The Braemore road was still quite icy and required careful driving. We left a car at the disused quarry and then drove back to Berriedale where we were to start our walk.

We had four newcomers to the club all raring to go. I was a bit surprised to see only one rucksack between them. “Did you take anything to eat and drink?” I asked. “Oh we don’t eat a lot. Just a few drinks and some oranges”. This was a surprise to us Waybaggers. “We like wir meat” I guiltily hoisted my rucksack on my back which was loaded with sandwiches, chocolate bars, crisps, bananas, a flask of tea and some water!

It was a lovely day, quite mild with a hint of sun. The going was good but there was still a lot of snow lying in places. The deer were out in force and we disturbed the odd hare and grouse. We stopped for lunch then headed on past Borgue Loch, which was still frozen over. Our next stop was at the stone cross erected in memory of the Duke of Kent who died there in August 1942 along with all but one of the crew when their plane crashed into the hillside while on a flight to Iceland.

By this time the light was failing and instead of continuing up Berriedale Water to Braemore we cut across the small hill Cnoc na Feadaige eventually ending back at our car on the Braemore road.