Tis the season for AMC birthday trips so on the w/e sat 25th Feb a small party AMCers headed off to Faindouran Bothy to belatedly see in my 30th Birthday. We split into two parties, the advance guard who cycled in from Tomintoul and the gluttons for punishment who elected to walk in over Beinn a' Bhuird from Linn of Quioch.
The walk over was pretty fair (if windy on top) compared to the forecast, with views even from the summit (mainly veiws of hail sweeping towards us in fairness, but views non the less!). Trudging down to the north, the one and only major squall of the day left us a wee bit damp but happy we could now see the bothy. We were less happy knowing that we would have to deflect to the east to the nearest bridge, neatly taking us directly away from the bothy. After a bit of bridge finding anxiety, we were happy to clip clop over a relative stable and sound bridge and along the final few kms of Landy track to the bothy. We arrived with perfect timing as the advance party had just brewed up so cups of jaeuger tea were liberally distributed, drunk and re-filled for round two!
After a general bothy potter fetching water, lighting candles etc we got dinner and the fire going. Luckily we'd carried in plenty of coal for our nights stay and a backup heat source consisting of whisky, rum and port!
Juliette even managed a fine birthday treat by carrying in a huge tupperware box of home baked cakes for us all to share!! Fantastic!
Mini Sparklers and party poppers came next, and a fine (if now singed) happy birthday sign had been huing above the fire for that proper party atmosphere!
The next day and after a leisurely breakfast and start we headed up towards the fords of ann hoping the stepping stones would be above the water. They weren't. We did use the chance to have a look at the new an improved Fords of Ann Refuge though and a good job has been done. We found a comic warning on the inside of the door (don't close it too tightly in cold damp weather) that a previous occupant had been there for a couple of hours trying to get the door open from the inside!
A quick hop/wade and we were on our way over the larig laoigh to derry, and after a sandwich stop in bob scotts, to the car we'd left at Linn o'dee.
A cracking night away - and many thanks to everyone who came along and made it a fine memorable night!
Cheers!
Stu
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