Ben Rinnes

[catrionaD]

On leaving Inverness this morning your intrepid reporter and fellow walkers/mountaineers held out little hope for the day... pouring rain, wind.. not a nice start to the day at all! But with the remaining menbers of the party having carefully investigated weather forecasts we ignored the pleas of the Pet Shop Boys to 'go West!' and headed East.. the weather improved en route and we decided to have a wee walk up Ben Rinnes. Off we went from the car park.. going good underfoot.. not wet but a little windy. Well.. as we ascended the hill the wind incresed in strength to the point where it was difficult to stand and walk and keep one's hat on all at once! Unperturbed we soldiered on to the summit, whereupon your intrepid reporter removed a mitt, dropped it and off it flew never to be seen again. Having taken the advice of a very helpful assistant and packed 3 pairs of gloves 'just in case' all was not lost and feeling was returned to fingertips in jig time! Following a short stop for much required water and food we decided to continue over the hill to a distillery approximately 5-6k away. One of out party returned to the car via the ascent route and the remainder of us descended.. initially at a 45 degree angle to the wind! I was only blown over once which was a first. We carried on down the hill through deep waist high (on me at least) heather and finally reached the car.. there are a number of distilleries in the vicinity of Ben Rinnes so fortunately our driver got the right one! Just as we reached the car a few spots of rain started as the weather began to close in. Perfect timing! This was my first trip with some members of Inverness Mountaineering club and i can say it was great fun!

[Paul Webster]

The weather here yesterday was absolutely appallingly wet and windy so glad to hear someone got out - even if it did cost you a glove

[maddjock]

Climbed Ben Rinnes last January myself... found it a great wee hill, and a very quick climb to the summit. Very cloudy though so no view from the top but apparently you can see the Caithness hills from it. Also wonderful tors on the summit. Have a photo somewhere I should upload..
How often does the club get out?

[WillieGo]

Ben Rinnes is our local hill and we were up it between Christmas and New Year. Was cold but was superb. Only problem was that this was supposed to be a chance of playin gwith crampons but there was no snow.

The thing that made me laugh was that I met more folk I know that day than I would know walking down the street in our village - wierd. It was hellish windy at the top right enough but the views have never let us down.