We have 18 places for the winter meet of the season. Place are available on this winter extravaganza on a first pay basis, at £6.00 per night (non-refundable).

This is an excellent hut in a fine setting close to the Linn of Dee and about 5 miles from Breamar, providing a great base for winter activities of all types.

For winter climbing, Lochnagar is the obvious and most accessible location. A couple of hours walk from the Lock Muick car park, this is a magnificent winter crag boasting classic routes in all grades. Raeburn's Gully (II), Eagle Ridge (V), Shadow Buttress A (III), Polyphemus Gully (IV/V), Parallel Gully A (II/III); Parallel Buttress (V), the Tough-Brown Traverse (III) and Douglas-Gibson Gully (IV/V) are a few examples. Or perhaps just a stomp up Black Spout, only grade I but a fine setting. Just watch out for those big Lochnagar cornices.

If the conditions are really good, then it might worth the longer walk along Loch Muick to visit the very impressive (and big) Craig an Dubh Loch. Then there are some really remote crags deep within the Cairngorm massif to the north - but these are very long walk-ins. Mitre Ridge is a Cairngorm classic, but it's a 15km walk from Braemar to the Garbh Choire of Beinn a' Bhuird. Don't forget your bivi bag!

For others this is an ideal location for remote winter walking or cross-country skiing. Downhillers can test their consciences in Glen Shee and mountain bikers will find ample space to park their bikes in Manchester.

Location: Approx 5 miles west of Breamar. Grid Ref: NO 076896. Marked on OS Outdoor Leisure 3 - The Cairngorms (1:25,000) as Muir Cottage.

Directions: From south on A93, turn left in the centre of Braemar towards the Linn of Dee. After about 4 miles a small collection of houses is Meikle Inverey (don't blink). Just beyond is a phone box, then the road goes over the Ey Burn and takes a sharp right. The hut is about three quarters of a mile further on the right. A few more scattered houses on the way are Little Inverey and the alert will spot a Youth Hostel on the right about 200-300 yds before the hut. The trees obscure the hut until the last moment, but it is a low building set about 20 yds back from the road, comprising a older building at the front with a more modern extension behind. Anyone reaching the Linn of Dee has overshot by about a mile.

Travel arrangements can be made nearer the time. I would hope to leave Manchester about 5.00pm, but anyone departing earlier can take the key.