John Chivall, Outdoor Instructor

This weekend's Bronze NNAS course,  with Annette, Colin,  Eleanor and Tahnee, was successful, but we got rather wet along the way.

We spent Saturday in and around Mugdock Country Park, orienteering and practising basic skills such as setting the map and judging distance. We got caught out in the afternoon, walking into strong winds and heavy rain along Mugdock reservoir, but the rain had stopped before we got back to the cars.

On Sunday, we went on a journey from Mugdock through the forests above Craigallian to the Carbeth Inn and back, passing through the Carbeth huts along the way. This is a fascinating area with a rich social history - the huts were originally built by working class people from Clydebank and Glasgow. The Carbeth Community Hutters website is here. On the way back we took an interesting route through the forest, to be greeted on our emergence from the trees with the sight of a group of people in robes wielding swords and battleaxes, and looking rather soggy too. I thought taking a picture might have spoiled their game, so you'll have to imagine it for yourself.

Apologies for the poor quality of the photos.  I only had my phone with me and it doesn't cope well with low light levels.

The entrance to the Carbeth huts, just behind the Carbeth Inn.

Carbeth loch with Dumgoyne behind.

In the woods of the Cuilt Brae.