced around the building opening key safes and retrieving keys! The fires were soon on and buckets of drinking water collected as we awaited the arrival of the rest of the group from the mountain and Phil and Gareth who joined us later in the evening. After a quick brew and nosey around Blackrock, Andy S returned to his lodgings (and running water) at Waters Cottge, with plans to drive back to an improving Jo the next day via bagging Ben Vorlich. 

 

After a great night in the picturesque hut, Mich, Jess and Gareth headed out Saturday morning to take on the Inglis Clark Ridge *** winter grade 3 and myself, Andy L, Harry, Kasia and Matt headed up the long, and seemingly never ending, steep path to Dorsal Arête *** winter grade 2, in Stob Coire nan Lochan. As it was one of the best routes in, it seemed that a lot of other climbers had also had this idea and already a queue was forming. Two big days out had taken its toll on my legs and psyche so I gratuitously bailed out and headed slowly back down to the car whilst the rest of the group took on the challenge. Matt and Kasia (who had already done the route twice previously) paired up as did Andy L and Harry. The pairs breezed up the route, which seemingly wasn’t challenging enough for Andy who decided that he didn’t need his food and extra layers and threw his bag off the side of the third belay into Broad Gully below. Either that or he didn’t take his own advice about attaching bags on belay ledges…

 

Everyone was cracking on well with the climb and looking forward to the crux of the route on the arête. Sadly it wasn’t meant to be as a group of energetic young lads solo’d past them, up to the crux where they proceeded to then start pitching it, causing a likely long wait. Both pairs decided that with the light fading fast, it could be done another time and bypassed the arête to start the descent. Andy’s bag had fortunately landed in tact so after a quick retrieval it was head torches on as the four made their way back down in the dark. Once again a sensible decision was made to head to the pub for a well earned drink (well earned for four out of the five of us anyway) and a plate of haggis (veggie for some), neeps and tatties.

 

Gareth, Mich and Jess also had a great day out on the ridge and were thrilled to get the recently closed chair lift down after a long day bagging Creise, Meall a Bhuirdh and another Munro top, with Gareth even bagging another Munro top he couldn’t bear to miss out on! Over drinks that evening Mich relayed the story of their fortunate timing and how they laughed all the way down the abandoned mountain as they soared above the icy terrain they would have had to walk down. We pondered whether it was just luck or maybe it was Jane Inglis Clarke, co-founder of the LSCC whose pictures hung from the wall of the room we sat in, looking down on them in pride after a successful ascent of her ridge. We all raised a glass to her, the hut and the amazing legacy she has left behind. 

 

Phil and Claire arrived from their day out not long afterwards, which was just as well as Jess was getting ready to start a search party. After also summiting Creise and Meall a Bhuirdh (and making some great snow angels), the pair headed to the warmth of the pub. We knew this as when Jess had made a welfare check to Phil, a barman had answered his phone and Phil had already left! After a quick lift from Harry to retrieve his phone and some ribbing from the rest of us, the group was soon back together for more route planning and games of dominoes, jenga and catchphrase.

 

Sunday morning came too soon and whilst the rest of us had a slow start, Jess and Gareth were up and out early to find some ice on Beinn Udlaidh. Sadly it wasn’t quite in but they still carried on to bag the top, which added nicely to Gareth’s impressive Corbett collection. After the usual hut check out duties and amazing bathroom cleaning by Kasia, we all headed out the door leaving Matt (who had just woken up) and Kasia to perform the reverse Krypton Factor. 

 

We all agreed Blackrock Cottage was a great place to stay. The location was perfect, views amazing and yes, you had to go outside to get to the toilet, but seeing deer grazing outside the door in the small hours of the morning made that extra walk worth it. 

 

Hopefully it will be a regular addition to the KMC calendar for our winter meets.

 

Thanks to all those who came for such a great weekend,

 

Becca 

Rebecca Gardner